Easy Tiramisu With Variations

There are so many variations of tiramisu out there, that I decided to put them all on one recipe, so that I would have a choice if I felt like changing this recipe.

• Ready In: 16 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 10  ounces  butter pound cake
• 1⁄2 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1  tablespoon warm water
•  Kahlua, as needed
• 8  ounces  softened cream cheese
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  chocolate syrup
• 8  ounces Cool Whip
•  grated chocolate, as needed

Directions

1. Slice the pound cake and lay it down in a 9 x 13" pan.
2. Dissolve the instant coffee in the warm water.
3. Brush the pound cake with a little kahlua.
4. In a large mixing bowl put the cream cheese, sugar, chocolate syrup and the dissolved coffee. Beat with an electric mixer, or by hand, until smooth.
5. Fold in the Cool Whip.
6. Spread the Cooll Whip mixture on top of the pound cake.
7. Grate a chocolate bar over the top or sprinkle on a high-quality sweetened powdered cocoa.
8. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
9. Variations:
10. Use an 8 x 8" pan and make into two layers.
11. Instead of pound cake, use lady fingers (a store-bought type of sponge cake the size of fingers).
12. Instead of a pan, put the ingredients into fancy glasses.
13. Do not use kahula and keep it alcohol free.
14. Put the kahula in with the cream cheese (or whatever alcohol you are using).
15. Make up a strong half cup of coffee and brush the cake with it (instead of putting it in the cream cheese).
16. Brush the cake with coffee and the kahula or other alcohol.
17. Instead of using kahula, use a bit of sherry or orange liquer.
18. Do not use chocolate syrup.
19. Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the pound cake instead of adding it to the cream cheese mixture.
20. Instead of cream cheese use mascarpone cheese.
21. Instead of chocolate syrup use some Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread).
22. Use real whipped cream instead of artificial.
23. Use regular cake instead of pound cake.
24. Garnish with a chopped Heath candy bar (butter brickle covered with chocolate).
25. Make up in a triffle bowl, layering the different ingredients.