Ingredients

1¼ cup heavy cream
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
8 ounces mascarpone cheese room temperature
⅔ cup cold espresso or cold strong coffee
2 tbsp coffee flavored liqueur kahlua (optional)
24 lady fingers (unless they are small, then 34)
2½ tbsp cocoa powder

Directions

Using either a stand mixer with a whip attachment, or a handheld electric mixer on high speed, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks.

Reduce the mixer speed to medium, slowly add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Mix for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.

Lower the mixer speed to low and add in the mascarpone cheese. Mix just until all the ingredients are incorporated. Set this aside.

In a small shallow bowl, add the cold espresso, or strong cold coffee. If you are using the coffee flavored liqueur, stir it in with the espresso.

Dip both sides, do not soak, each lady finger in the espresso mixture.

Lay the dipped lady fingers in a single layer in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.

Using a silicone spatula, evenly spread half of the cheese mixture on top of the lady fingers layer.

Repeat the dipped lady fingers layer, and the remaining half cheese mixture layer.

Using a fine sifter, dust the top of the cheese mixture with the cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to overnight.