Light and Tasty Tiramisu Perfect for Valentine's Day

Love Tiramisu but don't want all the calories and fat that come with your traditional Tiramisu and still preserve the flavor?

I personally do not like Tiramisu but with this low calorie recipe, it is worth trying it. For this recipe, I recommend making the lady fingers simply because you'll get a better quality cookie.

Tips: Instead of pastry bag, cut the corner of any large size freezer/storage bag and pipe out batter into long finger-like shapes. Add any extract you'd like to the batter, don't just stick to vanilla and almond. Orange blossom extract would work well with the lady finger recipe. Orange Blossom extract can be found at Whole Foods Market. Substitute the sugar for Stevia for less calories. Sprinkle lady fingers with organic powdered sugar before baking.

For Tiramisu, non fat ricotta cheese is a great alternative to the traditional mascarpone cheese which is loaded with fat. Melt chocolate in double broiler or place a bowl on top of a pot with boiling water on the bottom to melt chocolate. Melting chocolate directly in a pot will burn the chocolate and cause it to harden. You may substitute dark chocolate or white chocolate for the milk chocolate. Simply buy the chocolate chip flavor of choice and melt as instructed above.

Homemade Lady Fingers:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted flour
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 egg whites, beaten until stiff
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla or extract of choice

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 baking sheets with baking spray or flour spray. Mark parallel lines in the flour across the width of the tray about 4 inches apart. Put the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and with an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is pale yellow, thick, and has tripled in volume, about 8 minutes, using the mixer. Add the egg whites, remaining 3/4 cup flour, salt and vanilla, fold to mix thoroughly so the mixture is smooth. Fill a large pastry bag (Freezer/storage bag) with a 3/4-inch plain tube with the mixture. Pipe fingers about 4 1/2-inches in length on to the baking sheet, using the lines as a guide. Bake until for 15 to 18 minutes, or until just firm on the outside and soft in the center

  

Tiramisu

6 servings

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup nonfat ricotta cheese, (4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 ladyfingers, (about 1 3/4 ounces)
• 4 tablespoons brewed espresso, or strong coffee, divided
• 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted (See Tips above)

 

Preparation

1. Combine ricotta, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
2. Place 6 ladyfingers in a 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Spread the ricotta mixture over the ladyfingers. Place another layer of ladyfingers over the ricotta and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
3. Enjoy! 

Each Tiramisu is 107 calories and 2g of fat