EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (2024)

Ladyfingers are Italian sponge cake cookies that are the main ingredient in tiramisu dessert! These sweet biscuits can be dipped in coffee or topped with powdered sugar to enjoy with an English cup of tea! See how easy it is to make homemade ladyfingers with my step-by-step tutorial!

EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (1)

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Looking for gluten-free cookie recipes? Try ourEasy Coconut Macaroonsmade from coconut flakes or ourEasy Macarons Recipe (Fail-proof)that are sandwiched with soft meringue-like cookies!

Watch How To MakeLady Fingers:

Easy Lady Fingers Recipe

Ladyfingers near me are hard to come across where I live, so, what’s the perfect substitute for ladyfingers? Why buy them when you can have these homemade cookies baking in the oven in less than 15 minutes!

That’s right they bake in as quick as 10 minutes and can be ready to dip into coffee for a tiramisu dessert in minutes. Is it worth making ladyfingers? You’d be surprised how easy preparation is for these egg-based flour cookies!

And even if you’re a novice baker, the cookies get absorbed with coffee and hidden with cream to cover any imperfections, so what do you have to lose?

These sweet-sponge cake biscuits are similar to a meringue cookie except soft like a sponge cake, and if you want a crispier wafer you simply bake longer until crisp! It is important to fold the egg batter for a light and airy cookie. If you beat in the flour your cookies won’t be as delicate and can rather fall flat after baking.

EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (2)

FAQ

What Is Tiramisu?

Tiramisu literally translates to “pick me up” which refers to the boost the tasty dessert can provide. This Italian invented dessert is layered with Savoiardi (ladyfingers) cookies, mascarpone cream, and strong coffee. It’s an Italian delight because the eggs are beaten to a custard cream that will make you go in for seconds!

What Are Lady Fingers?

Ladyfingers are piped into strips using a piping bag and a large round piping tip. Once baked they resemble the shape of a large finger and make their way into trifles, Mouse Cups, Charlotte Cake, gateau cakes, and mainly tiramisu. You’ll find them as sponge fingers in British, a Savoiardi biscotti in Italian, boudoirs in French, and baby fingers in the Jewish community.

I mainly use these flour-based cookies in my tiramisu recipe layered between mascarpone cream and covered with a layer of chocolate cocoa powder. The outcome is melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Where To Buy Lady Fingers?

Ladyfingers can be found in some grocery stores like Walmart, in the cookie or Foreign aisle under the Italian title “Savoiardi Biscotti.”

They are typically hard and very dry coming from the store. Whereas homemade ladyfingers are soft cookies. To make crispier sponge cookies at home, simply bake longer and they will turn out more crisp. Commercial bakeries seem to dust additional sugar on the top for a crackly crisp shell.

Ingredients for Ladyfingers?

The ingredient list for ladyfingers is very short and simple. You only need eggs, sugar, and some flour to make a quick sponge cake batter!

  • Eggs-are beaten separately for a light and delicate cookie.
  • Granulated Sugar-sweetens and binds the sponge batter together.
  • Unbleached White Flour-or an all-purpose flour works great for ladyfingers. Pastries are best with low-gluten flour although any Unbromated flour will work fine.
  • Salt-flavors, and balances out the sweet cookies.
  • Baking Powder-a leavening to make a lighter cookie.

What is Mascarpone Cheese?

Mascarpone is the Italian version of cream cheese. It is a spreadable smooth cheese very similar to Neufchâtel cheese. Since soft cheeses like these are made from light cream they result in a creamy whipped texture, rich in flavor.

Preparation involves coagulated cream that is heated and mixed with a starter. It then sets undisturbed for 12 hours. The curd then gets transferred to a butter muslin to drain in the refrigerator for hours. It can store for weeks if the cream was pasteurized properly.

How To Make Ladyfingers Cookies:

Ladyfingers are prepared similar to a sponge cake as they soak up all the coffee flavors easily.

  1. Separate the eggs and beat the whites first until stiff peaks form. Add the salt and sugar and continue beating until glossy and thick like a meringue.
  2. Next, beat the yolks until paler in color (for 5 minutes) and fold into the beaten whites.
  3. Sift together the flour and baking powder and gently fold into the egg batter.
  4. Transfer into a large piping bag and pipe out 3-inch strips onto a lined sheet pan.
  5. Bake in a pre-heated 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Baker’s Note: for crispier cookies bake 3-5 minutes longer. Place piping bag standing upright in a tall drinking glass to easier fill.

How To Use Ladyfingers?

Ladyfingers can be eatenalongside a glass of milk or dipped into espresso and cappuccino. They are very popular in the Italian dessert Tiramisu.

  • Dip them into coffee like a Biscotti cookie!
  • Crumble them into Mouse Cups as a crust for additional texture.
  • Border your cheesecake with ladyfingers to make an eyecatching dessert like a Charlotte Cake!
  • Layer them into a Trifle dish for a classic Tiramisu.

Storing Lady Fingers:

Ladyfingers can keep up to 2 days at room temperature. If you are not planning to use them either dry them out in the oven to prolong the shelf-life like croutons or freeze them soft.

For Crunchy Lady Fingers:bake them at 275°F for 30-50 minutes instead. To speed it up, bake them as directed in the recipe box and then reduce the oven to 200°F and continue to bake until golden.

Soft Lady Fingers: keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.

Note: once the ladyfingers have been covered in cream refrigerate immediately.

Tips:

  1. As much as you want to avoid using extra kitchen utensils, take out the spatula and fold your egg batter. Do NOT beat the egg batter together once the whites and yolks were whipped. It can deflate your sponge cookies later.
  2. Double the recipe to make a large 13×9 casserole of Tiramisu. Otherwise, this recipe is enough fora 9×9-inch baking dish of Tiramisu.
  3. This recipe yields 30-40 ladyfingers.
  4. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. For extended use freeze or store in the refrigerator. Once used in a dessert layered with cream, then refrigerate immediately.
  5. The drier the biscuits–the more absorbent.
  6. If you don’t want to separate the whole eggs, you can beat them in one bowl! Separating and whipping the eggs can create better volume.

More Cookie Recipes To Try:

  • Peach Cookies– Italians make their version of peach cookies too!
  • 3 Ingredient Butter Cookies
  • Easy Macarons Recipe (Fail-proof!)– Italian Meringue cookies are made from a hot syrup similar to swiss meringue!
  • Crunchy Nutty Fingers Cookies

Tools Needed To Make Ladyfingers:

How To Make Lady Fingers:

EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (3)

PrintRatePin

Easy Ladyfingers Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 ladyfingers

Ladyfingers are Italian sponge cake cookies that are the main ingredient in tiramisu dessert! These sweet biscuits can be dipped in coffee or topped with powdered sugar to enjoy with an English cup of tea! See how easy it is to make homemade ladyfingers with my step-by-step tutorial!

Equipment

  • piping bag

  • large round piping tip

  • 18x13" sheet pan

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs (separated)

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

Directions:

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (4)

    Separate the egg yolks and whites into different bowls. Beat the egg yolks until pale in color (5 minutes.) Set aside.

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (5)

    Then beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and salt and beat until glossy and thick.

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (6)

    Fold the beaten egg whites into the yolks along with baking powder and flour. Use a spatula. Transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle tip.

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (7)

    Pipe into 3-inch strips.

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (8)

    Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Cool before removing from the pan.

Notes

  • Yields: The recipe makes enough for a 9x9 Tiramisu dessert.

Nutrition per serving

Serving: 1ladyfingerCalories: 23kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 26mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 24IUCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

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  • Desserts

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22 comments

  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (9)

    • Diana

    Thanks for this easy recipe. Was making tiramisu and couldn’t find ladyfingers. This worked perfect

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (10)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Wonderful, Diana!

      • Reply
  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (11)

    • Katy

    Can any unused ladyfingers be put in the fridge? If so, how long do they last in the fridge?

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (12)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Yes, you can. They can store in the fridge for up to a week.

      • Reply
  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (13)

    • Krissi

    I use Lady Fingers in a traditional method…for making Charlotte Ruuse, an old favorite of my fathers from decades ago. But these delicate little cookies can be happily used as paired sandwich delights: I fill mine with almond paste, cherry, raspberry, and apricot or even dark chocolte sandwich cookies. The extremely lite baked pastry makes a delightful parcel of goodies to share with neighbors and friends. Some people ask why I would go through so much work to share: I do this because my specialty baking is the way to thank neighbors for helping me – thank them with something created lovingly in my kitchen. They are still picking favorites, as I love trying new recipes!

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (14)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      That’s very nice of you to share your baked goods, Krissi!

      • Reply
  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (15)

    • Stef

    Amazing recipe, worked perfectly. I dusted very lightly with caster sugar whilst cooling. Definitely my ‘go to’ recipe, thank you

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (16)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      You’re welcome, Stef!

      • Reply
  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (17)

    • Kathy C

    Made ladyfingers for the first time but used gluten free flour. They were beautiful! Light, fluffy and so easy to make. Only alteration was to bake for 1-2 minutes longer.

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (18)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Wonderful, Kathy! What kind of Gluten-free flour did you use?

      • Reply
  • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (19)

    • Barbara

    I am the head baker at our coffee house and I am so excited to try this recipe. The one I use is very similar in ingredients but the assembly is different in what looks like the perfect way! Thanks so much , I will let you know how my Tiramisu (final product) turns out!!

    • Reply
    • EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (20)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Oh wonderful, I’m happy you found our page! Do let us know how it turns out!

      • Reply

Show more

EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (2024)

FAQs

EASY Ladyfingers Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking? ›

4. The best ladyfingers for this recipe are very dry and crisp. They're often called savioardi and are imported from Italy. If you can't find these and your supermarket only has soft, cakelike ladyfingers, you'll need to let them dry out in the oven first.

Is it better to use soft or hard ladyfingers for tiramisu? ›

4. The best ladyfingers for this recipe are very dry and crisp. They're often called savioardi and are imported from Italy. If you can't find these and your supermarket only has soft, cakelike ladyfingers, you'll need to let them dry out in the oven first.

What is a good substitute for ladyfingers in tiramisu? ›

Pavesini Biscuits: Pavesini biscuits are a popular alternative to ladyfingers in tiramisu. These small, thin biscuits are low in calories and can be brushed with coffee instead of being dipped. They are commonly used in making tiramisu, especially in individual servings [2].

Can you eat lady fingers plain? ›

Ladyfingers can be enjoyed on their own as a sweet treat, but they are commonly used as an ingredient in various dessert recipes.

Are lady fingers crunchy? ›

Slightly crisp on the outside but soft, light, and airy on the inside, these homemade ladyfingers are so easy to make in a few simple steps! These sponge-cake cookies also bake in just 12 minutes, so they're not just easy but quick to make.

What not to do when making tiramisu? ›

Roberto Lestani, who for the occasion revealed to us the 3 mistakes not to make to prepare a stunning tiramisu!
  1. 1: excessively whipping the mascarpone! ...
  2. 2: once together, don't immediately mix the yolks and sugar! ...
  3. 3: Neglect stratification!
Jun 16, 2020

How do you keep lady fingers from getting soggy in tiramisu? ›

Don't soak! Quickly dip the cookies into your coffee or liquor. Try not to leave them in the liquid too long—a quick dip will do. Overly soggy cookies make for a wet texture and a messy dessert.

Can nilla wafers substitute lady fingers? ›

I found NILLA Wafers to be the perfect substitute for lady fingers in these easy Tiramisu Cups. I always have such a hard time finding lady fingers at the store…by using NILLA Wafers you get that extra vanilla flavor and you don't have to wonder where to find them!

What are ladyfingers called in Italy? ›

Ladyfingers, or in British English sponge fingers (sometimes known by the Italian name savoiardi, Italian: [savoˈjardi], or by the French name boudoirs, French: [budwaʁ]), are low-density, dry, egg-based, sweet sponge cake biscuits roughly shaped like large fingers.

Can I substitute vanilla wafers for ladyfingers? ›

You can substitute vanilla wafers or sponge cake for the ladyfingers.

Can lady fingers expire? ›

If they've become slimy or developed a strange color or smell, it's time to throw them out. Another common tell-tale sign of spoiled ladyfingers is when they start growing mold. This can be in the form of black, green, white, or red spots that weren't there previously.

Can you eat lady finger bananas? ›

Bananas (Lady Finger) are naturally sweeter and a little smaller than regular bananas. Because they don't go brown when cut, they make the perfect ingredient for all sorts of fresh dishes. Lady Fingers taste best when fully ripe, when their skin is completely yellow with flecks of black.

How can you tell if a lady finger is good? ›

Try bending the tip of the okra pod. Younger, tender okra should bend easily without snapping, while older or starchy ones may break or feel rigid.

Do ladyfingers lower blood pressure? ›

By reducing cholesterol levels and supporting healthy blood pressure due to its potassium content, ladyfinger contributes to heart health. A heart-healthy diet that includes ladyfinger can lower the risk of cardiovascular issues.

Why are lady fingers so good? ›

Ladyfingers are light and airy, just as a sponge cake, with a weight that is light as a feather. Fresh from the oven, the lightly sweetened cookies are soft and the bottoms are just ever so crisp. Ladyfingers are individually lovely, but they taste just as well with a side of fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream.

Are lady finger cookies soft or hard? ›

They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup or liqueur, or in coffee or espresso for tiramisu. Plain ladyfingers are commonly given to infants, being soft enough for teething mouths, but easy to grasp and firm enough not to fall apart.

What is the best biscuit for tiramisu? ›

Sometimes tiramisu can be made with a sponge cake, but is most often made with ladyfinger biscuits, the same way as my classic tiramisu has here. This recipe for tiramisu is the layered dessert, made with layers of mascarpone filling and coffee soaked ladyfingers.

Is tiramisu meant to be soft? ›

The characteristic of tiramisu is that it is soft and smooth as well as greedy; to make sure that the ingredients are whipped, and guarantee a perfect result, they must absolutely not be used cold from the refrigerator. Just be smart; 30 minutes before you start, get them all out!

Which biscuit is good for tiramisu? ›

Savoiardi biscuits are dipped in a coffee and liqueur mixture and layered with the mascarpone cream. Savoiardi are light, dry sponge biscuits and if you live in the UK or the US then you can use sponge fingers or ladyfinger cookies as an alternative.

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