Description

This Pumpkin Date Tiramisù is a delightful autumn twist on the classic Italian dessert, combining the rich flavors of pumpkin puree, sweet medjool dates, and spiced chai tea. Layers of soaked ladyfingers alternate with a creamy mascarpone and pumpkin date mixture, resulting in a luscious, seasonal treat perfect for fall gatherings or holiday indulgences.

Ingredients

Scale

Tea Soak

6 chai tea bags
3 cups water
180 grams Medjool dates (about 10 large dates), pitted
¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar

Pumpkin Date Butter

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée
180 grams Medjool date paste (made from chopped dates)
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice, plus more for dusting
½ teaspoon fine salt

Whipped Cream and Assembly

4 cups (914 grams) heavy cream
1 pound (454 grams) mascarpone cheese
2 (7-ounce/200-gram) packages ladyfingers

Instructions

Prepare the chai and date soak: Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove it from heat, add chai tea bags and pitted dates, cover and steep for 12 minutes. After steeping, squeeze tea bags and strain the chai into a medium bowl. Squeeze excess liquid from the dates as well. Stir in ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar until dissolved and set the chai mixture aside to cool.
Make date paste: Place the soaked dates on a cutting board and finely chop them into a thick paste, ensuring it’s smooth enough for mixing.
Create the pumpkin date butter: In a medium stainless steel saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the pumpkin purée for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to evaporate moisture and achieve a silky, smooth, thick consistency. Watch for a film forming on the bottom, adjusting heat as needed. Add the chopped date paste and cook together for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer this mixture to a large bowl.
Incorporate flavorings: To the warm pumpkin date butter, add 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice, and ½ teaspoon fine salt. Stir thoroughly to combine and set aside to cool.
Whip the heavy cream: Using an electric mixer or whisk, whip 2 cups of the heavy cream to stiff peaks, which should take about 3 minutes. This will give your tiramisù its light and fluffy texture.
Prepare the mascarpone cream mixture: Gradually add dollops of mascarpone cheese to the cooled pumpkin date butter, whisking until well combined and smooth. Then, gradually drizzle in the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream, mixing continuously to loosen the mixture. Pour the pumpkin mascarpone mixture over the whipped cream and gently fold it in with a silicone spatula until fully incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl during folding.
Assemble the tiramisù layers: Dunk half of the ladyfingers one by one into the cooled chai soak and arrange them in a single layer at the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan. Spread half of the pumpkin mascarpone cream evenly over the ladyfingers. Repeat by dunking the remaining ladyfingers and layering them on top. Finish by spreading the remaining cream mixture evenly across the top.
Chill and serve: Cover the assembled tiramisù and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 4 days to allow flavors to meld and the dessert to set. Just before serving, dust the tiramisù with additional pumpkin spice for a fragrant, festive finish.

Notes

Steeping the dates in chai tea softens them for easier blending into a paste and infuses rich spice flavors into the dessert.
Ensure the pumpkin date butter is cooled before mixing with mascarpone and cream to avoid curdling.
Use fresh heavy cream for best whipping results and texture in the tiramisù layers.
The dessert can be made up to 4 days in advance, making it great for holiday entertaining.
For a stronger chai flavor, you can steep the tea bags a bit longer but avoid bitterness.
Leftover tiramisù should be covered tightly and refrigerated to maintain freshness.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: pumpkin tiramisu, fall dessert, pumpkin spice dessert, date dessert, mascarpone dessert, chai soaked ladyfingers, seasonal tiramisu