Tiramisu Martini cocktail recipe

An homage to the Italian coffee-flavoured dessert, this Tiramisu Martini is delicious, indulgent and easy to make, and certainly easier than making a traditional tiramisu. Perfect for coffee-lovers and sweet-tooths alike, it combines vodka and coffee liqueur with rich dark chocolate, cream and a feather-light garnish of mascarpone cheese. Delish!

Tiramisu originally hails from Treviso in the north of Italy, where it was first developed in the 1800s. The name means ‘pick me up’ and comes from the Treviso dialect ‘tireme su’, which was Italianised to tiramisu in the late 20th century. According to local legend, the tiramisu was invented by a brothel madam, who proclaimed the dessert had aphrodisiac qualities.

Although far from a true Martini, the Tiramisu Martini also owes a lot to its spiritual sister and forerunner, the Espresso Martini, which was created in 1983 by Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie in London.

This deliciously decadent cocktail is the ultimate after-dinner indulgence – a drink and dessert all in one!

As a sweet, creamy cocktail, there are plenty of versatile flavours to play with that put a different spin on the Tiramisu Martini. Not a dark chocolate fan? Try substituting the dark crème de cacao liqueur with a standard or a white crème de cacao. Or if you like those sweet, nutty flavours, try using Frangelico or Amaretto. And for the cocktail mavericks out there keen to experiment, sub in a salted caramel syrup or salted coconut syrup for a salty-sweet alternative.

Once your flavours are sorted, you can make this a real showstopper with some delicious additional garnishes. Prior to straining your Tiramisu Martini, drizzle some melted dark chocolate inside the glass to create a striking and decorative contrast. To finish things off with a bit of north-Italian flair, pop a small Savoiardi, or Lady Fingers biscuit, in the whipped cream garnish.