Irish Cream Tiramisu Layer Cake — Gluten-Free

This gluten-free Irish cream tiramisu cake is super moist flavoured with coffee, Irish cream and cocoa. The cake has the texture of ladyfingers and is topped with a rich and creamy topping flavoured with Irish cream and dusted with cocoa powder. This gluten-free dessert is not your typical tiramisu cake.

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to put an Irish twist on this gluten-free tiramisu cake. And, keep the layers of cream and cake we love in this Italian inspired dessert.

Irish cream tiramisu cake – the details.

I wanted this gluten-free tiramisu dessert to be simple. So I replaced the ladyfingers used in a classic tiramisu cake with a gluten-free cake that tastes like ladyfingers. 

Ladyfingers are great and super easy to use. However, if you are making gluten-free ladyfingers from scratch, it takes time and extra work. You can always buy gluten-free ladyfingers, but they are costly and sometimes hard to find.

The layers,

This Irish cream tiramisu cake recipe has two layers: the cake and the creamy topping. In this dessert, the cake has the texture and flavour of ladyfingers, and it is super easy to make. The best part, you can make it at a fraction of the cost of gluten-free ladyfingers.

The gluten-free cake recipe is made with a light egg batter. Then, the cake is soaked with rich and delicious Irish cream coffee syrup. The deliciously flavoured syrup keeps the cake moist and super flavourful.

The topping,

The topping is made with whipped cream and mascarpone cheese and is flavoured with Irish cream liqueur and lightly sweetened with powdered sugar. The combination of cream, mascarpone cheese and Irish cream liqueur make the most delicious creamy topping. If you want to add a St. Patrick’s twist, add a few drops of natural green food colouring.

This gluten-free Irish cream tiramisu cake is made in a springform pan. However, you can also use a baking pan of your choice. I used a springform pan because the pan is easy to use, and the dessert looks super pretty.

Is Irish cream liqueur gluten-free?

When following a gluten-free diet, you must check with the manufacturer that the Irish cream liqueur you are using is gluten-free. Irish cream liqueur is made with Irish whiskey, cream and other flavourings. It is the added flavours that may not be gluten-free.

Several brands claim their Irish cream liqueur is gluten-free – Bailey’s, Carolans and St. Brendan’s. Again, please double check the brand you are using to avoid being glutened. To be on the safe side, make one from scratch.

Gluten-Free Irish cream liqueur recipe (4 1/2 cups)

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 ⅔ cups Irish whiskey
• 1 tsp. instant coffee granules 
• 2 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
• 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. almond extract

In a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Shake well before serving.

I consider this gluten-free Irish cream tiramisu cake an indulgence. All you need is a small slice because this dessert is very rich. If you are looking for a gluten-free dessert that will impress your family and guests, try this Italian inspired tiramisu cake. I promise you everyone will be impressed.