Ladyfingers are Italian sponge cake cookies that are the main ingredient in tiramisu dessert! These sweet biscuits can be dipped in coffee or topped with powdered sugar to enjoy with an English cup of tea! See how easy it is to make homemade ladyfingers with my step-by-step tutorial!

how to make ladyfingers the easy way

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  Looking for gluten-free cookie recipes? Try our Easy Coconut Macaroons made from coconut flakes or our Easy Macarons Recipe (Fail-proof) that are sandwiched with soft meringue-like cookies! 

Watch How To Make Lady Fingers: 

Easy Lady Fingers Recipe

Ladyfingers near me are hard to come across where I live, so, what’s the perfect substitute for ladyfingers? Why buy them when you can have these homemade cookies baking in the oven in less than 15 minutes!

That’s right they bake in as quick as 10 minutes and can be ready to dip into coffee for a tiramisu dessert in minutes. Is it worth making ladyfingers? You’d be surprised how easy preparation is for these egg-based flour cookies! 

And even if you’re a novice baker, the cookies get absorbed with coffee and hidden with cream to cover any imperfections, so what do you have to lose? 

These sweet-sponge cake biscuits are similar to a meringue cookie except soft like a sponge cake, and if you want a crispier wafer you simply bake longer until crisp! It is important to fold the egg batter for a light and airy cookie. If you beat in the flour your cookies won’t be as delicate and can rather fall flat after baking.

how baked ladyfingers look

FAQ

What Is Tiramisu? 

Tiramisu literally translates to “pick me up” which refers to the boost the tasty dessert can provide. This Italian invented dessert is layered with Savoiardi (ladyfingers) cookies, mascarpone cream, and strong coffee. It’s an Italian delight because the eggs are beaten to a custard cream that will make you go in for seconds! 

What Are Lady Fingers?

Ladyfingers are piped into strips using a piping bag and a large round piping tip. Once baked they resemble the shape of a large finger and make their way into trifles, Mouse Cups, Charlotte Cake, gateau cakes, and mainly tiramisu. You’ll find them as sponge fingers in British, a Savoiardi biscotti in Italian, boudoirs in French, and baby fingers in the Jewish community.

I mainly use these flour-based cookies in my tiramisu recipe layered between mascarpone cream and covered with a layer of chocolate cocoa powder. The outcome is melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Where To Buy Lady Fingers?

Ladyfingers can be found in some grocery stores like Walmart, in the cookie or Foreign aisle under the Italian title “Savoiardi Biscotti.”

They are typically hard and very dry coming from the store. Whereas homemade ladyfingers are soft cookies. To make crispier sponge cookies at home, simply bake longer and they will turn out more crisp. Commercial bakeries seem to dust additional sugar on the top for a crackly crisp shell. 

 

Ingredients for Ladyfingers?

The ingredient list for ladyfingers is very short and simple. You only need eggs, sugar, and some flour to make a quick sponge cake batter! 

  • Eggs- are beaten separately for a light and delicate cookie. 
  • Granulated Sugar- sweetens and binds the sponge batter together. 
  • Unbleached White Flour- or an all-purpose flour works great for ladyfingers. Pastries are best with low-gluten flour although any Unbromated flour will work fine. 
  • Salt- flavors, and balances out the sweet cookies.
  • Baking Powder- a leavening to make a lighter cookie. 

What is Mascarpone Cheese?

Mascarpone is the Italian version of cream cheese. It is a spreadable smooth cheese very similar to Neufchâtel cheese. Since soft cheeses like these are made from light cream they result in a creamy whipped texture, rich in flavor. 

Preparation involves coagulated cream that is heated and mixed with a starter. It then sets undisturbed for 12 hours. The curd then gets transferred to a butter muslin to drain in the refrigerator for hours. It can store for weeks if the cream was pasteurized properly. 

 

How To Make Ladyfingers Cookies:

Ladyfingers are prepared similar to a sponge cake as they soak up all the coffee flavors easily. 

  1. Separate the eggs and beat the whites first until stiff peaks form. Add the salt and sugar and continue beating until glossy and thick like a meringue. 
  2. Next, beat the yolks until paler in color (for 5 minutes) and fold into the beaten whites. 
  3. Sift together the flour and baking powder and gently fold into the egg batter. 
  4. Transfer into a large piping bag and pipe out 3-inch strips onto a lined sheet pan. 
  5. Bake in a pre-heated 350°F oven for 10 minutes. 

Baker’s Note: for crispier cookies bake 3-5 minutes longer. Place piping bag standing upright in a tall drinking glass to easier fill.

How To Use Ladyfingers?

Ladyfingers can be eaten alongside a glass of milk or dipped into espresso and cappuccino. They are very popular in the Italian dessert Tiramisu.

  • Dip them into coffee like a Biscotti cookie! 
  • Crumble them into Mouse Cups as a crust for additional texture. 
  • Border your cheesecake with ladyfingers to make an eyecatching dessert like a Charlotte Cake!
  • Layer them into a Trifle dish for a classic Tiramisu. 

Storing Lady Fingers:

Ladyfingers can keep up to 2 days at room temperature. If you are not planning to use them either dry them out in the oven to prolong the shelf-life like croutons or freeze them soft. 

For Crunchy Lady Fingers: bake them at 275°F for 30-50 minutes instead. To speed it up, bake them as directed in the recipe box and then reduce the oven to 200°F and continue to bake until golden. 

Soft Lady Fingers: keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. 

Note: once the ladyfingers have been covered in cream refrigerate immediately. 

   

Tips:

  1. As much as you want to avoid using extra kitchen utensils, take out the spatula and fold your egg batter. Do NOT beat the egg batter together once the whites and yolks were whipped. It can deflate your sponge cookies later.
  2. Double the recipe to make a large 13×9 casserole of Tiramisu. Otherwise, this recipe is enough for a 9×9-inch baking dish of Tiramisu. 
  3. This recipe yields 30-40 ladyfingers. 
  4. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. For extended use freeze or store in the refrigerator. Once used in a dessert layered with cream, then refrigerate immediately. 
  5. The drier the biscuits–the more absorbent.
  6. If you don’t want to separate the whole eggs, you can beat them in one bowl! Separating and whipping the eggs can create better volume. 

More Cookie Recipes To Try:

Tools Needed To Make Ladyfingers: 

How To Make Lady Fingers:

Easy Ladyfingers Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 30 ladyfingers
Ladyfingers are Italian sponge cake cookies that are the main ingredient in tiramisu dessert! These sweet biscuits can be dipped in coffee or topped with powdered sugar to enjoy with an English cup of tea! See how easy it is to make homemade ladyfingers with my step-by-step tutorial!

Equipment

  • piping bag
  • large round piping tip
  • 18x13" sheet pan

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs (separated)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

Directions:

  • how to separate eggs
    Separate the egg yolks and whites into different bowls. Beat the egg yolks until pale in color (5 minutes.) Set aside.
  • perfectly whipped eggs for sponge cake cookies
    Then beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and salt and beat until glossy and thick.
  • how to fold the egg-based sponge batter with flour
    Fold the beaten egg whites into the yolks along with baking powder and flour. Use a spatula. Transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle tip.
  • how to pipe out ladyfingers onto a sheet pan with a pastry bag
    Pipe into 3-inch strips.
  • Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Cool before removing from the pan.

Notes

  • Yields: The recipe makes enough for a 9x9 Tiramisu dessert. 

Nutrition per serving

Serving: 1ladyfingerCalories: 23kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 26mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 24IUCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

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24 comments

    • Jodi Daeder

    Is the baking pan supposed to be greased or ungreased?

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Hi Jodi, the pan is supposed to be ungreased.

    • Diana

    Thanks for this easy recipe. Was making tiramisu and couldn’t find ladyfingers. This worked perfect

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Wonderful, Diana!

    • Katy

    Can any unused ladyfingers be put in the fridge? If so, how long do they last in the fridge?

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Yes, you can. They can store in the fridge for up to a week.

    • Krissi

    I use Lady Fingers in a traditional method…for making Charlotte Ruuse, an old favorite of my fathers from decades ago. But these delicate little cookies can be happily used as paired sandwich delights: I fill mine with almond paste, cherry, raspberry, and apricot or even dark chocolte sandwich cookies. The extremely lite baked pastry makes a delightful parcel of goodies to share with neighbors and friends. Some people ask why I would go through so much work to share: I do this because my specialty baking is the way to thank neighbors for helping me – thank them with something created lovingly in my kitchen. They are still picking favorites, as I love trying new recipes!

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      That’s very nice of you to share your baked goods, Krissi!

    • Stef

    Amazing recipe, worked perfectly. I dusted very lightly with caster sugar whilst cooling. Definitely my ‘go to’ recipe, thank you

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      You’re welcome, Stef!

    • Kathy C

    Made ladyfingers for the first time but used gluten free flour. They were beautiful! Light, fluffy and so easy to make. Only alteration was to bake for 1-2 minutes longer.

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Wonderful, Kathy! What kind of Gluten-free flour did you use?

    • Barbara

    I am the head baker at our coffee house and I am so excited to try this recipe. The one I use is very similar in ingredients but the assembly is different in what looks like the perfect way! Thanks so much , I will let you know how my Tiramisu (final product) turns out!!

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Oh wonderful, I’m happy you found our page! Do let us know how it turns out!

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