{"id":150,"date":"2023-11-08T02:08:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T02:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/squarespace.joannawhiteart.com\/wp\/2023\/11\/08\/aldi-specially-selected-tiramisu-review\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T16:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T20:35:50","slug":"aldi-specially-selected-tiramisu-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/08\/aldi-specially-selected-tiramisu-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Aldi Tiramisu (Specially Selected) Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Author\u2019s note: I have no affiliation with <\/em>Aldi<\/em><\/a> or Specially Selected, and I was not compensated in any way for this review.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marshmallowy and thin.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meh. There are some things I like about this Specially Selected brand Tiramisu<\/a> from Aldi<\/a>, but several things I don\u2019t. I probably wouldn\u2019t buy this dessert again. Here\u2019s my weird little opinion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a \u201cthin\u201d tiramisu. It\u2019s only about an inch and a half high. The layer of ladyfinger<\/a> cake is likewise frightfully<\/em> flat. And there is just ONE layer, instead of \u201clayers.\u201d One<\/em> forlorn little layer. Alas.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Side<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there is<\/em> real mascarpone<\/a> cheese in this dessert. The label says so. But it has an odd, marshmallowy texture. Nonfat milk is the first<\/em> ingredient, ahead of mascarpone, so that might be why it tastes so inadequate. This isn\u2019t the luscious, full-fat taste of restaurant tiramisu, but rather some unholy<\/em> diluted and whipped version. Although the \u201ccream\u201d layer in this tiramisu is \u201ccreamy,\u201d it just doesn\u2019t have the silky richness and butterfat that I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(For a creamier coffee-chocolate dessert, check out my review of this Santa’s White Christmas Ice Cream from Publix<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although there is not much of the \u201clady finger\u201d cake layer, it has a respectable texture. It\u2019s 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<\/a>), so I\u2019m pleased to report that isn\u2019t the case here. You will get a decent amount of strong<\/em> espresso<\/a> taste with each bite. There isn\u2019t enough syrup to puddle in the plastic tray or on the plate \u2014 all of it is soaked up in the cake. I\u2019m impressed that the cake doesn\u2019t 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<\/a>. This isn\u2019t a very strong taste, but it adds a slight richness to the coffee syrup.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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(I really loved this Tiramisu from Sam’s Club. Read all about it in my comparison of Sam’s Club and Costco<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Overhead<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s not the case \u2014 I was able to scoop out tidy slices, using just a fork. There\u2019s no sticking of the cake, and the cream peaks remain upright and perky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of those peaks, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Cocoa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an appropriate dusting of cocoa powder on top of the cream peaks, which somehow remains dry and doesn\u2019t become sticky. It\u2019s just the right amount of unsweetened theobromine<\/a> kick to round out the caffeine chemicals from the coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Perhaps you need some espresso to go with your tiramisu? Here’s my review of this multi-capsule, single-serve coffee machine from Kotlie<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I would describe this tiramisu as \u201cmoderately sweet.\u201d Sugar is the third ingredient, and there are only 16 grams of sugar per serving. It\u2019s 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 \u201cless sweet\u201d desserts in general.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thawing Instructions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a frozen tiramisu, so you thaw it in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving. It\u2019s convenient to keep on-hand. The plastic tray doesn\u2019t have a lid, which disappointed me \u2014 it has a plastic film that you peel off, but sadly, there is no way to seal\/store the leftovers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Nutrition<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition Facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em>. This is a 17.6 ounce package, and each serving is a scant 83 grams, or 2.9 ounces<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price and Servings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 there just isn\u2019t much here to justify the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shelf Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 it doesn\u2019t change or age the way I would expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expiration date on the box allowed me less than one year to keep this in my freezer. This is imported from Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong> in Aldi Specially Selected Tiramisu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients from the label:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n