This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Vegan Limoncello Tiramisu is a bright and zesty spin on the classic Italian dessert! Made with layers of homemade vegan ladyfingers, fluffy cream, lemon curd, and a tangy lemon soak infused with limoncello, it’s the perfect no-bake treat for hot summer nights.
We’ve never met an Italian dessert we didn’t love, and this sunny limoncello-infused tiramisu is no exception. With its light, creamy layers and zesty lemon flavor, it’s a bright summer twist on the timeless classic.
This version is made with just 11 ingredients and is surprisingly simple to prepare. It’s the kind of no-bake lemon dessert that comes together best over a few days, so don’t be afraid to break it up and prep the components in advance!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Lemon curd: a thick, smooth, tangy-sweet spread made from lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, butter, and traditionally eggs or egg yolks. For ours, we use cornstarch as a thickener. Find our lemon curd recipe here
- Lemon soak: A simple mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and limoncello infuses the ladyfingers with a punch of citrus flavor.
- Vegan cream mixture: This mixture consists of vegan cream cheese (to mimic the tanginess of mascarpone cheese), granulated sugar, and vegan heavy cream whipped together until thick and creamy.
- Vegan ladyfingers: We used our homemade vegan ladyfingers recipe, but if you can buy vegan-friendly ladyfingers in stores, feel free to use them.
- Lemon zest: Adds a final burst of citrus aroma and flavor. Zest right before serving for the brightest taste!
Equipment Needed
- Small saucepan
- Medium saucepan
- Whisk
- Large bowl
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- 11×7″ baking dish
- Offset spatula
- Plastic wrap
How to Make Vegan Limoncello Tiramisu
Before getting started, make sure to bake a batch of our Vegan Ladyfingers and set them aside to cool!
Prepare the Lemon Soak
- Dissolve the sugar in a small saucepan. Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, and water to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the limoncello.
- Cool to room temperature. Pour the lemon soak into a heatproof container and set aside to cool.
Prepare the Cream
- Cream the cream cheese until light and creamy. Add the softened vegan cream cheese, sugar, and lemon zest to a large bowl. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the mixture until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
- Whip the vegan heavy cream into stiff peaks. Add the vegan heavy cream to a separate large bowl and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Combine the cream cheese mixture and heavy cream. Add the whipped cream and ½ cup of the prepared and cooled lemon curd to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low until combined.
How to Assemble the Limoncello Tiramisu
- Dip the ladyfingers in lemon soak. One by one, dip half of the ladyfingers into the lemon soak, about 2 seconds on each side (you don’t want them to be soggy!).
- Layer ladyfingers in an 11×7” baking dish. Once dipped, place them in the bottom of the dish, covering the bottom with an even, single layer of cookies. You might have to cut some of the ladyfingers to make them fit well.
- Top with cream mixture. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the cream mixture on top of the ladyfingers.
- Add lemon curd. Layer about ¼ cup of the lemon curd on the cream mixture and spread evenly.
- Repeat layers once more. Follow this same process, and top with the remaining cream mixture, making the top as flat and level as possible.
- Finish with additional lemon curd. You can dollop spoonfuls of the lemon curd on top and swirl it into the cream mixture with a toothpick or the back of a spoon. Or, for extra lemony flavor, you can spread a thicker layer on top and use an offset spatula to smooth it.
- Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Clean up the edges of the baking dish with a damp towel, as needed, then cover tightly with plastic wrap—place in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Serve. Once chilled, slice and enjoy!
Storage Instructions
Cover leftover limoncello tiramisu tightly with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Can this Tiramisu be Made in Advance?
Yes! We recommend it. While making every recipe component in one day is possible, spreading it out makes the process easier and more enjoyable. Here’s a simple 3-day plan to follow:
- Day 1: Make the vegan ladyfingers and store them in an airtight container.
- Day 2: Prepare the lemon curd and lemon soak. Refrigerate in separate containers until ready to use.
- Day 3: Prepare the cream mixture and assemble the tiramisu. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
More Vegan Lemon Desserts You May Enjoy:
Dessert
Vegan Lemon Posset
Gluten Free
Healthy Vegan Lemon Bars
Dessert
Lemon Olive Oil Cake (Vegan)
Dessert
Glazed Vegan Lemon Loaf
Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you make this recipe. We love to see your photos!
PrintVegan Limoncello Tiramisu Recipe
- Total Time: 8 hours 28 minutes
- Yield: 9-12 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Vegan Limoncello Tiramisu is a bright and zesty spin on the classic Italian dessert! Made with layers of homemade vegan ladyfingers, fluffy cream, lemon curd, and a tangy lemon soak infused with real limoncello, it’s the perfect no-bake treat for hot summer nights.
Ingredients
Lemon soak:
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup limoncello
Cream mixture:
- 8 oz vegan cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¾ cup vegan heavy cream, cold
Assembly:
- 1 batch vegan lemon curd
- 1 batch vegan ladyfingers
Instructions
If you haven’t already, prepare the lady fingers and lemon curd.
Prepare the lemon soak:
- Dissolve the sugar in a small saucepan. Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, and water to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the limoncello.
- Cool to room temperature. Pour the lemon soak into a heatproof container and set aside to cool. This can also be made in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to assemble.
Prepare the cream:
- Cream the cream cheese until light and creamy. Add the softened vegan cream cheese, sugar, and lemon zest to a large bowl. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the mixture until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
- Whip the vegan heavy cream into stiff peaks. Add the vegan heavy cream to a separate large bowl and beat until stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine the cream cheese mixture with heavy cream and lemon curd. Add the whipped cream and ½ cup of the prepared and cooled lemon curd to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low until combined.
Assemble:
- Dip the ladyfingers in lemon soak. One by one, dip half of the ladyfingers into the lemon soak, about 2 seconds on each side (you don’t want them to be soggy!).
- Layer ladyfingers in an 11×7” (or similar-sized) baking dish. Once dipped, cover the bottom of the dish with an even, single layer of cookies. You might have to cut some of the ladyfingers to make them fit well.
- Top with cream mixture. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the cream mixture on top of the ladyfingers.
- Add lemon curd. Layer about ¼ cup of the lemon curd on the cream mixture and spread evenly.
- Repeat layers once more. Follow this same process, and top with the remaining cream mixture, making the top as flat and level as possible.
- Finish with additional lemon curd. You can dollop spoonfuls of the lemon curd on top and swirl it into the cream mixture with a toothpick or the back of a spoon. Or, for extra lemony flavor, you can spread a thicker layer on top and use an offset spatula to smooth it.
- Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Clean up the edges of the baking dish with a damp towel, as needed, then cover tightly with plastic wrap—place in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Serve. Once chilled, slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Cover leftover limoncello tiramisu tightly with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 8 hours 23 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
I love classic tiramisรน but this is perfect for summer season!!!