Tiramisu

Tira mi su means ‘pick me up’ in Italian and this is how the dessert started life — as a nourishing dish to be eaten when feeling low. It originated in Venice, but now is popular worldwide. Tiramisu is made from sponge fingers soaked in coffee and an alcohol such as Marsala, and layered with a mascarpone cheese mixture. You can also make a fruit version, using framboise and puréed raspberries instead of Marsala or brandy and coffee.