Where do I find ladyfingers for tiramisu??

[tamrks]

Hi all!!
I have wanted to try to make tiramisu and every recipe calls for ladyfingers that are soft, very cake-like.

I have gone everywhere and the ladyfingers they sell are very hard like a biscuit. I have tried to dip the hard ones in espresso, and they turn out too soggy and fall apart!

Has anyone made a successful tiramisu with something other than the ladfingers? And do they make soft ones??
Thanks!!

[cakebaker]

They do make soft ones, but they can be hard to find, at least here. I have to go to a specialty grocery store and they're pretty pricey. It's the same store I have to shop to find the mascarpone too.

You can make your own spongecake. It's not all that hard and it tastes better than the pre-packaged lady fingers anyway.

[Amanda]

I have seen them in the refrigerated section of our local grocery stores. But, I have never seen them in the big stores like Wal-Mart.
Good Luck!
Amanda

[tamrks]

Yep, I've gone to specialty stores around my area and can't find the soft ones.
What kind of spongecake, like pound cake or angel food cake?

[cakebaker]

Ladyfingers are a type of spongecake. Think twinkies without the cream... Actually there is a recipe floating out there that uses twinkies, but I haven't tried it....yet!

It's hard to describe, but here's a link with an explanation and a traditional recipe.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/Ladyfingers.html

Btw, if yours are falling apart after you dip them, you're soaking them too long. Just a split second in the liquid is all it takes...just in and out that quickly.

As for the twinkie tiramisu, here's the recipe and step and step by step instructions if you want to give them at try:

This Boy Elroy: Twinkie Tiramisu

[2sdae]

I have even seen people use vanilla wafers in place of lady fingers.
I have never made it but am interested too. Let us know how they turn out.

[tamrks]

Thanks everyone!! I'll have to experiment and see what turns ot the best.

Happy New Year!!

[2sdae]

Happy New year to you all also!

[2sdae]

Do you guys use that book "joy of baking" very often and how are the recipes? Are they worth buying it for?

[2sdae]

Boy there sure are a lot of tiramisu! Which ones do you guys prefer?