A SWEET TREAT GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON EXTRA DELICIOUS!
Every week as I sit down to write out a new holiday recipe for The Tash Mashup, you’ll find me doing one very specific thing: watching a holiday movie. Holiday movies are my absolute favorite—they’re cozy and magical, and the feel-good vibes just make me the happiest. Can you tell I am obsessed with the holidays? As someone who grew up on Bollywood, these holiday movies in particular make me feel seen and it truly feels like my worlds are colliding in the BEST way.
Anyway...that gets me to this week’s pick. It's...Elf.
Can we talk about Buddy''s sweet tooth? Spaghetti with maple syrup & chocolate syrup, M&Ms, mini marshmallows, AND chocolate pop-tarts! LOL. Okay, that's a whole lot of sweetness but that’s where today’s recipe comes in a holiday recipe that couldn't get any cuter OR sweeter: the Chai Tirami-tini.Â
If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with a good lazy girl hack, and Kola Goodies’ Masala Chai Latte is my ultimate go-to - especially on busy work afternoons. It’s chai without the extra effort—and I am nothing short of obsessed. Truly. I am so excited to team up with Kola Goodies and I knew it had to feature their chai sachets for this recipe, specifically. No preservatives, fillers, or artificial ingredients are found here! And no more stovetop spills or having to measure every spice! Bonus: it’s now available at Whole Foods, so it’s easier than ever to snag a pack (or three) for the season!
Kola Goodies’ chai is magic in a cup. You're getting all the warmth and flavor of traditional chai, minus the hassle. It's fast, flavorful, and feels just right for this busy holiday season when you want to keep things simple but still impress.
I love bringing something sweet to Friendsmas or holiday parties when drinks are already covered, and these Chai Tirami-tinis never disappoint. They are the perfect mix of cozy and chic—a dessert that’s just as wonderful at a casual Friendsmas as it is at a glammed-up New Year’s bash. What do I love most about this recipe? It’s a treat that feels way fancier than it actually is. And I've even got you covered with a FAQ if you are in a position where you'll be making tiramisu for the first time ever - I promise it's MUCH simpler than it seems. :)
Happy Holidays, friends!!
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INGREDIENTS
1 sachet Kola Goodies Masala Chai Latte (prepared according to instructions, but extra strong with 6 oz hot water vs. the suggested 8 oz, cooled)
1/4 cup coffee liqueur, optional for a boozy kick (I used Kahlua)
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream (chilled)
1/4 cup superfine powdered sugar (sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6-8 ladyfingers (broken into pieces to fit into the martini glasses)
Unsweetened cacao powder, for garnish, optional but highly recommended (I used Diaspora's Anamalai Cacao)
DIRECTIONSÂ
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Prepare 1 Kola Goodies Masala Chai Latte sachet using 6 oz of hot water to create a slightly diluted but strong chai base. Allow it to cool completely!
To prepare the chai soak it with a coffee liqueur if using - just simply combine the cooled chai with the liqueur in a shallow dish. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Begin whipping the mixture on low speed, adding the powdered sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time, allowing it to incorporate fully before adding more. Increase to medium-high speed and whip until stiff peaks form but stop there as we want to avoid overwhipping to maintain the right texture.
Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the chai soak mixture for 1-2 seconds per side. This is important, as the ladyfingers can quickly disintegrate. Shake off any excess liquid and then layer dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of the martini glasses, breaking the ladyfingers as needed to fit into the martini glass comfortably.
Then, spoon a layer of the whipped mascarpone-cream mixture on top of the dipped ladyfingers.
Repeat the layers until the martini glasses are filled, finishing with a generous layer of mascarpone cream on top.
I know it feels hard to wait but trust me - refrigerate the tirami-tinis for at least 4-6 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the dessert to set. I recommend letting it set overnight for the results.
When ready to serve, dust the top generously with unsweetened cocoa powder seconds before!
~ Serves 2
Notes
Tirami-tini FAQs
How far in advance can I prepare tirami-tinis?
You can prepare the entire dessert up to 24 hours in advance. I know - we love a prep-in-advance kind of dessert during hosting season. Simply cover the glasses tightly with plastic wrap & store them as is in the fridge. I said this above but think it's worth reiterating that the flavors meld together beautifully overnight, so it’s a perfect dessert to make ahead of time!
Do I have to use Kahlua (coffee liqueur)?
Not at all! The Kahlua is optional and adds a nice little boozy kick. You can skip it or add any other liqueur of your choice, I for one plan to try this with my Ghee Washed Rum next time I make it. :)
Can I skip the alcohol altogether?
Yes! This would be a great recipe to batch, making a few with liquor and a few without. To confirm, this recipe works wonderfully without any alcohol.
What if my cream isn’t whipping properly?
I've been there - this FAQ may as well be directed to me. But then again, this is why we test recipes to make sure they are perfect. Here are a few things to keep in mind that were helpful to me as I learned how to make tiramisu at home.
Make sure your heavy cream is COLD before you use it— chilled cream whips best.
If your kitchen is warm like mine is (San Diego weather in December, I tell you), I found that placing my mixing bowl in the freezer 10-15 minutes before whipping works like a charm.
You want to make sure your powdered sugar doesn't have any clumps. I used superfine powdered sugar (commonly found in the store as 'confectioners' sugar' to start but if you can, try to sift it beforehand to make sure we don't end up with a grainy whipped topping.
What if I run out of chai-soak mixture?
I hope this is not the case as that might mean the chai wasn't as cool as it could be and the ladyfingers soaked up a lot more of the soak mixture than we wanted it to. Don't fret. You'll just need a bit more chai and for that, brew just another 1/2 sachet of Kola Goodies Masala Chai Latte with 3 oz of hot water, cool it down, and continue dipping.
What’s the best way to dip the ladyfingers without making them soggy?
Work quickly for the best results. I found that soaking them for too long = disintegrated ladyfingers. It's not a good look. For the best results, the chai soak should just moisten the surface of the ladyfingers on both sides.
Can I make this in a dish instead of individual martini glasses?
You bet! If you’d prefer to serve this as a mini tiramisu, you can layer it in a small dish that holds about 1-1.5 cups. I have a cute 4x4-inch dish I'd make this in or even a small loaf pan would work great.
What if I don’t have cacao powder?
This ingredient is not mandatory but I'd be remiss to not share other options. I love a little bit of freshly grated cinnamon or even some dark chocolate shavings would be lovely in my opinion.
What if I don’t have a hand mixer?
Don't stress. You can whip the cream and mascarpone by hand with a whisk. Just note that this process will take a bit more time and effort, but you do NOT need to go out and buy a mixer for this recipe.
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