A pumpkin spice tiramisu that layers espresso-soaked ladyfingers with a mascarpone and pumpkin cream has been developed by Delish, building on the drink that shares the dessert’s defining ingredient. The recipe yields 12 to 16 servings, with a prep time of 15 minutes and a total time of 3 hours 30 minutes including the essential refrigeration.
Why Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu Works as a Seasonal Variation
The recipe’s author describes themselves as a self-proclaimed tiramisu devotee but not a committed pumpkin spice fan. After testing this version, they write that they are now ‘a pumpkin spice believer.’ The central logic is straightforward: pumpkin spice lattes and tiramisu both rely on espresso, so the flavour bridge between the two is genuine rather than forced.
The base of the cream mixture combines whipped heavy cream, mascarpone, canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Pressing excess liquid from the pumpkin puree before combining it with the mascarpone is a key preparation step, preventing the cream layer from becoming loose. Half the whipped cream is folded into the pumpkin mixture; the rest is kept back for piping on top.
Building the Layers and Getting the Finish Right
The assembly follows the structure of a classic tiramisu. 48 ladyfingers are dipped briefly, around one second each, into a combination of 4 cups of cold espresso and 1 tablespoon of Kahlúa. They are arranged in two rows of 12 across the base of a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish, then covered with half the pumpkin cream. The process repeats for the second layer.
The finishing touch is piped reserved whipped cream across the top using a large star tip, shaped to resemble the swirl on a pumpkin spice latte. A dusting of extra pumpkin spice goes on just before serving rather than during assembly, which keeps the surface clean during refrigeration.
The full ingredients list calls for 4 cups of cold heavy cream, two-thirds of a cup of confectioners’ sugar, half a teaspoon of kosher salt, one 14-ounce can of pumpkin puree, 16 ounces of mascarpone, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice. The only equipment beyond standard mixing bowls and a stand mixer or handheld mixer is a piping bag and a large star tip for the decoration.
Storage and Serving
Once assembled, the tiramisu should be refrigerated for a minimum of three hours, with overnight resting an option. For storage beyond the day of making, it should be wrapped and kept in the refrigerator for up to three days. The cream layers set properly only after sufficient chilling, so patience in this stage is built into the recipe’s design rather than optional.
The recipe sits within a wider run of tiramisu variations the author has produced across seasons, with summer versions preceding this autumn edition. Pumpkin spice’s association with the colder months made it the natural candidate for the season’s instalment, and the espresso link gave the combination a structural coherence beyond the seasonal theme alone.
The Delish app, available as a free download, offers a Cook Mode feature for following the recipe step by step without the screen dimming. Photo credits go to Linda Pugliese, with food styling by Makinze Gore.