A few months back, a craving hit for tiramisu. I knew I had lady fingers in the pantry so I figured all was well in the world. I looked up recipes and kept falling short on key ingredients. So I began to Google substitutions. I then began to Google substitutions of substitutions. I should have stopped there, but it was too late to turn back.
As you can predict, it was the mother of all fails. I assumed it would be, but I thought perhaps I would have stumbled upon a great discovery through my experimentations. Nope.
Moving on.
Recently a recipe has been floating around Facebook that seemed quite similar to tiramisu. A faux tiramisu, if you will. Oh, and what’s this? Only four ingredients (excluding water). Alright, you got me.
Nescafe Cake {adapted from A.R.’s recipe via What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’}
Ingredients:
- 4 heaping tablespoons, Nescafe
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 and a half sleeves, Ulker tea biscuits (full package contains 5 sleeves), or similar
- Garnish – Cocoa powder (or Nescafe)
Directions:
- Combine 2 cups of hot water with 4 tablespoons Nescafe in a shallow dish. If you prefer a stronger coffee taste, increase the amount of Nescafe. Be careful about adding too much, lest it become bitter.
- Pour cold heavy whipping cream into a large bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until soft peaks form. Do not over beat.
- Gently fold in one can of sweetened condensed milk. Be sure to scrape down sides of bowl to fully incorporate all ingredients. Set aside.
- Dip tea biscuits into coffee mixture for 3 – 4 seconds. Long enough to soak without falling apart. Cover bottom of 9×13 dishwith full layer of soaked biscuits. Repeat for a second layer.
- Spread half of the sweetened whip cream mixture evenly over the first layer of biscuits.
- Repeat with another layer of soaked biscuits. Spread remaining whipped cream evenly on top. Dust with cocoa powder.
- Cover and refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.
I’m sold on this dessert. I can count the number of ingredients on my hand, it’s fool-proof assembly, and it can be made ahead of time.
While this isn’t exactly tiramisu, it’s the best substitution. My husband loved it. The girls each got one bite (it does contain coffee after all) and we’re bummed they couldn’t have a whole slice. Another time my dears, another time.
Edited to add:
Important notes to consider:
- If using a hand mixer, you will need to beat the whipping cream for 5-6 minutes.
- If the coffee mixture is cold, the biscuits will soak up less liquid. Hold the biscuits in the liquid for 5-6 seconds. I still had 1/2 cup liquid left compared to the 1/4 cup liquid that remained when I made this with hot water.
I’m Amnah, a Muslim mom blogger from the San Francisco Bay Area. Here you’ll find crafts and projects for kids and moms alike, sweet and savory recipes, and random ramblings about raising three little girls.
I love tiramisu but I don’t make it often because I rarely have the ingredients. This looks so easy and has the flavor so I’m going to try this soon. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
This tastes very similar! The fact that it’s such few ingredients and simple assembly makes it worth attempting at least once. I hope you enjoy it!
I made it! It was awesome because I didn’t have to bake it in this 106 degree heat! It was absolutely delicious
Oh this is a great way to use all the tea biscuits I have. I l love that there is no baking involved. Thank you for sharing.
Doesn’t it seem that we always have too many tea biscuits? I love no-bake desserts too. Let me know how it turns out!
This looks great! Question: for the second layer, is it just one layer of cookies or two like the first?
Thank you! Yes, the second layer is also two layers of cookies. I hope you enjoy it!
Inshallah this would make a great (easy) dessert for Ramadan
Thanks Amnah.
You’re welcome! So far many people have had success with this recipe. Good luck!
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Assalaamu alaikum,
I made this dessert today. It was delicious! but, next time I need to soak my tea biscuits a bit longer. I was afraid of over-soaking them, and it would turn out to be a mess. Thanks so much for this awesome recipe! I will definitely be making this dessert again and again!
Wa Alikum Assalaam,
It takes a bit of trial and error until you figure it out to come out just right. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Salaam and Ramadan Mubarak to all,
I was wondering if you knew the difference between some folks adding the sweetened condensed milk and some adding marscapone cheese. It’s one or the other. Any ideas?
Salams Suzan,
This particular recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk as it is what provides the sweetness to the whipped cream. Marscapone cheese is used in traditional tiramisu. This recipe is just a cheaper knock off of tiramisu.
Sounds yummmie But if you have cool whip, ricotta, and a cold cup of coffee I have the best tiramisu recipe!!!!
Please do share!!!
It’s all gone now! Next time
hello, thank u for ur best information about sweets and cakes, but i’m surfing for nesscaffe cake, would u pls help me, thank u very much indeed.
thanks for the recipe. it looks great.
if you use decaffeinated coffee, the little ones can enjoy it as well!
You’re welcome and thank you! You’re right, except I never have any decaffeinated coffee.
Dear Amnah Thank you for sharing this with us …I love trying new recipes and this one looks very easy ….i will make it today and i will let you know how it goes….
Hello Amal,
I’m glad to pass along any recipe I have success with. Good luck! I hope you enjoy it.
i am so going to do it on my cousins graduation!!!! jazakallah wakaran!
Great! Good luck! Try a test run so that you have the hang of it by the time your cousin’s party comes around. Make sure your cream is cold!!
Why did my cream turn curd like?
was really excited to make this but the cream looked like cotton cheese in the end 
still make it…its in the fridge, hopefully it was taste good. Any suggestions? I whipped the cream for like 6 mins and kt was still not turning thick
Hello N, I emailed you a detailed reply.
Most likely, your cream is not cold enough.
Why did my cream turn curd like? was really excited to make this but the cream looked like cotton cheese in the end . I still made it…its in the fridge, hopefully it will taste good. Any suggestions? I whipped the cream for like 6 mins and it was still not turning thick.
My friend told me it was probably because the cream was not cold.