Transform your dinner finale into an Italian cafe experience with this simple Olive Garden Tiramisu recipe. This beloved dessert features delicate layers of coffee-infused sponge cake and velvety sweetened cream cheese, all dusted with rich cocoa powder. With just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of assembly time, you can create this restaurant-favorite dessert at home for a fraction of the cost. Perfect for special occasions or whenever you crave something elegantly sweet, this make-ahead tiramisu lets you enjoy the flavors of Italy without leaving your dining room.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to this Olive Garden-inspired tiramisu lies in its perfect balance of flavors and textures. Using cream cheese instead of traditional mascarpone creates a stable, foolproof base that holds up beautifully when sliced. The sponge cake absorbs just enough coffee-liqueur mixture to become flavorful without turning soggy, while the superfine sugar dissolves completely into the cream for a silky-smooth texture. Unlike many tiramisu recipes that require raw eggs or complicated techniques, this simplified version delivers all the classic flavors with fewer ingredients and less fuss. The result is a dessert that captures the essence of the restaurant’s favorite while being accessible to home cooks of any skill level.
Ingredients you will need
For the Cake Layer:
- Sponge cake – Provides the light, airy structure that absorbs the coffee mixture perfectly
- Strong black coffee – Delivers the essential bitter coffee flavor that defines tiramisu
- Brandy or rum – Adds depth and warmth to complement the coffee notes
For the Cream Layer:
- Cocoa powder – Adds the distinctive chocolate finish and slight bitterness to balance sweetness
- Cream cheese – Creates a smooth, tangy base that mimics traditional mascarpone
- Superfine sugar – Dissolves easily for a silky texture without grittiness
How to Make Olive Garden Tiramisu
The entire recipe is in the printable recipe card further down. But here’s a really quick overview of how to make one of my favorite Olive Garden desserts of all time.
- Cut the sponge cake in half lengthwise to make 2 layers.
- Blend the coffee and brandy together and pour enough over the bottom half to slightly moisten it. Be careful not to over moisten the cake.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until completely combined.
- Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the bottom layer.
- Add the second layer and top with the remaining cream cheese.
- Sprinkle the top with sifted cocoa and refrigerate for at least two hours.
What is a substitute for mascarpone cheese?
An authentic tiramisu recipe calls for mascarpone cheese, but if you can’t find it, you can use cream cheese instead.
What liquor is in tiramisu?
Typically, bakers use brandy in this Italian dessert. Rum has a similar flavor profile and can easily be used if you don’t have any brandy in your home.
How do you serve and store tiramisu?
Tiramisu is an icy Italian dessert. It should always be served cold and refrigerated for at least 2 hours before serving.
Leave it out at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving. Before serving, you can dust it with more cocoa powder. This makes it look fancier and gives it a deeper flavor.
Tiramisu can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The cake will get too mushy if left longer than that. But you’ll probably eat it up well before those two days are up!
Olive Garden Tiramisu
Ingredients
- 1 sponge cake (10 to 12″ and about 3″ tall)
- 3 ounces strong black coffee
- 3 ounces brandy or rum
- 1 1/2 pounds cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar
- cocoa powder for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Cut across middle of sponge cake, forming two layers, each about 1 and 1/2 inches thick.
- Blend coffee and brandy. Sprinkle enough mixture over the bottom half of the cake to flavor it strongly. Don't moisten the cake too much or it may collapse.
- Beat room temperature cheese and 1 cup sugar until sugar is completely dissolved and cheese is light and spreadable. Test for sweetness during the beating, adding more sugar if needed.
- On the cut surface of the bottom layer, spread half of the cheese mixture.
- Place the second layer on top.
- Spread the remaining cheese mixture on top.
- Sprinkle top with sifted cocoa.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least two hours before cutting and serving.
Notes
- An original Tiramisu recipe uses mascarpone cheese but if you can substitute cream cheese instead.
- Rum is a great alternative to brandy if you don’t have brandy in your home.
- Tiramisu is served cold. So make sure you refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Leave out at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving. You can do another dust of cocoa powder before serving.
- Tiramisu can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The cake will get too mushy if left longer than that.
Nutrition
More Olive Garden Dessert Recipes to Try
Whip up any of these yummy Olive Garden desserts next.
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Check out my easy dessert recipes and the best Olive Garden recipes here on CopyKat!
My fave in the entire universe!
We really liked this recipe.
Thank you for your blog
I made this and the taste was good. However texture was off and not enough cheese layer. Upon examining other recipes I’m thinking 2 cups of heavy cream were maybe missed in the cheese mixture…
Is it possible to make og flourfree and milkfree?
I am sorry, I don’t think I can swap out both the flour, and dairy.
I had a little trouble figuring out measurements because I used rum extract instead of alcohol; however, I think it turned out rather well for my first time. Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely be making it again!
The tiramisu is definitely the favorite dessert of my husband and can not miss at his birthday. For my children instead I made a variation of the classic tiramisu to make it lighter and more palatable. I replaced the coffee and the cocoa powder with strawberry sauce and I decorated with red currant.
Congratulations for your blog.
Marianna Pascarella
Olive Garden’s recipe has lady fingers not spongecake
This recipe has been online for almost 15 years at this point, so it is possible their recipe changed. I will take this as an action item that this recipe should be updated in the future. Thank you for pointing this out! ~Stephanie
I happen to work for Olive Garden and they have not changed the recipe, you are however correct on the Lady fingers
Where are the egg yolks?
Is there a printer friendly version to copy?
you can click on the printer button to print just the recipe, or you can click on the share button and choose the print option.
what size pan?
9 by 13 inch pan.