Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu – Festive Holiday Dessert

A festive gingerbread tiramisu is a luscious holiday twist on the classic Italian dessert. It combines layers of mascarpone cream, coffee-soaked gingerbread cookies, and warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Easy to make ahead and serve chilled, this no-bake dessert brings cozy holiday flavours to your table – creamy, aromatic, and perfectly indulgent.

Hey, folks – I hope you all are doing well.

Today, I’m excited to share this Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu – a beautiful twist on the classic tiramisu that captures all the comforting, spiced flavours of the holidays. This elegant no-bake treat combines rich mascarpone cream with spiced coffee and gingerbread cookies (or gingersnaps). The result is a luscious, creamy, and lightly boozy dessert that tastes just like Christmas in a glass. So let’s dive into this festive dessert.

Why You’ll Love This Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu

• A delightful no-bake dessert that’s perfect for the holiday season.
• Combines the classic tiramisu texture with festive gingerbread and warm spices.
• Elegant yet easy to assemble ahead of time – great for entertaining.
• Layers of mascarpone, coffee, and Marsala create a luxurious, balanced flavour.
• Cozy, aromatic, and irresistibly creamy.

Flavour and Texture Profile

This dessert is creamy, light, and delicately spiced, with hints of coffee, Marsala wine, and molasses-rich gingerbread. The cookies soften beautifully as they absorb the coffee mixture, creating a melt-in-your-mouth texture that contrasts perfectly with the smooth mascarpone cream. Each bite offers notes of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg – ultimate holiday indulgence.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu

To make this luscious, decadent Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu, you will need the following ingredients:

• Gingerbread or Gingersnap Cookies: Provide structure, flavour, and festive warmth. Choose firm cookies that will soften slightly after soaking. You can use my Gingersnap Cookies – they contain less sugar making them perfect for this gingerbread tiramisu.
• Mascarpone: The creamy base for the tiramisu, rich and slightly tangy.
• Egg Yolks (optional): For a more traditional tiramisu texture – they add silkiness and depth. Skip if you prefer to avoid raw eggs.
• Icing Sugar (optional): Lightly sweetens the mascarpone layer if desired.
• Vanilla Bean or Extract: Adds aromatic sweetness that complements the spices. Use real vanilla seeds for a luxurious treat.
• Strong Coffee: The soaking liquid that brings that classic tiramisu character.
• Marsala Wine: A key flavour component — warm, nutty, and slightly sweet. Substitute with rum, brandy, or coffee liqueur if preferred.
• Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, Nutmeg: The heart of this festive twist – together, they transform a classic dessert into a Christmas showstopper.
• Extra Coffee (optional): Deepens the mocha undertone in the cream or soaking syrup.

Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu: Possible Additions and Variations

Although this Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu is already delicious, you can customize it to make it even more exciting:

• Replace Marsala with Kahlúa, Baileys, brandy, or spiced rum for a different boozy note.
• Add a layer of lightly whipped cream for an even airier texture.
• Top with crushed gingerbread crumbs, cocoa powder, or shaved chocolate.
• For a non-alcoholic version, skip the wine and use coffee mixed with a splash of vanilla extract.
• Try layering with a touch of orange zest or a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra festive flair.
• Add a little of honey or molasses to boost the holiday flavours.

More Festive Holiday Desserts

If you are looking for more easy holiday desserts like this Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu, be sure to check these ideas:

• Holiday Pistachio Panettone Trifle – Easy No-Bake Dessert
• Festive Cranberry Trifle – An Easy Holiday Dessert
• Gingerbread Cranberry Panettone Trifle – Easy Christmas Dessert
• Irish Cream Chocolate Dessert – Easy Holiday Treat

I’d love for you to try this Festive Gingerbread Tiramisu. If you give the recipe a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts!

Cheers!

Print

Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu – Festive Holiday Dessert

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Christmas, Festive Christmas Desserts, Boozy Desserts and Treats, Chilled and No-Bake Desserts

Servings

4-6

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Festive gingerbread tiramisu with mascarpone, spiced coffee, and Marsala – a creamy, no-bake Christmas dessert.

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• about 12-14 Gingersnap Cookies or other gingerbread cookies of your choice

• about 475 gr. mascarpone

• 3 egg yolks (optional)

• 2-3 tbsp. icing sugar (optional)

• 1 vanilla bean, seed scraped or 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1/2 to 2/3 cup strong coffee

• 2/3 cup marsala wine

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. ginger

• 1/4 tsp. cardamom

• 1 small nutmeg, freshly grated

• 1 tbsp. coffee (optional)

Directions

• First of all, combine the coffee, marsala wine, honey (if using), and spices except for the vanilla in a bowl. Let it stay for about 10 minutes, then filter to remove the spice sediments. Please note this amount is for a moister version (If you prefer dryer cookies, you will need approximately 1/4 cup of liquid less.)
• In a separate bowl, beat the mascarpone with the powdered sugar and vanilla seeds or extract for 1 minute. Add the egg yolks (if using) and beat for about 1 minute to incorporate.
• You will need this amount of the ingredients for a trifle bowl ~ 750-800 ml.
• Dip a cookie into the coffee mixture for 1-3 seconds, depending on how moist you want them. Arrange a layer of cookies on the bottom. If desired, sprinkle with some extra coffee mixture. Arrange a generous layer of mascarpone. Repeat the layers. You can enjoy the trifle right away, but it’s better to refrigerate it for at least an hour. And it will be even better the next day!