Recently, I got inspired by this viral trend on Instagram and decided to try this de-constructed keto friendly single serve tiramisu at home. I even bought special glasses to enjoy this dessert. I have a big sweet tooth but store-bought ones are not to my liking due to the high refined sugar content in them. This homemade treat might not be as decadent as the store-bought ones, but this dessert is guilt-free as it will be made with clean ingredients. So, it will make you energized without the unnecessary sugar rush or feeling tired after consuming the dessert. Plus, it takes only 30 minutes to prepare! I have experimented with this recipe in three ways to find a healthier choice. Here, I will share both successes and failures with this healthy alternative.
Classic Recipe Attempt
The original recipe from the internet turned out great.
Ingredients:
- Ezekiel 4:9 “Cinnamon Raisin Sprouted Whole Grain Bread (2 pcs)
- Instant coffee mix (1-2 tsp)
- Cottage Cheese (half-cup)
- Sour Cream (half-cup)
- Honey (2-3 tsp)
I used “Ezekiel 4:9 “Cinnamon Raisin Sprouted Whole Grain Bread” instead of ladyfingers for a keto-friendly alternative.
Tips: Using bread as a base makes the process faster. Also, you can use any bread you like. I used this bread because it is whole grain and made of sprouts, which does not spike your blood sugar as soon as you savor the dessert.
Steps:
- The first step is to soak the bread in the instant coffee mix.
- For the coffee, mildly heat up the water and mix the coffee powder.
- Cut the bread according to the cup size for a neater tiramisu cup look. You can also cut the crusts of the bread for a smooth consistency. Sometimes, your spoon might not cut well through the bread due to those harder crusts, as those take longer to soak the coffee mix.
- Now, it is time to make the pouring mix. I have used organic cottage cheese and organic sour cream. You can use greek yogurt as well.
- At this stage, add some brown sugar or healthy sweeteners such as honey and stevia. Blend until you see a pourable consistency in the mixture. After this, it is time to assemble.
- For the assembly, first put the coffee soaked bread at the bottom of the glass. Then pour the cottage cheese and sour cream mix on top to cover the bread. Then again, add another layer of bread and the blended mix. After that, top it with some cocoa powder.
Plant-Based Protein Variation
In my attempt to use plant-based protein, I swapped out cottage cheese for blended firm tofu. This is what I did:
Ingredients and Steps:
- I used 1/4 of an entire firm tofu chunk.
- I blended the tofu with 2 teaspoons of sour cream.
- I added 1-2 tablespoons of kefir for additional probiotics. But skip it if you are looking for a 100% plant based recipe.
- I blended the whole mix until smooth and pourable.
Tips and overall taste: The tofu mix had a nice consistency but an overpowering smell. Adding vanilla essence improved the scent, but it was still lacking flavor when compared to the original recipe. I’d give this version a 5/10. I might try a different kind of tofu next time.
Twist with Bananas and Sour Cream
Lastly, I tried banana and sour cream mix to pour on the bread. I had some ripe bananas and wanted to try it as a tiramisu alternative. Obviously, it cannot be called tiramisu. It is more like bread pudding. But I really liked the flavor and texture.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure the coffee flavor would complement the bread pudding. It exceeded expectations, though. This version was enjoyable and easy to make without baking, earning a 6/10.
Choice of coffee
I used dark roast instant coffee for the coffee mix, and without sugar, one batch turned out extremely bitter. Use organic honey, brown sugar, or another healthy sweetener to taste for sweetness. You might also try using coffee with a medium or light roast.
It was an enjoyable and delicious adventure trying out these deconstructed tiramisu recipes. Have fun whipping up your own single-serve tiramisu at home—a guilt-free way to get motivated without sacrificing your health!