Can You Freeze Tiramisu?  

There’s a very good reason why so many bakeries keep their tiramisu cakes frozen, and that’s because they actually taste better when stored this way. 

So to answer the question, can you freeze tiramisu? Yes, you can freeze tiramisu, and it’s a much better idea than eating it right after you unwrap/make it. 

Tiramisu is comprised of several components, most of which freeze fairly well. Tiramisu can be frozen quickly and safely, and if you know what you’re doing, it will retain its texture, and it will have a much richer taste and flavor afterward.

 I’ve created this guide to help you with the whole process, so let’s start from the top. 

How To Freeze Tiramisu

If you’ve ever frozen creamy cakes, you’re pretty much set for freezing tiramisu. The process is simple, but that’s precisely why it’s also easy to make a mistake.  

If you haven’t frozen creamy sweets before, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the basics, starting with: 

Step 1: Slice Your Tiramisu in Smaller Chunks

Even if you’ve just purchased a smaller tiramisu cake from your local store, there’s still a good reason why slicing it is a good decision. I’ve emphasized in my other articles on numerous occasions that smaller chunks freeze better than the whole piece, and this applies to pretty much every freezable food. 

Furthermore, by portioning your tiramisu, you will be able to pick and choose how large of a quantity you want to use. By freezing the whole tiramisu, you’ll have to thaw it whole too, which means that you’ll have to either eat it all or refreeze it.  

Step 2: Cover in Cling Wrap or Aluminum Foil

Frozen food is susceptible to freezer burn; the severity of this condition depends on the amount of air reaching it. Cling wrap and aluminum foil are there to prevent this altogether.  

Note that this is not an optional step – even if you use airtight freezer containers, I still recommend using cling wrap as an additional safety measure. A lot of tiramisu recipes use sweet cheeses and creams that are very soft; they can become encased in ice crystals pretty badly if air reaches the container, and even airtight ones aren’t really 100% air-proof.  

Cover each piece of tiramisu with either cling wrap or aluminum foil. I recommend the latter, simply because it’s a tougher material that adds a bit more protection, although cling wrap will do the job just fine.  

Step 3: Place Tiramisu Pieces in Airtight Containers

Smaller pieces can easily fit in freezer bags, but I recommend airtight containers so as to avoid creamy ingredients from losing their texture.  

If you have a smaller freezer unit, you can place multiple pieces in one container. Divide them with wax paper to prevent sticking before wrapping them in aluminum foil. If you’ve already wrapped individual pieces, they won’t stick even if they touch anyway.  

Step 4: Mark the Container and Freeze Tiramisu

We’re almost done. The last step is putting a waterproof mark on the container, labeling the type of food and insertion date.  

Is Frozen Tiramisu Good?

Hardly any food tastes as good as tiramisu after freezing. Ladyfinger, the main ingredient of any tiramisu, essentially absorbs the other ingredients (cream, eggs, mascarpone, cocoa powder, and egg yolks) over time. The more time ladyfingers have to absorb the tasty juices, the richer the flavor becomes.  

With a fridge life of merely four days, a good chunk of tiramisu remains unabsorbed. However, when you freeze tiramisu, you are extending its lifespan, thus allowing ladyfingers to completely swallow up the sweetness of chocolate, mascarpone, and cocoa.  

Frozen Tiramisu is also a bit firmer; its usual melting texture is now strong and more pleasurable to eat. Although some prefer it the other way around, I adore thawed tiramisu simply because it feels like eating an actual cake more than eating melted ice cream.  

How Long Can You Freeze Tiramisu?

The good thing about Tiramisu is that it’s comprised of ingredients that freeze pretty great. Eggs can be frozen up to a year, the same goes for chocolate, while cocoa in its powdered state can endure years. Mascarpone is the only ingredient that keeps a little shorter (2-4 months), but given that it’s being absorbed by ladyfingers, its freezer life extends as well. Check our post about freezing Mascarpone cheese for more information.

Although the majority of Tiramisu’s ingredients can be frozen for at least six months, I don’t recommend freezing it longer than four months.

This period of time represents the golden middle – everything above it may turn an otherwise exquisite delicacy into a stiff, crumbling cake with mixed flavors and tastes.   

How To Defrost Tiramisu?

Although I generally recommend using a microwave for thawing most foods, that’s the worst option for defrosting tiramisu. Let’s have a closer look at your options before you decide how to thaw it: 

Fridge Thawing

Fridge thawing is your best bet, because it will revert your tiramisu into its original state while improving its taste and texture. Sadly, this process will take up around eight hours, but it’s more than worth it.  

1. Take out your frozen tiramisu pieces and place them in a bowl.
2. Place the bowl in the fridge and leave it until it becomes soft and spongy again.  

Room Temperature Thawing

This is not a good idea, as harmful enzymes are very likely to ruin it completely.

Unless the temperature of your room is close to 40 F, don’t test this approach.

Microwave Thawing

Microwave thawing is, sadly, not an option. Tiramisu’s texture is very delicate, and it’s one of the lightest creamy cakes, so even if you turn down your microwave to 25% power, it will still be too strong.  

Can you Refreeze Tiramisu?

Technically speaking, you can refreeze the parts that froze the best, but I strongly recommend you don’t. After being absorbed by ladyfingers, mascarpone will be good for a certain amount of time, after which it will begin turning rancid.  

Freezing Different Types of Tiramisu

There are many tiramisu recipes, and some of its parts can be frozen instead of the whole cake: 

Can You Freeze Tiramisu With Raw Eggs?

If you prefer your tiramisu with raw eggs, you can still freeze it, only not as long. The freezing and thawing processes are the same, and I recommend freezing it for two months (although it can endure up to three).  

Can You Freeze Tiramisu Filling?

Tiramisu filling is essentially eggs mixed with mascarpone. While eggs freeze great, mascarpone doesn’t. You can still freeze it, but up to two months.   

Can You Freeze Homemade Tiramisu?

It largely depends on the recipe. If you’re using any ‘conventional’ recipes that revolve around the ingredients I mentioned, you can freeze homemade tiramisu for up to three to four months. Consider sprinkling coffee beans, peanuts, nuts, or whatever toppings you want to enrich it with after thawing.  

Can You Freeze Store Bought Tiramisu?

Yes, it has the same freezer lifespan as homemade tiramisu. It will freeze even better if kept in its original packaging.  

Best Tips For Freezing Tiramisu

To ensure you’re freezing your tiramisu properly, you may want to consider some of these tips and recommendations: 

• Don’t wait until the last day of its fridge life to freeze it 
• Double-wrap in aluminum foil to negate the risk of freezer burn 
• Sealable airtight containers may be better than any freezer wraps 
• You can freeze the fill and simply use it with the ladyfingers at any time 

My Favorite 2 Tiramisu Recipes

The classic Italian tiramisu is my all-time favorite. All you need is a pack of ladyfingers, a pound of mascarpone cheese, four medium eggs, half a cup of sugar, one and a quarter cup of espresso, and your favorite cocoa powder.

Any recipe other than this is a variation of the original Italian recipe. My second favorite substitutes mascarpone (despite how much of a sin that is) with cream cheese and espresso with ground coffee. To compensate for the lack of original flavor, I add a bit of whipped cream and vanilla extract.  

Frequently Asked Questions

We still haven’t covered all topics regarding tiramisu, so before we wrap it up, let me demystify some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this gorgeous treat: 

Verdict

You can and should freeze tiramisu, as it’s easy and beneficial in more ways than one. The process is fairly straightforward, and I hope my guide helped you get through it painlessly.  

How do you prepare tiramisu? Do you serve it with ground coffee or espresso? Let me know in the comments below, and let me invite you to my other Can You Freeze guides, but while we’re at it, eat heartily and enjoy your meal!