Whipping sponge....

This is my first time doing a proper Tiramisu....my usual one, is a simple make-shift thingy. Use to make it during college time when money was tight....kekekeke.

Simple Tiramisu - Cheap and Tasty

You'll need Jacob's Cracker or my mom used to buy Ping Pong Brand Crackers (yes, its called Ping Pong...), 500ml whipping cream, egg yolks, caster sugar (about 4-5 tablespoon), Nescafe Special Blend...and a sponge cake that you can buy from a neighbourhood bakery (comes in vanilla or pandan flavour, you can find them in Pasar Malam too).

First whipped whipping cream till stiff....take care not to overwhipped or you'll get lumpy bits. I usually add 2 tbsp of caster sugar and a tsp of vanilla essence, coz I dun like the smell and taste of cream/milk. Keep it in the fridge for chilling.

Then crack and separate about 4-6 eggs, and use only the egg yolks. Put them in a bowl, mixed with 2 tbsp of caster sugar, and beat it with a whisk/mixer until the colour turn light yellow (mustard like colour), and put the bowl in a double boiler, and stir continuously until the mixture is thick and gooey. Let cool...

Make 2 large cup of dark coffee with 1-2 tbsp of sugar, and if you want, can add some kahlua/rum.

By now, the egg mixture should be cool enuff.....and this in when u fold the whipped cream into the egg mixture. Don't pour all the egg mixture into the whipped cream, in case its still too hot...coz then, the whipped cream will turn watery (at worst), or it'll deflate. Add in a tub of 250g mascarpone if you are feeling rich.....

When all these are done, you can start assembling your tiramisu.

Cut the sponge cake across and line a round baking tin with the sponge cake. Stuff the hole in the middle (the sponge cake is baked using a Bundt tin..so there'll be a hole) with some sponge cake. Spread a layer of the whipped cream mixture.

Soak a piece of cracker into the coffee mixture and line it on top of the layer of cream...taking care not to have a soggy cracker. The cracker should still retain a certain level of crunchiness. Filled up the whole layer with coffee-soaked crackers. Then spread another layer of cream...you can sprinkle some chocolate shavings, choc chips and etc then stuff another layer of sponge, then layer with cream, and layer with crackers until you are out of ingredients. Chill it in the fridge overnight (at least 6 hours to set).

For me, the look is not important..coz I'll be stuffing myself with this...coz I know it'll taste really good...I like the crunch of the crackers........if you are out of cream to cover the top of your tiramisu, just drizzle the top with Hershey Chocolate Syrup.....slurp...slurp...

For the proper tiramisu as shown in the picture....its really damn easy. Just check out this YouTube link - Tiramisu Recipe.

I substitute the Marsala wine with brandy...coz I can't find Marsala wine......and I'm too lazy to shave the chocolate...so I used Hershey Chocolate Chips and some choc sprinkles....

I love the mascarpone cream layer....its really spongy. Its not really clear from this pic, but I added a layer of biscuit base (made from Digestive biscuits, I throw in some butter shortbread too....and drizzle the crushed biscuits with about 2 tbsp melted butter, and baked it in the oven 180 degrees from about 3-5 mins, or until brown).

The side view is quite ugly rite....the sponge fingers with peeling skin.....eeekss...

Top view, proof of my laziness...you can see bits of choc shavings from the dark choc block...where I gave up half way coz its already 11pm, and I'm lazy to shave the choc block until it covers the whole cake!!! Choc sprinkles is much faster....kekekeek

My brekkie the next morning.....quite a big slice rite???