I love tiramisu and black forest anything so I created this easy no-bake dessert. Quick and delicious, it's a combination of tiramisu and my family's favorite Black Forest Trifle. If you're looking for easy Italian desserts for a potluck, you'll love this one!
So, it was perfectly fitting for my VERY FIRST blog post when I started Food Meanderings 2 years ago. Because it was my first post and I'm celebrating my 2nd-year Blogiversary I have decided to fix up this delicious, gorgeous, and easy dessert and republish it! Wow. Hard to believe it's been 2 years. It's been quite the ride...
Jump to:
Fortunately, the 2nd year of blogging is easier than the first. I'm not saying it's easy because it most definitely is not, but the learning curve isn't quite as steep. You can read about my first year of blogging and what I'd wish I'd known before I started a food blog here: 10 things I wish I had known BEFORE I started a food blog.
I think it's like anything new (i.e. a new job), in the second year you get into a better groove, it's less overwhelming and you can move past survival and into the realm of creating better quality. Don't get me wrong, it's still a constant learning process and A LOT of work, but once you've established a routine, you are a little more efficient and know how to use your time more effectively. And most importantly, it's still fun. I have especially enjoyed re-shooting several of my first recipes. It's satisfying to see how much I can improve them and how far my photography has come.
YIKES! It definitely wasn't as appetizing as it could have been, but I didn't realize how important photos were at the time. And as we all know, people eat with their eyes first. So, feast your eyes on my new photos! This dessert now looks almost as good as it tastes.
🥘Ingredients
Great potluck desserts can be hard to find. But look no further! This Black Forest Tiramisu is scrumptious and easy with no baking required, making it the ideal potluck dessert (especially on those hot days or when you want the taste of homemade without actually having to turn on the oven).
Who doesn't love whipped cream, chocolate, Kahlua, cherries, lady fingers, and chocolate pudding?! This recipe uses store-bought chocolate cake, instant pudding (snack packs), and canned cherries for quick and easy prep. But from the way it tastes, you'd never know how fast it is to prepare!
For this easy chocolate cherry tiramisu you'll need:
- chocolate cake (pound or loaf cake) -you can use store-bought or homemade
- instant chocolate pudding snack
- mascarpone cheese
- cherry pie filling
- lady fingers brewed vanilla flavored coffee cooled
- Kahlua
- whipping cream (heavy cream)
- white granulated sugar
- cocoa powder
- maraschino cherries
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Cherries: you can use fresh cherries for the garnish or a homemade cherry filling
- Coffee: you can substitute regular coffee or instant coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract can be substituted
- Chocolate garnish: you can use dark chocolate shavings or chopped chocolate instead of cocoa
- Whipped cream - I recommend using real whipping cream (liquid). Do NOT use whipped cream from a spray can, as it will melt and run. You can use Cool Whip or Dream whip as a substitute but I do not recommend it.
👪 Serving Size
This Black Forest Tiramisu recipe makes 12 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You'll just need additional baking dishes/pan.
🍽Equipment
For this easy dessert, you'll need the usual mixing bowls, spoons, spatulas, and an electric mixer (to make whipped cream). I use a glass 9X13 pan with a lid.
🥗 Meals to Serve with No Bake Black Forest Tiramisu
- Make-Ahead Lasagna (with no boil noodles) (shown)
- Meatballs and Polenta
- Baked Beef Cannelloni
- Slow Cooker Beef on a Bun
💭Top Tip
- You can make this Italian dessert up to 2 days in advance. However, I like to make it the night before. It can also be made last minute, but it's best if you let it sit for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- This is best served in dessert bowls, as it has more of a trifle consistency
🌡️Storage
Store this black forest tiramisu in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. These ingredients do not stand up to freezing.
AND....if you love tiramisu, then give my other tiramisu recipes a try!
Saskatoon Berry (Juneberry) Dessert Shooters
When I first started this blog, I actually worried that I may run out of recipes/recipe ideas. And I guess it's a legitimate concern. However, I have noticed that I consistently have up to 100 recipes and ideas in my drafts.
So, I don't think that's going to be a problem. I also worried that I'd get tired of it. But that hasn't happened either. In fact, my passion for it has not wavered and I'm still having FUN! So, until I'm no longer having fun, I'll keep plugging away....
I have brought this No Bake Black Forest Tiramisu to several potlucks and barbecues and it's always a hit!! So, if you are looking for chocolate tiramisu recipes or a cherry dessert, you'll love this one!
⭐ Reviews
Did you make this recipe? If you loved it, please leave a 5-star rating and a comment below!
Here's what others are saying: "Tried this recipe and the whole family loved it!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📋 Black Forest Tiramisu Recipe (No Bake)
Ingredients
- 300 g chocolate pound or loaf cake store-bought or home-made
- 4 158 g -containers instant chocolate pudding snack
- 1½ cups mascarpone cheese
- 540 ml -can cherry pie filling
- 48 lady fingers (400 g package)
- ¾ cup brewed vanilla flavoured coffee cooled, regular coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract can be substituted
- 4 tablespoon Kahlua
- 2 ½ cups real whipping cream (35%)/heavy cream *do NOT use whipped cream in the spray can
- 2 tablespoon white granulated sugar
Garnish
- cocoa about 2 tsp
- 10 Maraschino cherries optional
Instructions
- Mix cooled brewed coffee and Kahlua together.
- Pour ½ of the coffee mixture on the bottom of 9X13 inch baking pan. Place lady fingers in coffee and Kahlua mixture and turn once
- Break up cake into pieces and place evenly over soaked biscuits.
- In a separate bowl, mix pudding with mascarpone cheese. *You can do this by hand or with an electric mixer on low speed.
- Spread creamy mascarpone mixture over cake with a rubber spatula. Pour remaining coffee Kahlua mixture into shallow bowl. Dip each lady finger and turn once.
- Place soaked lady fingers over pudding mixture. Spread cherries evenly over lady fingers.
- In a large bowl, beat whipping cream to soft peaks, then add white granulated sugar and continue beating to stiff peaks. The whipping cream should double in volume (approximately).
- Top dessert with whipped cream and spread evenly.
Garnish
- Sprinkle cocoa over whipped cream. Top with maraschino cherries, if desired.
- *This dessert is best if it sits at least 6 hours or overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
🍰More No Bake Potluck Desserts
Be sure to check out my other 15 No Bake Potluck Desserts!
Beverly
Can you make this a day ahead?
Terri Gilson
Hi Bevely,
You definitely can and I usually do. It's better if it sits overnight anyway. Just be sure to use a real whipped cream (not the spray one in the can because that will melt and run). Enjoy!
Sharon
Hey Terri! My blog turned FIVE last month and I am still learning new things. Also I have been slowly updating my cringe worthy old photos. It's funny how proud I was of them back in the day! This dessert looks fabulous. Black forest was my fave as a kid. My mom would customise it for me and instead of cherries I would have strawberries. I might try this with fresh summer berries!
Terri Gilson
Hi Sharon! Wow - 5 years! Congrats to you - that is major commitment 🙂
Thanks re: dessert. I think strawberries (or any berries) would be wonderful with this!
Cheryl
What an incredible idea, this is two of my all-time favourite things combined! My father would absolutely love it, too, I will be filing it away for his next visit!
Terri Gilson
Hi Cheryl: Thanks! I hope you and your Dad enjoy it!
Diane
So clever Terri! I have tried a lemon variation on Tiramisu, but the Black Forest idea sounds tantalizing. I think I might flavour it with kirsch instead of kahlua. Looking forward to trying this. Sounds sure to be a crowd pleaser. Diane | Kitchen Bliss | FBC
Terri Gilson
Hi Diane: Thank you! I love the idea of using Kirsch, as I do use it in my black forest cake. You could even use both 🙂
Sue
Tried this recipe and the whole family loved it!
Terri Gilson
So glad to hear that, Sue!
Sue Slaght
This looks delicious but what I like best is that your recipe makes me feel as though I could actually do it!
foodmeanderingscom
Thanks - yes, it's easy and yummy! Hope you enjoy...