Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal (2024)

Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal (4)

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ByKalea Martin|

If you've never made tiramisu before, you might think of it as primarily an Italian coffee cake made with layers of coffee, custard, and ladyfingers. What you may not realize, however, is that tiramisuoften contains alcohol, too. It's typically incorporated into the dessert the same way the espresso is, by soaking it up with ladyfingers. Many tiramisu iterations call for alcohol in the form of Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueurs, but more traditional recipes of the Italian classic are made with rum, brandy, or Marsala wine.

Since tiramisu is a no-bake dessert, the alcohol doesn't cook away and contributes a noticeably boozy flavor. Usually, you can tell if a tiramisu has alcohol as part of its recipe solely by the taste alone, and it isn't uncommon to leave the booze out completely. Since it can be difficult to discern the alcohol in Olive Garden's tiramisu, you'd be forgiven for assuming that it doesn't contain any, but the truth is it actually does. Specifics, however, are hard to come by.

What alcohol does Olive Garden use in its tiramisu?

Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal (5)

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When you dine at Olive Garden, it's generally understood that you're not getting authentic Italian food, but rather an Americanized version of it. Most people know by now that none of the "Tuscan" or "Sicilian" pastas are strictly traditional dishes from those regions. When it comes to the tiramisu however, Olive Garden's version isn't too far off from the real deal, because it's made with the same ingredients, including alcohol, according to the restaurant's website. As an Olive Garden representative further elaborated in an email reply shared to Facebook by a customer, the alcohol is partially cooked off but not entirely, which explains why the flavor isn't extremely prominent.

Neither Olive Garden's menu nor its website disclose what type of alcohol is used in the tiramisu, but judging by all the copycat recipes customers have created, it seems the majority are convinced that it's a coffee-flavored liqueur likeKahlua. Given that Olive Garden describes its espresso martini as "tiramisu in a glass," Kahlua is perhaps an accurate guess, as the cocktail is famously made with coffee liqueur (though the chain's own versionused to use Patrón XO Café). Olive Garden has never confirmed whether this is the case, but instead stated in a Facebook comment that the recipe is a secret.

Many Olive Garden desserts contain alcohol

Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal (6)

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Olive Garden advertises itself as a family restaurant, so the fact that one of its most popular desserts is made with alcohol might surprise you. But what may be even more surprising is that the majority of Olive Garden's desserts — including the Sicilian Cheesecake, Strawberry Cream Cake, and Warm Italian Doughnuts — contain alcohol too, or at least enough traces of it to be listed on the chain's website.

It's possible that this wasn't always the case, as tiramisu and cheesecake have been on Olive Garden's menu since the 1990s. But nowadays, likely due to the restaurant's expansion since the '90s, the desserts aren't made by Olive Garden's in-house chefs. Instead they are frozen and thawed just before serving, and according to a Reddit user (whose profile suggests they are an Olive Garden corporate employee), they are sourced from a Darden Restaurants distribution center. But despite being frozen and made with alcohol, many customers still seem to love Olive Garden's tiramisu all the same.

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Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal (2024)

FAQs

Does Olive Garden's Tiramisu Contain Any Alcohol? - The Daily Meal? ›

Since it can be difficult to discern the alcohol in Olive Garden's tiramisu, you'd be forgiven for assuming that it doesn't contain any, but the truth is it actually does.

Does tiramisu always have alcohol? ›

Traditional tiramisu contains ladyfingers (savoiardi), egg yolks, sugar, coffee, mascarpone and cocoa powder. A common variant involves soaking the savoiardi in alcohol, such as Marsala wine, amaretto or a coffee-based liqueur.

How much alcohol is in a serving of tiramisu? ›

Does tiramisu contain alcohol? Traditionally, yes. The ladyfingers which form the base of the cake are usually brushed with or soaked in a mixture of coffee and a liquor such as amaretto, cognac, or rum. It's not a lot of alcohol, perhaps a tablespoon or two, but it is usually there.

Does store bought tiramisu have alcohol? ›

Yes, it does. There is 1.5% alcohol in this dessert which comes from the marsala wine.

Does Olive Garden make their own tiramisu? ›

Olive Garden Tiramisu FAQ

I looked into it and found that Olive Garden does not make its tiramisu in-house these days. They have expanded so much since the 1990s, so it makes sense that their chefs don't have time to make all of the desserts on the menu. Today, their desserts come from third-party vendors.

Is there alcohol in Olive Garden's tiramisu? ›

When it comes to the tiramisu however, Olive Garden's version isn't too far off from the real deal, because it's made with the same ingredients, including alcohol, according to the restaurant's website.

Can Muslims eat tiramisu with alcohol? ›

What do beer battered fish, Bolognese sauce and tiramisu have in common? The answer is their recipes contain alcohol. Most people know that alcohol is not Halal for Muslims to consume.

Can children have tiramisu? ›

Nothing is cooked or baked off. However, many versions are made with very little alcohol, and some versions are excessively alcoholic. It would be a good idea to taste it yourself and decide if it's appropriate for your kid. And consider if you would let your kid have a tablespoon or two of coffee or of rum.

Will tiramisu keep you up? ›

Will tiramisu keep me awake? Tiramisu usually calls for just a little bit of espresso. It's not enough caffeine to keep you awake at night.

Why is tiramisu so expensive? ›

Roberto Linguanotto, a Venetian pastry chef who is often credited with the invention of tiramisu back in the 1960s, says that his creation is expensive because of the espresso used in another essential component to the dessert: espresso-soaked ladyfingers (via The Straits Times).

Does Aldi tiramisu have alcohol? ›

For allergens, see ingredients in bold. May also contain mustard and soya. Contains alcohol. Keep refrigerated below 5°C.

What's the best liquor for tiramisu? ›

If submerged, the ladyfingers will disintegrate. Egg-Free Version: I created an egg-free mascarpone “mousse” for my tiramisu trifle recipe; you can use that filling in this recipe if desired. Alcohol: I prefer Kahlua, but use any of the following: Marsala wine, rum (dark is best!), brandy, or Amaretto.

What is the name of the liqueur in tiramisu? ›

Traditionally tiramisu does not have alcohol in it. But you can add Marsala or a coffee flavoured liqueur like Tia Maria or Kahlua.

Does all tiramisu in Italy have alcohol? ›

No alcohol is allowed as it does not appear in any of the original recipes. The addition of wines and spirits like Marsala and Amaretto is a more recent trend.

Do McDonald's do tiramisu? ›

Italian custard meets coffee-flavored layers of moist cake, drizzled with ground chocolate – a truly mouthwatering dessert.

Why do Italians eat tiramisu? ›

Although the core ingredients still remain the same, this dish is often tweaked from chef to chef. Tiramisu is also known to have quite an interesting history in Italian brothels. It is believed that the dessert was created inside the brothels of Treviso, to act as a pleasure-seeking aid to clients.

Do you have to put rum in tiramisu? ›

Tiramisu usually contains alcohol. Marsala wine is the traditional choice, but this recipe calls for a mixture of strong coffee and rum. If you prefer not to use alcohol, just leave it out. It will still be delicious with just the coffee alone (just make sure the coffee is extra strong).

What is the difference between tiramisu and tiramisu cake? ›

Tiramisu offers a more robust coffee flavor, as the ladyfingers retain a concentrated espresso hit. Tiramisu cake, however, tends to have a milder coffee taste, with the sponge distributing the flavor more evenly.

What can go wrong when making tiramisu? ›

12 Mistakes You're Making With Tiramisu
  • Using the wrong kind of biscuits. ...
  • Over-whipping the mascarpone. ...
  • Forgetting to bring your eggs up to temperature. ...
  • Waiting too long to mix the sugar and the eggs. ...
  • Not correctly whipping your heavy cream. ...
  • Using instant coffee instead of something stronger.
Nov 15, 2022

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