If you love classic tiramisu but want something a little more magical for the holiday season, this Christmas Tiramisu is about to become your new December tradition. It’s creamy, light, sweet, fruity, and wonderfully spiced — everything you want in a cozy winter dessert. Instead of ladyfingers and coffee, this Christmas-style tiramisu layers soft Speculoos cookies, a luscious mascarpone-quark cream, a touch of orange, and juicy cherries. The result? A festive, no-bake dessert that tastes like Christmas in a dish.
This recipe comes together in minutes, requires zero baking, and tastes even better after resting overnight in the fridge. It’s the perfect dessert for Cozy Sundays, Christmas parties, cozy family dinners, or whenever you need a quick but impressive holiday treat. The creamy filling pairs beautifully with the warm spices of the Speculoos cookies, while the cherries bring the perfect fruity balance. Every bite is creamy, gently spiced, refreshing, and absolutely irresistible.
Whether you’re completely new to German-inspired holiday desserts or already obsessed with winter flavors like cinnamon, cloves, and orange, this Tiramisu is a must-try. It’s festive without being heavy, simple without being boring, and it genuinely tastes like something your family will request every single December.
Why You’ll love this Christmas Tiramisu:
- No baking required: This dessert is fully no-bake, making it perfect for busy holiday weeks when the oven is already full of cookies and cakes.
- Creamy and light: The combination of mascarpone, whipped cream, and low-fat quark creates a perfectly balanced filling: rich but not too heavy, creamy but still fluffy.
- Full of cozy holiday flavors: Speculoos cookies, orange zest, vanilla, and cherries turn classic tiramisu into a festive Christmas version.
- Make-ahead friendly: This tiramisu tastes even better the next day. Prep it the night before and enjoy an easy, stress-free dessert.
- Easy to customize: You can add cinnamon, use homemade mulled cherries, or even drizzle the layers with warm spiced orange syrup.
Ingredients You’ll Need for the Christmas Tiramisu:
- Mascarpone: Adds richness and that classic tiramisu creaminess.
- Magerquark (low-fat quark) or greek yogurt: Lightens the cream while keeping it thick and fluffy. Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Heavy cream: Whipped cream makes the filling airy and melt-in-your-mouth.
- Orange juice: Brightens the filling and adds a refreshing citrus note that balances the sweetness.
- Orange zest: Enhances the Christmas vibes with natural aroma and warmth.
- Sugar + vanilla sugar: Sweetens the filling while vanilla adds depth.
- Speculoos cookies: These spiced Christmas cookies replace ladyfingers and add warm cinnamon and caramelized flavors.
- Cherries: A fruity layer that complements the spice from the cookies. Use jarred, canned, or homemade.
- Extra orange juice for soaking: Softens the cookies and gives the dessert that beautiful layered tiramisu texture.
For making the Chrsitmas Tiramisu, here are the essential tools you’ll need:
- Mixing bowl: to prepare the mascarpone cream
- Hand mixer or stand mixer: for whipping the cream to soft peaks
- Rubber spatula: to fold in the cream without losing volume
- Fine grater: for grating orange zest
- Strainer: to drain the cherries well
- Large serving dish or casserole dish: to assemble and layer the tiramisu
- Spoon or offset spatula: for spreading the layers evenly
Here is the full Recipe for the Christmas Tiramisu:
Ingredients:
- 250 g (1 cup) mascarpone
- 250 g (1 cup) low-fat quark or greek yogurt
- 200 ml (3/4 cup) heavy cream
- 5 tbsp orange juice
- 5–6 tbsp sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar or 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- A little orange zest
- 1 jar cherries, drained
- 1 package speculoos cookies
- A little orange juice for drizzling
Directions:
- Whip the cream until stiff.
- Mix mascarpone, quark, orange juice, zest, sugar, and vanilla sugar. Gently fold in the whipped cream.
- Drain cherries and fold them into the cream mixture.
- Spoon a few tablespoons of cream into your serving dish to prevent the first layer of cookies from slipping. Layer the bottom with cookies, spread some cream on top, add another layer of cookies, drizzle with orange juice, and then spread more cream.
- Crumble a few cookies on top. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy the next day.
Tips and Tricks:
Tips for a perfect Christmas Tiramisu:
- Drain the cherries well: Excess liquid can make the tiramisu runny.
- Don’t skip the overnight rest: This dessert gets significantly better after sitting in the fridge.
- Use freshly grated orange zest: The aroma is stronger and more natural than bottled extracts.
- Adjust sweetness to taste: Speculoos and cherries vary in sweetness — feel free to add an extra spoon of sugar if needed.
- Make individual portions: Layer the tiramisu in dessert glasses for a beautiful table presentation.
Serving Suggestions
- Dust with cinnamon before serving
- Add a drizzle of mulled wine syrup
- Top with shaved chocolate
- Decorate with sugared cranberries
- Serve with gingerbread cookies
Storage & Make-Ahead
This dessert keeps beautifully in the refrigerator.
- Store covered for up to 3 days
- Do not freeze – the cream will separate
- The texture improves after the first night in the fridge
Why This Christmas Tiramisu Belongs in Your Christmas Baking List
It’s festive, creamy, spiced, fruity, and unbelievably easy — no oven, no stress, no complicated steps. It highlights everything we love about winter flavors: cinnamon, orange, vanilla, cherries, and cozy cookie layers.
This dessert brings a little Christmas magic to the table, whether you serve it on an Cozy Sunday, at a holiday dinner, or simply because you’re craving something delicious and seasonal.
Once you try this Christmas Tiramisu, it will become one of those recipes you make every single December – and everyone will ask for the recipe.
More Baking Ideas:
- Strawberries & Cream Cookies – Soft, buttery cookies infused with fresh strawberries and a velvety cream filling – the ultimate summer treat!
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies -Delight in the perfect balance of sweet white chocolate and tart raspberries with every bite of these irresistible cookies.
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies -These zesty lemon cookies with a hint of poppy seed crunch will brighten up your day with a refreshing burst of flavor.
- Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd – Bright, tangy, and irresistibly creamy, these Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd are a zesty delight topped with a luscious blueberry swirl. Perfect for citrus lovers looking for a sweet twist!
Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe:
