Authentic Tiramisu

Ingredients

1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons brandy
2 cups brewed espresso, cooled, divided
2 (8 ounce) packages mascarpone cheese
1 pinch white sugar
30 ladyfingers (such as Savoiardi®)
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

1. Beat 1/2 cup sugar, egg yolks, brandy, and 1 tablespoon espresso together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mascarpone cheese to sugar-egg mixture and beat until well blended, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Beat egg whites and a pinch sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into mascarpone mixture.
3. Pour remaining espresso into a shallow dish. Dip 1 side of each ladyfinger into the espresso and arrange on a serving platter in 2 horizontal rows of 6 with 2 1/2 ladyfingers in opposite direction on both ends to form a rectangular shape.
4. Spread 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture onto the ladyfinger layer and dust with 1/2 of the cocoa powder.
5. Repeat with remaining ladyfingers dipped in espresso, mascarpone mixture, and cocoa powder.
6. Refrigerate tiramisu until ladyfingers have softened from the espresso and mascarpone mixture, 2 to 3 hours.