Ladyfingers are a key ingredient in Tiramisu and a host of other popular desserts. But what if your recipe calls for them and you don’t have any on hand? Discover the 11 best alternatives you can substitute for ladyfingers.
These long delicate biscuits go by many names, including ladyfingers, Savoiardi biscuits, and sponge fingers. But if you’re out of them, your favorite dessert doesn’t need to suffer.
Sponge cake, pound cake, and biscotti are all great substitutes for ladyfingers, and they’re easy to find at your local grocery store.
And those are just a few. In this article, I’ll reveal my favorite substitutes for ladyfingers — and why they work so well.
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Ladyfinger substitutes
Fresh ladyfingers are slightly crispy on the outside with a sponge-like texture on the inside. And their slender, long shape — resembling fingers — is what gives them their name.
While they can be incorporated into a variety of desserts ranging from trifles to Charlotte cake to parfaits, I mostly use them in tiramisu. This delicious dessert consists of coffee-dipped ladyfingers topped with layers of mascarpone cheese mixed with whipped cream.
But if you’re making tiramisu only to discover that you’re fresh out of ladyfingers, don’t fret. I’ll show you the best ladyfinger substitutes I’ve used that can mimic their look and flavor — and you may have some of them in your kitchen already.
1. Pound cake
The soft consistency of pound cake makes it an excellent substitute for ladyfingers in both tiramisu and trifles. It can absorb liquids like ladyfingers can, but it won’t become too soft or fall apart thanks to its dense, spongy texture.
It’s also easy to cut into ladyfinger-like shapes that you can tailor to the type of dessert you’re making.
To substitute them in tiramisu, simply dip strips of pound cake with coffee (and with rum if you prefer an extra kick). Then spread some of the mascarpone mixture on top. Repeat with another layer each of pound cake and mascarpone filling and dust the top with cocoa powder.
2. Sponge cake
Sponge cake is made with similar ingredients to pound cake, except it doesn’t include butter. That gives it a lighter, fluffier texture, but one that still works as a great substitute for lady fingers, especially in tiramisu.
Since it’s not as dense as pound cake, you’ll want to brush the coffee over it rather than dipping the sponge cake in it. Then you can assemble the dessert the same way as you would normally.
3. Chiffon cake
Similar in texture to both sponge and pound cake, chiffon uses vegetable oil in place of butter which helps the batter become lighter and more airy. In turn, the cake itself is very moist and fluffy.
It also makes a great alternative to ladyfingers in tiramisu, as it can easily soak up brushed-on coffee (and other liquids you may choose to add). Plus, it can give your tiramisu an exceptionally fluffy quality that can be a nice contrast to the heavier mascarpone and whipped cream.
4. Margherite cookies
These vanilla-flavored traditional Italian biscuits have a similar shape and look to ladyfingers, but they’re harder and crunchier than those you might find in the United States.
That aside, they’re one of the best substitutes for traditional ladyfingers in tiramisu because once they soak in coffee, they can take on the same consistency. The main difference is that you’ll need to soak them a bit longer than you would for ladyfingers so they soften up enough.
The advantage is that you don’t need to spend time cutting them to size like you would with sponge or pound cake.
5. Biscotti
Meaning “twice-baked,” biscotti are hard, elongated cookies that are designed to be dunked in coffee so they soften before you eat them. In fact, it’s that second bake that gives them their signature crunchy consistency.
They sort of resemble ladyfingers in the sense that they’re both long and rounded at each end. But in terms of texture, biscotti are much harder. However, they still work as a great ladyfinger substitute in tiramisu precisely because they do soften when dunked or soaked in coffee.
For best results, give them a good coffee soak before layering on the mascarpone and whipped cream so you don’t end up with an overly hard tiramisu.
6. Pavesini
If you laid Pavesini cookies side by side with ladyfingers, you may not be able to tell them apart. So why are they not at the top of this list?
Well, while they look very much alike, this Italian cousin of lady finger cookies is more crumbly and flat, rather than soft and round. They also can become very soft when dipped in a liquid like coffee, so they can produce a sort of mushy tiramisu if you’re not careful.
And finally, they can be harder to find and more expensive than many of the other substitutes for ladyfingers. Still, if you’re able to get your hands on some, it can be fun to see for yourself how they compare to traditional ladyfinger biscuits in tiramisu.
👉🏼 Related: Can You Freeze Tiramisu?
7. Coffee cake
Contrary to its name, coffee cake doesn’t actually contain any coffee. Rather, it’s meant to be eaten with coffee. And that’s one reason why it can make a good substitute for ladyfingers.
Other reasons include its soft texture and slightly crunchy topping, which can add a pleasant consistency to an otherwise soft-textured tiramisu.
As with some of the other substitutes, you’ll likely need to cut coffee cake in smaller strips in order for it to work best in a tiramisu dessert. But on the plus side, you already know it’s going to taste great when brushed with the coffee!
8. Gingerbread cookies
If you’ve ever made gingerbread cookies at home, you know how flavorful and soft a freshly baked batch can be. That ginger spiciness makes for a nice contrast with the sweetness of some of the cookies’ other ingredients.
For the same reasons, gingerbread cookies can easily be swapped for homemade ladyfingers in tiramisu. Yes, they’re soft, but not too soft that they’ll fall apart. And they can be the perfect substitute if you’re making tiramisu for Thanksgiving or any fall-themed meal.
9. Biscoff cookies
This type of cookie tastes similar to freshly baked gingerbread cookies, thanks to the addition of cinnamon and brown sugar. However, they have a much harder consistency. That said, Biscoff cookies are a good option as a ladyfingers substitute in tiramisu for a couple of reasons.
First, the comforting sugary spice flavors of these cookies complement the less sweet mascarpone and coffee in tiramisu. Second, the crunchy texture will absorb the coffee well without becoming mushy.
And you can blend up the cookies and use that to create a crispy topping for the tiramisu instead of dusting it with cocoa powder.
10. Madeleines
These soft, shell-shaped sponge cakes are often dipped in chocolate to make a tasty stand-alone treat. But you can easily use madeleines in tiramisu. They’re similar to the texture of ladyfingers, and their shape makes them an effortless substitute.
Simply dip the madeleines in coffee, then layer them into tiramisu with the mascarpone and whipped cream. You may not even be able to tell the difference!
11. Macaroons
Macaroons are essentially sweet cookies made from ground nuts, in most cases almonds or coconuts. Not to be confused with macarons, which are colorful confections made from meringue that come in a host of different flavors.
The soft interior and slightly crispy exterior of macaroons mimic the texture of ladyfinger cookies. And they can withstand a good soak in coffee before layering on the other tiramisu ingredients. Plus, they can lend an unexpectedly pleasant nuttiness to the delicious dessert.
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