This Lemon Tiramisu is a light and refreshing twist on the classic tiramisu, made with Earl Grey-soaked fingers, a smooth lemon mascarpone cream, and a bright layer of lemon curd on top.

Instead of the usual coffee and cocoa notes, this version is citrusy, creamy and elegant, making it especially suitable for Mother’s Day, afternoon tea or any gathering where you want a dessert that feels special without being too heavy.

I first developed this version for a Mother’s Day workshop, where I wanted something that was simple enough for participants to assemble within the hour, yet still beautiful and meaningful enough for the occasion. The result is a no-bake dessert that looks polished, tastes refreshing, and can be prepared ahead of time.

Why You Will Love this Lemon Tiramisu

This Lemon Tiramisu is perfect if you want a dessert that is creamy but not too rich. The Earl Grey adds a gentle fragrance, the lemon mascarpone cream keeps it refreshing, and the lemon curd gives each spoonful a bright finish.

It is also a practical dessert for gatherings because it is no-bake, can be made ahead, and is easy to portion into cups. This makes it especially useful for parties, workshops or occasions where you want individual dessert that are neat and easy to serve.

Tips for Success

  • Do not over-soak the tiramisu fingers into the Earl grey tea, keep it very brief, about 1 second on each side is usually enough. The fingers will continue to soften as the tiramisu chills, so they should not be fully soaked at the start.If they absorb too much tea, the final dessert may become watery or mushy instead of having clean, soft layers.
  • Let the Earl Grey tea cool before using. Always cool the Earl Grey tea before dipping the fingers. Warm tea can soften the fingers too quickly and may also affect the texture of the cream if it comes into contact with the layers.For a stronger Earl Grey flavour, steep the tea slightly longer rather than using hot tea directly.
  • Fold in the lemon juice gently. Lemon juice adds brightness to the mascarpone cream, but it should be folded in gently after whipping. This helps keep the cream light and smooth.Do not add too much lemon juice at once, especially if you prefer a milder flavour. Add gradually, taste, and adjust where needed.

Without further ado, the recipe!

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Lemon Tiramisu Recipe
by Javier Tan May-11-2026

Try this Lemon Tiramisu recipe with Earl Grey-soaked fingers, lemon mascarpone cream and lemon curd. A refreshing dessert for gatherings!

Ingredients (Lemon Tiramisu)

  • Slightly less than 1/2 Cup or 55g of Icing Sugar (to adjust)
  • 3 Bags of Earl Grey brewed in at least 250ml Water
  • 3/4 Cup or 160g of Mascarpone
  • 1 and 1/3 Cup or 320g of Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Approx 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Tbsp + 1 Tsp or 50ml of Lemon Juice (Approx 2 Lemons)
  • 16 Tiramisu Fingers

Ingredients (Lemon Curd)

  • 1/3 Cup or 80ml of Lemon Juice (Approx 2 – 3 Lemons)
  • 1/4 Cup + 1 Tbsp or 55g White Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 Tsp or 7g of Cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp or 30g of Butter
  • Pinch of Salt

Instructions

  1. Firstly, steep earl grey tea bags in hot water for 6 – 7 minutes and then set aside.
  2. Next, prepare the lemon curd by whisking together the lemon juice, sugar, egg and cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Once thickened, continue cooking for 15s more.
  3. Right after, mix in the butter until smooth and shiny. Set aside.
  4. Then, whip together the mascarpone, cream and icing sugar at low speed for 3 – 4 minutes until you form stiff peaks.
  5. Next, fold in the lemon juice in two halves until creamy.
  6. Soak each tiramisu sponge finger for at most 1 second on each side and use it to form the first layer.
  7. Use the cream as the second layer, top off with another layer of fingers and cream. Finally, I like to finish with a layer of lemon curd.
  8. Set in the fridge to set for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  9. Garnish with additional edible flowers and lavender buds once ready to serve.
  10. Enjoy!

Details

  • Prep time: 30 mins
  • Cook time: 20 mins
  • Total time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 2 x Small Trays of Lemon Tiramisu (11cm square)

Notes:

  1. If you would like to be updated for more recipes which I strive to create to perfection for sharing and for free, do check out my Instagram, Facebook Page, or YouTube 🙂 Thank you so much for all of your support! Feel free to tag me or link back here!
  2. Best consumed within the week!
  3. Please do not copy and paste the recipe without my permission, but feel free to link back here!

Enjoy!
– Bakeomaniac, Javier Tan