Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu is the kind of no-bake dessert that makes everyone at the table stop and ask, “Wait… you made this yourself?” Creamy mascarpone, coffee-soaked biscuits, juicy cherries, rich chocolate and crunchy almond praline come together in layers that taste wonderfully indulgent without requiring you to switch on the oven.
I love this cherry tiramisu recipe because it takes the familiar comfort of classic Italian tiramisu and gives it a gorgeous Black Forest-inspired twist. The cherries and chocolate bring those unmistakable Black Forest cake flavours, while the almond praline adds a little nod to the elegance of a Bakewell tart. The result is a creamy, crunchy, fruity and chocolatey dessert that feels much more special than the effort involved.
And honestly, this is exactly the sort of make-ahead dessert I want in my recipe collection during the holidays. You can assemble it ahead of time, let the layers mingle in the fridge, then simply decorate and serve when you’re ready. It is ideal for Christmas dessert tables, dinner parties, birthdays or whenever you want an easy dessert with serious wow factor.
The combination of mascarpone, cherries, chocolate and coffee is particularly good because every spoonful delivers something different. The mascarpone cream is soft and luxurious, the coffee-soaked biscuits provide that classic tiramisu texture, the cherries add juicy brightness, and the almond praline brings a delicious caramelised crunch.
If you enjoy cherry dessert recipes, chocolate cherry desserts, easy Christmas desserts or creative tiramisu recipes, this one deserves a spot near the top of your list.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Tiramisu
There are plenty of reasons this dessert is worth making, but the biggest one is that it looks far more complicated than it actually is.
There is no baking, no pastry and no complicated cake decorating. You are essentially building layers of delicious ingredients and allowing the refrigerator to do the hard work.
The mascarpone cream gives the dessert its classic tiramisu richness, while the cherries cut through that creaminess with a lovely fruity sharpness. Coffee-soaked ladyfingers add the familiar tiramisu character, and chocolate ties the cherry and coffee flavours together beautifully.
Then comes the almond praline.
That crunchy topping is the little surprise that takes this from an ordinary no bake dessert to something genuinely memorable. Caramelised almonds provide contrast against the silky mascarpone and soft biscuits, so you get that irresistible creamy-crunchy combination in every bite.
It is also wonderfully make-ahead friendly. In fact, giving the dessert several hours in the refrigerator allows the biscuits to soften and the flavours to develop.
Recipe Highlights
For a generous 8-serving Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu, you’ll need approximately:
- 250g mascarpone
- 300ml double cream
- 75g icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200g ladyfingers or sponge fingers
- 250ml strong cooled coffee
- 300g pitted cherries, fresh or jarred
- 100g dark chocolate, finely chopped or grated
- 100g caster sugar
- 75g flaked or chopped almonds
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1–2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for finishing
For an extra grown-up flavour, a splash of cherry liqueur or amaretto can be added to the coffee, although the dessert is delicious without it.
The flavour profile is where this dessert really shines. Think creamy Italian tiramisu meets Black Forest gateau with a subtle Bakewell-inspired almond twist.
The mascarpone provides richness, coffee brings depth, cherries add sweetness and acidity, while dark chocolate gives everything a slightly bittersweet finish. The almond praline then adds caramelised nuttiness and texture.
It is basically a dessert flavour party.
How To Make Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu
Start by preparing the coffee. Brew a strong cup and allow it to cool completely. You want plenty of coffee flavour without soaking the biscuits in hot liquid, which can make them collapse too quickly.
For the mascarpone layer, whisk the mascarpone, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip the double cream until it reaches soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until you have a thick, fluffy cream.
Don’t overmix it. You want the mixture to remain light and airy rather than becoming heavy.
Next, prepare the almond praline. Add the caster sugar and water to a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Continue cooking until it becomes a golden caramel. Add the almonds and quickly stir to coat them.
Carefully transfer the caramelised almonds onto a sheet of baking paper and leave them to cool completely. Once hardened, break or crush the praline into small pieces.
Now you’re ready for the fun part: layering.
Briefly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee. Don’t leave them submerged. A quick dip is enough because the biscuits will continue absorbing moisture while the tiramisu chills.
Arrange a layer of coffee-soaked biscuits in your serving dish. Add a layer of mascarpone cream, followed by cherries and a sprinkling of chocolate.
Repeat the layers until everything has been used, finishing with a generous layer of mascarpone cream.
Cover the tiramisu and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Overnight is even better if you have the time.
Just before serving, finish with cocoa powder, grated dark chocolate, cherries and plenty of crushed almond praline.
That final layer of praline is absolutely worth making.
Pro Tips For The Best Tiramisu
1. Don’t oversoak the biscuits
This is probably the most important trick. Ladyfingers absorb liquid incredibly quickly, so give them only a brief dip in the coffee. You want them soft and moist but still capable of holding their shape.
2. Use properly chilled cream
Cold double cream whips more easily and gives your mascarpone mixture a lighter texture. If your kitchen is warm, chill the bowl and beaters for a few minutes beforehand too.
3. Give it plenty of chilling time
While you can technically serve the tiramisu after a few hours, overnight chilling is ideal. It gives the coffee, cherry, chocolate and mascarpone flavours time to mingle and allows the layers to set beautifully.
4. Make the praline ahead
Almond praline can be prepared before assembling the dessert. Once completely cool, keep it in an airtight container so it stays crisp. Add it immediately before serving to preserve that fantastic crunch.
5. Balance the sweetness
If your cherries are particularly sweet, use a darker chocolate or slightly reduce the icing sugar in the mascarpone cream. If you’re using tart cherries, the sweeter cream creates a lovely balance.
Easy Variations To Try
One of the reasons I love this cherry dessert is how easy it is to customise.
For a more intense Black Forest flavour, add an extra layer of dark chocolate and use cherries preserved in their own juice.
For a Bakewell-inspired version, add a tiny splash of almond extract to the mascarpone cream. Go carefully because almond extract is powerful.
You can also swap dark chocolate for milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter dessert, although I personally love the contrast created by dark chocolate.
Want an alcohol-free tiramisu? Simply leave the liqueur out of the coffee. The cherries, chocolate and almond praline provide more than enough flavour.
For an especially festive presentation, layer the dessert in individual glasses. You get those beautiful stripes of cream, cherries, chocolate and biscuits, making this an impressive Christmas dessert for entertaining.
How To Serve Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu
Take the tiramisu out of the refrigerator just before serving and decorate it with fresh or drained cherries, grated chocolate and crushed almond praline.
A light dusting of cocoa powder gives it that unmistakable tiramisu finish.
I also love serving smaller portions because this is a rich dessert. You really don’t need a huge slice to appreciate all those layers.
For dinner parties, serve it with freshly brewed coffee or espresso. The bitterness of the coffee works beautifully with the creamy mascarpone and chocolate.
If you’re making this for Christmas or another celebration, add a few chocolate curls and whole cherries on top for an effortlessly elegant finish.
Make-Ahead And Storage
This is one of those desserts that actually benefits from being prepared ahead of time.
Assemble the tiramisu several hours before serving and keep it covered in the refrigerator. The flavours become more developed as it rests, and the biscuits soften into that classic melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu texture.
For the best texture, add the almond praline shortly before serving rather than putting all of it on top in advance. This keeps the caramelised almonds crisp.
Keep leftovers refrigerated and enjoy them within a couple of days.
Why This No-Bake Dessert Belongs On Your Table
There is something wonderfully satisfying about serving a dessert that looks extravagant but is secretly incredibly straightforward.
This Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu brings together so many crowd-pleasing flavours without asking you to spend hours baking. It has the luxurious mascarpone cream you’d expect from tiramisu, the irresistible cherry and chocolate combination associated with Black Forest desserts, and the nutty caramel crunch that makes every bite more interesting.
It is also flexible enough for different occasions. Make it as a sophisticated dinner party dessert, turn it into individual portions for a celebration, or prepare a big dish for the family during the holidays.
And because it is a make-ahead dessert, you can get it chilling long before your guests arrive. That’s a huge win in my book.
The combination of cherries, coffee, chocolate, mascarpone and almond praline creates exactly the sort of layered dessert that keeps you going back for “just one more spoonful.”
Final Thoughts
This Cherry & Almond Praline Tiramisu is proof that an impressive dessert doesn’t have to involve complicated baking techniques. With a handful of delicious ingredients and a little patience while it chills, you can create a creamy, chocolatey, fruity and wonderfully crunchy dessert that looks like it came straight from a fancy restaurant.
The Black Forest-inspired cherry and chocolate combination makes it instantly comforting, while the almond praline gives the classic tiramisu a completely different personality.
So grab your mascarpone, cherries, coffee and chocolate, and give this easy no-bake dessert a place on your next dinner party or holiday menu.
And when you make it, I’d love to hear how yours turned out! Share your favourite twist, whether you added extra chocolate, used tart cherries or went all-in on the almond praline. And if you love discovering easy, impressive dessert recipes, be sure to join the newsletter for more sweet ideas delivered straight to your inbox.