Indulge in the Easiest Tiramisu Sheet Cake: Your Perfect Holiday Recipe for Crowds

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Are you searching for a dessert that’s both elegant and incredibly easy to prepare, especially during the bustling holiday season? Look no further than this delightful Tiramisu Sheet Cake. It takes all the beloved flavors of the classic Italian tiramisu – the rich coffee, the creamy mascarpone, the tender cake – and transforms them into a convenient sheet cake format. This innovative twist means a faster baking time, easier serving, and enough to satisfy a large crowd, making it the ultimate stress-free dessert for any festive gathering.

Our Tiramisu Sheet Cake features a light and tender vanilla cake that acts as the perfect canvas. While still warm, this cake is generously soaked with an indulgent, aromatic coffee syrup, infusing every bite with that signature tiramisu depth. To crown this masterpiece, a luxurious and creamy cheese frosting, made with a harmonious blend of mascarpone and cream cheese, is spread over the top. A final dusting of cocoa powder and delicate chocolate shavings adds both visual appeal and an extra layer of flavor, creating a dessert that is truly irresistible and surprisingly quick to assemble.

My Secret Weapon for Holiday Happiness: Dollar General

As a busy mother of four children, my life is a constant whirlwind of activities, appointments, and endless to-do lists. Finding moments of calm, let alone time for elaborate baking, can feel like an impossible task. This is precisely why Dollar General has become my personal sanctuary and sanity saver. It’s not just a store; it’s a quick, convenient stop that seamlessly fits into my hectic schedule. Whether I’m heading to work or finally making my way home, I can pop in and grab essential items without the hassle of navigating a large, crowded supermarket.

The convenience of Dollar General is unparalleled, but what truly sets my local store apart are the incredibly friendly employees. They always greet me with a smile, and I rarely, if ever, have to wait in line. In fact, they know me by name – that’s how often I visit! This personalized experience makes my quick errands feel less like a chore and more like a pleasant break in my day. It’s these little efficiencies that make a huge difference in managing a busy household, especially when preparing for big events like holiday celebrations.

The Essential Ingredient: Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee

One item that is always on my Dollar General shopping list is Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. My husband and I are firm believers that “donut shop coffee” offers the best, most satisfying brew. Beyond personal preference, Dollar General frequently offers fantastic sales on Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, particularly on the K-Cups, which are a staple for my morning routine at work. Coffee isn’t just for mornings in our house, though. Our family tradition includes brewing a fresh pot of coffee to enjoy alongside desserts at all our holiday gatherings.

This Tiramisu Sheet Cake recipe perfectly complements our tradition, as it highlights the robust flavor of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. We love having a variety of K-Cups on hand for our family members who prefer flavored coffee with their dessert, ensuring everyone has their ideal cup. Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is renowned for its consistently smooth and delicious high-quality blend. Its availability in various formats, blends, and flavors means there’s a perfect option for everyone to enjoy that positive boost, anytime and anywhere. For this recipe, a strong brew is key to creating an authentic and impactful coffee syrup that truly shines through in every bite of the cake.

Why This Tiramisu Sheet Cake is Your Holiday Hero

The holiday season can be demanding, filled with decorating, gift shopping, and entertaining. This time-saving Tiramisu Sheet Cake recipe is designed to alleviate some of that pressure. You’ll be delighted to know that you can find the majority of the necessary ingredients right at your local Dollar General. If you need help finding one, here’s a handy locator to find your nearest Dollar General.

What makes this Tiramisu Sheet Cake truly remarkable is how it captures all the deliciousness of traditional tiramisu but in a much more manageable and efficient form. The sheet cake bakes incredibly quickly – in about 15 minutes – making it ideal for busy schedules. Furthermore, a single sheet cake yields enough servings to feed a generous crowd, ensuring that none of your holiday guests will go without a taste of this exquisite dessert. It’s the perfect solution for potlucks, family dinners, or any large festive gathering where you need a show-stopping dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

Crafting Your Tiramisu Masterpiece: Step-by-Step Details

The foundation of this incredible dessert is a simple yet effective white cake. Opting for a vanilla cake mix saves precious time without compromising on flavor, providing a light and fluffy base that’s perfect for absorbing the coffee syrup. As soon as the cake emerges from the oven, still wonderfully warm, it’s time for the magic to happen. You’ll use a fork or skewer to prick numerous holes across its surface. This step is crucial, as it creates channels for the warm, sweetened Dunkin’ Donuts coffee syrup to penetrate deep into the cake, ensuring every morsel is infused with that irresistible coffee flavor.

While the cake cools and generously soaks up the coffee, you’ll prepare the crowning glory: the rich and creamy cheese frosting. This frosting is a sublime combination of mascarpone cheese (for its velvety texture and mild sweetness), tangy cream cheese, a touch of sour cream for balance, and light whipped topping for airiness. This unique blend creates a frosting that is both decadent and wonderfully light, perfectly complementing the coffee-soaked cake. Once spread evenly over the cooled cake, a final elegant flourish of unsweetened cocoa powder and delicate chocolate shavings transforms it into a dessert that’s not only delicious but also visually stunning. Serve it alongside a steaming cup of your favorite Dunkin’ Donuts coffee for the ultimate treat.

Tiramisu Sheet Cake

Tiramisu sheet cake is a light and tender cake that’s soaked with an indulgent coffee syrup and topped with a rich and creamy cheese frosting for a delicious and quick to make twist on the classic.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 16
Author: Amy D

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cup very strong brewed hot Dunkin’ Donuts coffee
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese (room temp)
• 8 ounces cream cheese (room temp)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping
• Unsweetened cocoa, for dusting
• Chocolate curls, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a half sheet pan (approx. 13×18 inches) and set aside.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, milk, oil, and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth and well combined. Pour the cake batter into the prepared sheet pan and spread evenly. Lightly tap the bottom of the sheet pan on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cake is golden brown on top and lightly springs back when touched. Remove to a wire rack.
3. While the cake is baking, prepare the coffee syrup: combine 1 1/2 cups hot coffee and 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar in a small bowl, stirring until the sugar has dissolved completely. Immediately after removing the hot cake from the oven, use a large fork or skewer to poke holes all over the surface of the cake. Carefully pour the hot coffee syrup evenly over the entire cake, allowing the coffee to soak into the cake through the holes. Allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature.
4. For the frosting: In another mixing bowl, beat together the mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped topping until just combined. Spread the cheese frosting evenly over the cooled, coffee-soaked cake. Before serving, sift unsweetened cocoa powder generously over the top of the cake and sprinkle with chocolate curls. Refrigerate the Tiramisu Sheet Cake until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 16 Servings

Did You Make this Recipe?

Please leave a review or a photo! I’d love to hear your feedback and see your delicious creations!

Tips for Tiramisu Sheet Cake Success

• Brew a Strong Coffee: For the best flavor, ensure your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is brewed very strong. This is crucial for giving the cake its characteristic tiramisu taste without making it watery. Espresso would also work if you have it on hand.
• Don’t Rush the Soaking: Allowing the cake to cool completely while soaking in the coffee syrup is key. This gives the cake ample time to absorb the liquid and develop a moist, flavorful texture.
• Room Temperature Cheeses: Ensure both your mascarpone and cream cheese are at room temperature. This will help them blend smoothly into a lump-free, creamy frosting.
• Gentle Folding: When incorporating the whipped topping into the cheese mixture, fold it in gently. This maintains the light and airy texture of the frosting.
• Chill Thoroughly: Tiramisu benefits immensely from chilling. Refrigerate the finished cake for at least 2-4 hours, or even overnight, before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the frosting to set, making for easier, cleaner slices.
• Storage: Store any leftover Tiramisu Sheet Cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Variations and Enhancements

While this Tiramisu Sheet Cake is perfect as is, you can always personalize it with a few simple tweaks:

• Add a Liqueur Kick: For an adult version, consider adding 1-2 tablespoons of coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa), rum, or Marsala wine to your coffee syrup. This will deepen the flavor profile, mimicking traditional tiramisu more closely.
• Almond Extract: A small dash of almond extract in the cake batter or frosting can add another layer of sophisticated flavor.
• Espresso Powder: If you want an even more intense coffee flavor, you can dissolve a teaspoon of instant espresso powder directly into your coffee syrup.
• Different Cake Base: While vanilla is classic, a yellow cake mix could also be used for a slightly richer cake base.
• Decorative Toppings: Instead of just cocoa and chocolate curls, you could garnish with a few whole coffee beans, a light dusting of powdered sugar, or even fresh berries (though not traditional, they add a lovely contrast).

The Perfect Pairing: More Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee

No Tiramisu Sheet Cake experience is complete without a freshly brewed cup of coffee. As mentioned, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is our family’s favorite, and it pairs exceptionally well with this dessert. The smooth, balanced flavor of their coffee complements the sweetness and coffee notes in the cake, creating a harmonious and comforting experience. Whether you prefer a classic black coffee, a rich dark roast, or one of their many flavored options, a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is the ideal accompaniment to this homemade treat.

This Tiramisu Sheet Cake isn’t just a dessert; it’s a testament to how convenience and quality can come together to create something truly special. It allows you to embrace the joy of holiday baking without feeling overwhelmed, delivering a dessert that tastes like it took hours but was wonderfully simple to prepare. So, head to Dollar General, grab your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and other essentials, and get ready to impress your family and friends with this magnificent, easy Tiramisu Sheet Cake. Happy holidays and happy baking!