Homemade Lady Finger Cookies Recipe

Lady Finger cookies are light, crunchy cookies with a subtle sweetness. Ladyfingers are perfect for snacking with coffee or putting in desserts!

Three things might come to mind when you think of Italian Lady finger cookies, one is that they are super hard and tasteless, two is they are little mini cakes, and three they are incredibly hard to find!

I know, to me this is a tad confusing on what these cookies actually are.

Essentially, lady fingers recipes are made to be used in other recipes! And trust me when I say that taking a couple of minutes to make them fresh is worth it.

It’s a great day when I can use these cookies in a recipe like tiramisu. When I know that it’s made from scratch, life is just better, haha!

That’s probably because homemade versions always taste better. I also love knowing all of what is in my food.

These little cookies are perfectly made to absorb whatever you put on them. Though they have great texture, the flavor isn’t super potent alone.

So let’s dive more into what thes lady finger cookies are all about. You’re on your way to dessert heaven!

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Jump to:

• WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
• INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
• HOW TO MAKE LADY FINGER COOKIES:
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
• What are Ladyfingers?
• Where can I find Ladyfingers?
• What are they soaked in for tiramisu?
• ANY ADDITIONS?
• ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
• HOW TO STORE:
• DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
• Tools used to make Lady Fingers:
• Homemade Lady Finger Cookies Recipe

1. Minimal ingredients help these cookies come together quickly.
2. They do not take long to bake up.
3. Since ladyfingers are a lot of the time seasonal, you can easily make these all year round.

• Large eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• Vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Powdered sugar for dusting

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1. Preheat the oven to 350°F—line sheet trays with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Whisk together the sifted flour and cornstarch until combined in a medium bowl.
3. In a heatproof medium-sized separate bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, and salt well together.
4. Place the bowl over a double boiler over medium heat, whisking constantly and scraping the sides and bottom.
5. Continue to do this until the internal temperature of the mixture reaches 165°F. This is a very important step; it can take 5-15 minutes for the eggs to reach the correct temperature.
6. Add the egg mixture to the body of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
7. Whip the egg mixture on high until light and fluffy and making medium peaks. You know it is ready when a dollop of it stays for a second and then sinks back into the mixture. This step will take 5-8 minutes.
8. Fold in the sifted flour and cornstarch until just combined; do not over-mix.
9. Using a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch tip, pipe cookies onto parchment paper about 3 x 1/2 inches in size and one inch apart. You can also make them as long as you like.
10. Generously sift powdered sugar on top. Bake for 12 minutes, until they are very lightly golden around the edge.
11. Let them cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wired rack to cool completely.

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What are Ladyfingers?

Ladyfingers are a biscotti like Italian cookie. The base is similar to a sponge cake.

Before baking, they are sprinkled generously with powdered sugar.

During the baking process, they become light and crispy similar to biscotti but not as dense.

Where can I find Ladyfingers?

If you are lucky, your local grocery store will carry them. However, they might not be there all the time.

I find the type of grocery store that has them most often are higher end grocery stores.

If your local grocery store supplies them, they will be in the bakery section. This is normally where they will sell the softer version of ladyfingers.

They will also be in the cookie aisle, but these will be super hard and crispy cookies.

If you are not in a rush to make your dessert, I suggest making this homemade ladyfinger recipe instead of buying packaged ones! 

I had dreams of making a Tiramisu Pie and I just had to have Ladyfingers. Tiramisu consists of a mascarpone custard layered with soaked Ladyfingers, cream, and cocoa powder.

So, they were a vital ingredient for my pie!

What are they soaked in for tiramisu?

Ladyfingers can be soaked in various things for tiramisu.

For my pie, I used a mixture of Marsala wine and coffee extract.

However, you can use just Marsala wine or Madeira.

More options are strong coffee or espresso, dark rum, amaretto, or Kahlua!

If you would like tiramisu without alcohol, you can use coffee or espresso in place of alcohol—it’s still delicious!

ANY ADDITIONS?

This cookie recipe can be changed any which way you like. Check it out!

• Dip the sponge fingers halfway in melted dark or milk chocolate for a decadent treat.
• Sprinkle a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg over the cookies before baking to enhance the flavor.
• Add some lemon zest to the egg yolk mixture for a refreshing citrus twist.
• Dust the finished ladyfingers with cocoa powder for a true artisanal pastry look.
• Serve alongside a bowl of ice cream or hot chocolate for a delicious pairing.
• Pair with soft peaks of whipped cream and fresh fruit like strawberries for a mini dessert.
• Add almond extract with the vanilla for an extra layer of flavor in your homemade ladyfingers.
• Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving for a great recipe addition.
• Use the sponge fingers as a base in charlotte cakes or as layers in a tiramisu for a classic dessert.

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

I haven’t tried all of these so be sure to let me know in the comments how it goes!

• Use gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose to make the cookies gluten-free.
• Replace vanilla bean paste with almond extract for a nutty variation on this authentic Italian recipe.
• Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness.

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This recipe can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

It can also be frozen, baked, and cooled according to directions.

Once cooled, place in an airtight container, and freeze for up to one month.

To defrost, just remove it from the container and set it on the countertop.

These lady finger cookies are so light, delicate, and dare I say… elegant?! I just feel fancy eating them, LOL!

They are actually really easy to make and use simple ingredients.

But, you do have to have a touch of patience with them.

Tools used to make Lady Fingers:

• Double Boiler
• Instant Read Thermometer
• Sifter
• 1/2 Inch Piping Tip
• Piping Bag

If you’ve tried these LADY FINGER COOKIES let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!