Delicate layers of apple cider-soaked ladyfingers between layers of caramel mascarpone cream filling!

Nothing screams fall quite like drinking a hot apple cider at your town’s annual harvest festival. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve been spoiled with the luxury of having access to the freshest and best-tasting apple cider from my very own backyard, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But before I bore you by taking a never-ending stroll down memory lane, why don’t we just get straight to the real reason you clicked your way in here…

This dessert takes two delicious fall classics and combines them into one phenomenal experience for your tastebuds. With layers of supremely fluffy caramel mascarpone cream filling and apple cider-infused ladyfingers, this Caramel Apple Tiramisu is pretty much the definition of fall pleasure.

Ok, I know I’ve become just a tad bit obsessed with tiramisu recipes, but trust me, you’ll thank me once that first forkful passes your lips. Actually, you probably won’t…because your mouth will be too full shoveling in whatever’s left on the plate.

Why You’ll LOVE This Caramel Apple Cider Tiramisu

EXTRA Fluffy Caramel Mascarpone Filling – The filling is so thick and fluffy, thanks to a generous amount of mascarpone cheese and heavy cream. Mascarpone is a classic ingredient in tiramisu, and you can usually find it in near the fancy cheeses or in the deli area of your grocery store. It’s similar to cream cheese, but it’s mildly sweet and buttery, rather than tangy. Mascarpone is also more velvety in texture.

HOMEmade Caramel Sauce – The caramel sauce is used in both the filling as well as the final drizzle, making it absolutely instrumental to the overall flavor. Although you could definitely save a little time by using store-bought caramel sauce, I highly recommend giving this homemade caramel a try. The depth of flavor is simply incomparable.

TONS of Apple Cider Flavor – The ladyfingers are dipped in a strong bath of spiced apple cider. This infuses them with that wonderful fall zest of flavor, and it really comes through with every single heavenly bite. For this recipe, I used Alpine Spiced Apple Cider instant drink mix. You’ll add four (.74 oz) packets to 1-1/4 cups hot water, stirring until it dissolves completely.

A Quick and Easy No-Bake Dessert – One of the glorious aspects about tiramisus is that no oven is needed. It also comes together in about an hour, AND it can be made ahead of time! In fact, tiramisu is actually best the day after you make it. And with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, this would be the perfect make-ahead dessert to relieve some of that holiday stress.

How to Make Caramel Apple Cider Tiramisu

Start with the Caramel Sauce – The caramel will need some time to cool down completely, so it’s best to start with this part first. Just scoop 3/4 cup of granulated sugar into a stainless steel saucepan (helps prevent crystallization), pour in 1/4 cup of water and a tablespoon of light corn syrup. Set the pan on the stove over medium heat, and leave it alone for the first 5 minutes or so. There’s no need to stir since the boiling will do this for you.

Once the mixture starts turning yellowish, gently swirl the pan with your wrist. Once it reaches a golden amber color, immediately remove the pan from the heat and pour in a half cup of heavy cream. It’ll start to bubble up, so be very careful. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to stir everything together. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. If need be, return the pan to the stove over low heat to melt any hardened pieces of sugar. Allow the caramel to cool completely.

Make the Apple Cider Syrup – Combine 1-1/4 cups of water and four packets of apple cider mix in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Once the cider mix is completely dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and pour it into a shallow bowl to cool completely. You can also place the syrup into the refrigerator to cool it off faster.

Make the Caramel Mascarpone Filling – Before moving onto this step, make sure that the caramel has completely cooled to room temperature. In a well-chilled bowl of a stand mixer with a chilled whisk, whip 1-1/2 cups of heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to another bowl, then return the bowl to the mixer. No need to clean it! Swap the whisk attachment out for the paddle attachment.

Add 16 ounces of mascarpone cheese to the bowl, along with 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, 2/3 cup of the caramel, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat everything together until smooth and creamy. Mix in about a cup of the whipped cream to lighten it up. Then fold in the rest of the whipped cream by hand. Try not to over-mix, or you’ll deflate the filling.

Assemble the Tiramisu – Start with a layer of ladyfingers by dipping them individually into the apple cider syrup and placing them along the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. You’ll have to cut a few of the ladyfingers to make them fit properly. I recommend dipping them into the syrup first since they’ll cut much easier.

After you’ve got an even layer of ladyfingers, spread half of the mascarpone filling on top. Place another layer of cider syrup-soaked fingers on top of the filling, followed by the rest of the mascarpone filling. If you want to achieve the look in the photos, spread half of the remaining filling on top, then scoop the rest into a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. (Alternatively, you could use a gallon ziplock bag with the corner cut off.) Pipe dollops of the filling evenly along the top of the tiramisu.

This Caramel Apple Cider Tiramisu tastes best when it has chilled in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours. However, it tastes EVEN BETTER when you allow its flavors to mingle in the fridge for a whole night.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget the final dazzling drizzle of sweet, sweet caramel on top!