It’s been a while since I’ve made a post on the food/dessert I’ve been cooking and making… and I’ve been re-inspired by one of my new friends, Amy, and a long-time uni friend, Sandy… both of whom have been cooking up some delicious concoctions on their blogs. If you’ve missed my other food posts and recipes, just click here to go back and read them!

When I was younger, I looked forward to birthdays and special occasions almost solely because of my mom’s tiramisu. Now — this is no normal tiramisu. For those of you hardcore tiramisu lovers who are into the traditional dessert, this is not for you. However, if you’re like me… and you love cheesecake, but you also kinda like tiramisu… this is the recipe for you.

It’s fluffy, rich, cheesy, not-to-sweet, and yes, chocolatey with coffee aromas and flavours. And of course a little booze thrown in for good measure. This is my mom’s secret recipe… she’s been making it for ages, and I’ve gotten her to cough it up a few years ago and have been making it every few months since then. I’ve changed it up a bit by adding more vanilla and different liqueurs.

Mom’s Secret Delicious Best Tiramisu Cheesecake Recipe

2 8-oz packages light/fat free sour cream
2 8-oz packages cream cheese
2/3 cup sugar (I like to put in half of this because I don’t like it too sweet)
3 Tablespoons milk
1-3 teaspoons vanilla (to taste)
1/2 cup strong coffee (preferably freshly brewed, or you can get it from Starbucks or Timmy’s)
2 Tbsp Kahlua
1 Tbsp coffee liqueur (optional, such as Van Gogh Espresso)
1 Tbsp creme de cacao/chocolate liqueur (optional!)
3 boxes of ladyfingers (biscuits, you can find these at Whole Foods or an Italian bakery… some grocery stores carry these, usually in the cookie aisle)
Semi-sweet or bittersweet good quality dark chocolate for shaving

1. Combine the sour cream, cream cheese, sugar, milk, and one teaspoon of vanilla in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high until smooth and airy. Taste the mixture to make sure you like it. Adjust sweetness accordingly.

2. Combine the coffee, Kahlua, coffee/chocolate liqueurs (optional), and 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla (to taste) in a small cup. Have a tiny taste and adjust accordingly. Add more coffee and coffee liqueur if you like more of a coffee flavour. Add more vanilla and chocolate liqueur if you like more of a sweet chocolately flavour.

3. If you have large lady fingers, split them in half. If you have small ones, then simply shave off the non-sugared side with a knife. Layer these in a dish cut-side up. Use a pastry brush or just spoon the coffee mixture on to the ladyfingers.

4. Smooth a third of the cream cheese mixture on top of the ladyfingers, and flatten.

5. Keep repeating until gone, layering the ladyfingers, brushing with coffee mixture, and layering the cream cheese mixture. Typically I end up with three layers of ladyfingers and 3 layers of cream cheese, with the cream cheese mixture at the very top.

6. Using a grater or similar tool, shave the chocolate over generously to cover. Cover with saran wrap, and make sure you refrigerate for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours.

ENJOY!