Aldi Tiramisu (Specially Selected) Review
Marshmallowy and thin.
Meh. There are some things I like about this Specially Selected brand Tiramisu from Aldi, but several things I don’t. I probably wouldn’t buy this dessert again. Here’s my weird little opinion:
This is a “thin” tiramisu. It’s only about an inch and a half high. The layer of ladyfinger cake is likewise frightfully flat. And there is just ONE layer, instead of “layers.” One forlorn little layer. Alas.
Fortunately, there is real mascarpone cheese in this dessert. The label says so. But it has an odd, marshmallowy texture. Nonfat milk is the first ingredient, ahead of mascarpone, so that might be why it tastes so inadequate. This isn’t the luscious, full-fat taste of restaurant tiramisu, but rather some unholy diluted and whipped version. Although the “cream” layer in this tiramisu is “creamy,” it just doesn’t have the silky richness and butterfat that I expected.
Although there is not much of the “lady finger” cake layer, it has a respectable texture. It’s soft, but structured. Not coarse or soggy. I like how thoroughly the cake is soaked in coffee syrup. I have tried other Tiramisu desserts that had almost no coffee taste (ahem, such as this one from Publix), so I’m pleased to report that isn’t the case here. You will get a decent amount of strong espresso taste with each bite. There isn’t enough syrup to puddle in the plastic tray or on the plate — all of it is soaked up in the cake. I’m impressed that the cake doesn’t get gummy or fall apart, as coffee-saturated as it is. The ingredients include masala wine, which is one of the typical flavoring options for tiramisu. This isn’t a very strong taste, but it adds a slight richness to the coffee syrup.
I was also impressed by how easily this serves. When I realized I had to scoop the dessert out of the tray, I was dismayed, thinking the slices would surely leave behind part of the layers. That’s not the case — I was able to scoop out tidy slices, using just a fork. There’s no sticking of the cake, and the cream peaks remain upright and perky.
Speaking of those peaks, it’s kind of fun that each one can be separated, like a kernel of corn, from the rest of the bar. I also used the peaks as a slicing guide when dividing the servings. The marshmallowy texture serves some purpose, I suppose. It seems to act as a glue to hold the cream layer together. Marshmallowy glue.
There’s an appropriate dusting of cocoa powder on top of the cream peaks, which somehow remains dry and doesn’t become sticky. It’s just the right amount of unsweetened theobromine kick to round out the caffeine chemicals from the coffee.
I would describe this tiramisu as “moderately sweet.” Sugar is the third ingredient, and there are only 16 grams of sugar per serving. It’s sweet enough to please most palates, but not so sweet that it overwhelms. I would have been OK with half as much sugar, but I prefer “less sweet” desserts in general.
Thawing Instructions for Aldi Tiramisu from Specially Selected
This is a frozen tiramisu, so you thaw it in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving. It’s convenient to keep on-hand. The plastic tray doesn’t have a lid, which disappointed me — it has a plastic film that you peel off, but sadly, there is no way to seal/store the leftovers.
Nutrition Facts in Aldi’s Specially Selected Tiramisu
The package says there are six servings, and this is probably accurate, although these are petite servings and not very filling. Again, I am used to tiramisu that has multiple layers and more density. This is a 17.6 ounce package, and each serving is a scant 83 grams, or 2.9 ounces
Price and Shelf-life of Specially Selected Tiramisu from Aldi
I paid $6.99 for this dessert. If you get 6 servings from the tray, each serving will cost $1.17. This is one of the few Aldi items that I did not find to be a particularly great value — there just isn’t much here to justify the price.
Once thawed, this needs to be consumed within a few days. The label says within 3 days of defrosting, but I got at least 4 days without any deterioration of taste or texture. This is an oddly vampirish dessert — it doesn’t change or age the way I would expect.
The expiration date on the box allowed me less than one year to keep this in my freezer. This is imported from Italy.
Ingredients in Aldi Specially Selected Tiramisu
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Non fat milk
- Mascarpone soft cheese (Cream, Lactic acid)
- Sugar
- Savoiardo biscuit (Wheat flour, Egg, Sugar, Whey protein concentrate, Leavenings [sodium acid pyrophosphate, Baking soda])
- Maltodextrins
- Whole egg
- Cream
- Whey protein concentrate
- Marsala wine
- Cocoa dusting (Cocoa, Dextrose, Wheat starch, Sugar, Cocoa butter)
- Instant coffee
- Carrageenan
- Sodium caseinate
- Mono and diglycerides
- Tapioca starch
- Natural flavor
I’m pleased to see that there are no artificial flavors or colors, and the real cheese and cream is definitely a plus.
More Reviews of Aldi Desserts You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other reviews of Aldi desserts I’ve recently written:
- Aldi Cherry Frangipane Tart (Deutsche Küche)
- Aldi Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cheesecake (Belmont)
- Aldi Black Forest Cream Cake (Deutsche Küche)
- Aldi Bienenstich Indulgent Cakes (Deutsche Küche)
- Aldi Fruits of the Forest Strudel (Deutsche Küche)
- Aldi Donauwelle Indulgent Cakes (Deutsche Küche)
Author’s note: I have no affiliation with Aldi or Specially Selected, and I was not compensated in any way for this review.
