This healthy tiramisu recipe is made with homemade lady fingers that are gluten and grain free. A super creamy and high protein dessert, this Greek yogurt tiramisu is made with Kaluha (or sweetened espresso), spiced dark chocolate, and of course, mascarpone cheese!
Contents
A Healthy Tiramisu Recipe
Greek yogurt is a favorite around our house. It’s the perfect dessert. It’s high in protein, contains helpful probiotics, and has a creamy, rich texture similar to ice cream.
My go-to late night sweet treat is a cup of Greek yogurt with sliced frozen bananas. It inspired me to start using Greek yogurt to add nutrition to some fun desserts!
This healthier version of tiramisu is made with a quick and simple process. Yogurt replaces the need for making an Italian zabaglione, which is a cooked egg yolks and sugar mixture. There are also no whipped egg whites – the yogurt makes a light and creamy texture all on it’s own!
This Greek yogurt tiramisu is not only higher in protein and lower in sugar (with no processed sugar!) than the standard option, it also uses a homemade gluten and grain free lady finger recipe. They are the perfect light texture to absorb the espresso flavor. No one will be able to tell you’ve made this swap!
While being a healthier version of the famous Italian dessert, this is not a low calorie tiramisu. We are swapping carbs like white flour and white sugar for nutrient-dense alternatives.
Homemade Gluten and Grain Free Lady Fingers
When I first decided to make a homemade tiramisu, I knew it would be a challenge to find gluten free lady fingers. I also didn’t want to buy a special pan only to bake lady fingers, that I would use maybe once a year.
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients and requires no special kitchen tools! The cake is a coconut flour vanilla cake recipe. One it thickens, it’s the perfect consistency to pipe onto a baking pan. If you don’t have piping bags and a large round tip, use a ziplock bag with the corner cut.
Don’t be intimidated by making your own lady fingers! They are honestly so simple with my “cheater” method.
What You’ll Need
Paleo Lady Fingers
- Coconut Flour
- Almond Flour
- Baking Soda
- Eggs
- Honey (or use maple syrup or date syrup)
- Vanilla Extract
Greek Yogurt Tiramisu
- Greek Yogurt (full fat Organic yogurt is recommended!)
- Mascarpone Cheese (this is the soft Italian “cream cheese” that is classically used for a tiramisu filling. It’s usually found near the deli with gourmet cheese offerings.)
- Honey (other liquid sweetener options like date syrup or maple syrup also work!)
- Vanilla Extract
- Espresso + Honey OR Kahlua (tiramisu is classically made with espresso with brandy or rum added. I love using just straight Kahlua, since it has the coffee flavor. Make it healthier and alcohol-free by using honey sweetened espresso or strong brewed black coffee.)
- Cacao Powder (or natural cocoa powder)
- Cinnamon (optional, but such a great added flavor!)
- 85% Dark Chocolate
Baking Supplies
- Half Sheet Pan or 2 Quarter Sheet Pans
- Parchment Paper
- Piping Bags
- 8 x 12 baking dish (a 9 x 9 pan would work also!).
How to Make A Healthy Tiramisu
First, prepare lady fingers. Skip these steps if using store bought lady fingers!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 310º F. Line a half sheet pan or two quarter sheet pans with parchment paper, and set aside.
Step 2: Into a mixing bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, and baking soda.
Step 3: Into a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, then add the honey, vanilla extract, and coconut oil. Whisk the wet mixture until throughly combined.
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients, and stir until no lumps remain. The coconut flour will look clumpy at first, but as it absorbs liquid, they will stir out. Allow the batter to sit and thicken for about 5 minutes (coconut flour is absorbs a lot of liquid, so give it time to come together so it’s easier to pipe onto the parchment paper!).
Step 5: Use a piping bag with a large round tip, and add the batter into the piping bag. Pipe 2 1/2 inch lady fingers onto the baking paper. This recipe makes about 60 lady fingers, which is perfect for 3 layers in a tiramisu.
Step 6: Bake the lady fingers for 12 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes while preparing the Greek yogurt filling.
Assembling the Greek Yogurt Tiramisu
Step 1: Into a food processor bowl or a stand mixer with whisk attachment, add the Greek yogurt, mascarpone cheese, honey, and vanilla extract. Process until combined into a light and airy texture.
Step 2: Combine espresso and honey (or add Kahlua) to a shallow bowl. Dip ladyfingers into the coffee mixture, and then add in a single layer to the bottom of an 8″x12″ or 9″x9″ baking dish.
Step 3: Add 1/3 of the Greek yogurt mixture to the top of the lady finger layer. Smooth into an even layer.
Step 4: Add a generous dusting of cocoa powder (about 2 teaspoons) to the top of the yogurt layer. Start adding a second layer of espresso-soaked lady fingers. Repeat steps 2-4 until there are 3 layers in the dish.
Step 5: Sprinkle finely chopped or shaved dark chocolate over the top layer.
Step 6: Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to overnight, to fully set. This allows some of the liquid from the yogurt mixture to soak into the ladyfingers and for the flavors to develop. The next day is when the tiramisu is it’s best, if you can make this in advance!
How to Store Leftover Healthy Tiramisu
Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil tightly, and refrigerate for up to 7 days. The cake just gets better and better after a day or two!
I do not recommend freezing this recipe. The yogurt will separate and become watery once thawed.
If you’d like to prep this dessert ahead of time, pack the baked lady fingers in an airtight container and freeze until ready to assemble the dessert (assemble it a day before serving is possible!). Prepare the Greek yogurt mixture and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
What Greek Yogurt Should I Use?
Greek yogurt can vary greatly in consistency! For this recipe, a very thick yogurt needs to be used.
I like Fage 5% Greek yogurt. It has a great flavor and texture.
Unsweetened Greek Yogurt: I recommend buying an unflavored/unsweetened Greek yogurt and using your own sweetener to flavor it to taste. Unflavored yogurts are usually thicker but you can also lightly sweeten your dessert to your own preference, and also use a healthier form of sugar.
Thicken your Yogurt: Greek yogurt is simply strained to separate out the liquid whey. When I have bought thinner yogurts, I have strained it myself to make a thicker version! Line a colander with a couple paper towels or a cheesecloth, and put the colander in a bowl to collect the liquid that drains. Add the yogurt to the colander and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least a couple hours or overnight. Dump the liquid whey from the bowl and use the thickened yogurt for this recipe.
Make this Your Own Gluten Free Tiramisu
Make it Dairy Free: Substitute coconut yogurt (make sure it’s a thick yogurt!) and a vegan cream cheese in place of the mascarpone.
Alcohol Free Tiramisu: Brandy or dark rum are used in traditional tiramisu recipes. I like to use Kahlua (coffee liquor) because you don’t need to add espresso for the coffee flavor. However, using sweetened espresso will add the delicious coffee flavor with no need to add alcohol. If you don’t have an espresso machine, strong brewed coffee or even instant coffee will work.
Low-Fat Tiramisu: If you’d like to make this dessert lighter, use fat free Greek yogurt instead of full fat.
Alternatives to Lady Fingers: The grain free lady fingers recipe is the closest you’ll get to the texture of a traditional Italian tiramisu. However, a quicker option is a viral trend on TikTok – make the tiramisu with rice cakes instead of lady fingers. These will not absorb the flavors of the cake as well.
Another option is to use a healthier gluten free or grain free cake recipe and cut the cake into strips.
Add Fruit: We love adding berries into this dessert! They compliment the creamy mascarpone mixture and the chocolate so well. Add 1/2 cup of raspberries to the top of each lady finger layer, spreading the yogurt mixture on top. Add extra berries to the top after sprinkling it with chocolate. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, or a mixture of any or all, work well with the flavors in this healthy tiramisu recipe! Try a strawberry version with chopped strawberries through the layers on on top, like this Chocolate Strawberry Tiramisu.
High Protein Tiramisu: If you’d like to make this even higher in protein, add plain or vanilla protein powder to the yogurt mixture. As written, this dessert has 19 grams of protein per serving. Increase this to 30 grams of protein per serving by adding 66 grams of whey protein to the recipe.
Other Greek Yogurt Desserts
- Greek Yogurt Lemon Cheesecake
- Mini Greek Yogurt Chocolate Cheesecakes
- Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip
- Greek Yogurt Smoothie
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Healthy Tiramisu with Greek Yogurt (High Protein Dessert!)
Ingredients
Lady Fingers
- 6 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Tiramisu
- 2 1/2 cups greek yogurt full fat recommended
- 9 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons Kahlua *see notes for non-alcoholic version using espresso and sweetener
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder stir in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon for "Mexican" chocolate flavor
- 1 ounce 85% dark chocolate shaved
Instructions
Lady Fingers
- Preheat over to 320º F.
- Mix the wet ingredients together in a small bowl along with the baking soda. Mix well to combine.
- Add the coconut flour and almond flour, mixing well until there are no clumps remaining. Do not worry about overstirring.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. The coconut flour is very absorbent, and the batter should thicken up considerably. If after 5 minutes the batter doesn’t seem thick enough to pipe into lady fingers, add another tablespoon of coconut flour, mix well, and allow to sit another 5 minutes to thicken.
- Add the thickened batter to a piping bag or plastic ziplock bag. Cut a 1/2 inch slit in one corner, and pipe 2 1/2 inch long strips. Leave space between each one; the batter rises and spreads slightly.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool.
Tiramisu
- Add the Greek yogurt, mascarpone cheese, honey and vanilla to a food processor bowl, and process for 30-45 seconds, until mixture is very smooth. This can also be done by hand but will take longer to fully incorporate the mascarpone.
- Add Kahlua (or espresso + honey) in a small bowl. Dip cooled lady fingers in, soaking the bottom half of each one. Arrange soaked lady fingers along the bottom of a 8×8 baking dish. Cover the lady fingers with 1 cup of yogurt mixture, 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder, and 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate.
- Repeat for 2 more layers.
- Refrigerate to set. For pretty, well-set slices, it’s best to let it set overnight.
Wow, this is awesome, Michelle! I really loved the idea of making your own lady fingers and using Greek yogurt. Pinning! I love Greek yogurt as well, it’s my late night snack too – just plain, I find it so creamy and satisfying. Great job with this cake! Keep it up!
I am not following a gluten free diet or anything but this healtheir version of tiramisu is calling my name. I plan to make this soon and I’m trying to avoid buying any extra ingrediants. What flours can I use instead of the coconut and almond flour?
Hi Amie! This yogurt version is sooo good. Definitely less indulgent but equally as delicious as the classic. If you don’t want to make the homemade lady fingers, you could always just buy lady fingers and use the yogurt filling. Almond flour can be subbed with regular flour or all purpose gf flour, but coconut flour is very unique and there is no direct sub for it! You could also just look for a lady finger recipe that uses ingredients you use, and then come back and use my recipe for the rest. I also have Greek yogurt cheesecake recipes that you’d also love!
Thanks Olena! I love seeing your comments. Greek yogurt is the best dessert 🙂
OMG yummie dish. You have described it in a well way. Yogurt is good for health. I will surely try this
Thanks! I’d love to hear if you do try it. Yogurt is the perfect dessert because it is so healthy- and so amazingly delicious!
I made my classic tiramisu with lady fingers brushed with black coffee. This is lady finger free and its great. Maybe someday, I could make some added twist to this recipe. Thank you for posting this “heaven food”
Tiramisu is indeed “heaven food!”
This type of tiramisu looks really tasty and also unique from the regular tiramisu.
Aw!!! I love tiramisu. I will try this in this coming weekend. Thanks for sharing~~
I’d love to hear if you like it!
OMG!! Im drooling over this.,, :'(
It’s pretty quick to make, and gets better as it sits in the fridge a few days. My boyfriend is begging for me to make another one.
Haha, I’d take yogurt over ice cream any day 🙂
oh my, you just got me drooling over here! that tiramisu looks really good! it’s also the first time i’ve seen a variation of it too, and whut, with greek yogurt to boot! i wanted to say i’d love to do it too, but as always, recipes intimidate me (for some reason) haha. i’ll just go ahead and indulge on a good cup of greek yogurt. >XD
Don’t be intimidated by recipes! If you buy the lady fingers, the greek yogurt mixture couldn’t be easier to make– this dessert would take you 10 minutes to throw together. Try it!
Woooww ,Thats an ultimte artcile you had written and i love cheese items much gotta go to try them hope posts like this from u
Good Luck
Goddness Michelle, that looks mouth watering. I love sweets and your desert is making me break my promise that I will stay away from them for a while. Thank God I have some Greek yogurt in the house. 🙂
Hugs,
Rally
You don’t need to stay away from sweets if you make healthy ones! You should check out my chocolate chip mint smoothie (made with some very healthy ingredients, and only the sugar in the dark chocolate chips), and no-bake german chocolate cookie bars (sweetened entirely by fruit!).
Oh boy this looks amazing and now I am hungry, LOL. I would love to see a post about your yogurt sundaes. They sound great!
Check back next week for more yogurt treats– the yogurt sundae post is also in the works!
Coconut flour actually tastes nothing like coconut! You can’t actually tell these lady fingers aren’t made with wheat– coconut and almond flours are amazing (and healthy!). But even if you buy lady fingers, the greek yogurt mixture in this is the best part!
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Looks so yummy!! Thank you for this recipe! 🙂
This recipe reminds me of Mango float, I love to try one.. Thank you for the recipe!
i just have to say that I have been lookin’ for a healthy tiramisu version for quite some time now and this one is as good if not even better than that ordinary version of tiramisu. So thank you for this very delicious recpie. i love eaing healthy, that is why i think your recepies are great.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and tell me! I love that recipe. I am working on a greek yogurt cheesecake recipe right now– so stop by later on for that one 🙂
Wow, Michelle, this dish is just perfection. I’m with you, I love the tangy taste of yogurt and add it to a lot of dishes. This is truly mouth watering as I’m a big fan of Kahlua as well. Black Russians, anyone? 🙂
Thank you Robyn! We love this recipe– it was made so many times last summer. I think I see a fruity version in our near future…!
This looks so good! I love love love tiramisu and am all over this healthier version. Pinned!!
Thanks Kristen! It’s one of my favorite recipes. Yogurt <3
I also prefer frozen yogurt over ice cream! Saving this recipe for later! YUM!
Something about fro yo 🙂
My husband loves tiramusi. He would love this.
Hi
with the nutritional value is this 522 calories per serving (1 of 6) or for the whole dish?
The 522 is for a slice if you cut the cake into 6 slices — however, they are large slices! If you need to lower the calories, use a fat free greek yogurt, or just cut into 8 smaller slices.
Hi!!
Love this recipe!!!
I was just wondering, I bought no sugar added Greek yogurt. Is that okay? It seems like the recipe is not very sweet, did the Greek yogurt need to be sweetened? If so what should I do?
I use plain yogurt! My desserts are all less sweet than standard recipes — I think you’ll find it doesn’t need any additional sugar!
Hi Michelle,
This looks absolutely delicious and lighter with the use of yogurt.
As a lover of tiramisu, I look forward to trying it 🙂
T
Thank you! I think you will love it — one of my favorites here.
Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I will try it next week. Have you tried using espresso instead of Kahlua?
So funny! I was just thinking about making this for my boyfriend who doesn’t like alcohol in his food — I was thinking I would use espresso or strong instant coffee with a little vanilla and maple syrup. There’s no reason it wouldn’t work great!
The BEST tiramisu!! The Greek yogurt is a dream in this.
My perfect dessert along with a coffee.