Light Tiramisu

I get asked to make desserts and "guilty pleasures" on a regular basis.  My co-workers, boyfriend and friends are always looking for something delicious to indulge.  A new recipe that I adapted and have truly enjoyed was for a skinny version of tiramisu.  Listed below are the ingredients and recipe adapted from Cooking Light.

Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
Fat-Free Cream Cheese
1 and 1/2 cups Light Whipped Topping
1/2 cup and 2 tbsp Sugar
1/4 cup Water
3 Egg Whites (Room Temperature)
Lemon Slice
1/2 cup Instant Espresso or Extra Dark Coffee (both should be prepared with water)
2 tbsp Kahlua, Godiva Liquor, Bailey's Irish Cream (can be combined or choose one)
Chocolate and Vanilla Ladyfingers
Unsweetened Cocoa powder sifted


How To Make:
1. Combine powdered sugar and cream cheese in a bowl; beat at a low speed in mixer until blended.
2. Gently fold in light whipped topping, 1/2 cup at a time.
3. In a fresh bowl separate 3 egg whites from their shells.  Make sure eggs are at room temperature to ensure ability to whip.  Add a few squeezes of lemon.  Blend egg whites until stiff peaks are formed.
4. Gently combine whipped egg whites to cheese mixture, a cup at a time.
5. In a saucepan place 1/4 cup water and 1/2 cup of sugar.  Heat mixture at medium-low temperature until a simple syrup is formed.  BE CAREFUL watch saucepan until mixture is melted, if it melts too far it becomes caramel.   Let mixture cool when it is done (you don't want to melt egg whites or scramble them).
6.  Once simple syrup has cooled combine it to cheese/whipped topping/egg white mixture.
7. In a fresh bowl add espresso (or dark coffee), liquor, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp cocoa powder.
8. In final pan place ladyfingers at the bottom.  You can switch off between chocolate and vanilla cookies as preferred.
9. Spoon coffee mixture over cookies (careful not to get them soggy).
10. Add a layer of the final cheese/whipped topping mixture.
11. Complete more layers of cookies, coffee mixture,  whipped topping until you have filled the pan.  On the top of the pan smooth over the regular light whipped topping and add cocoa powder to taste.
12.   Place pan in the fridge to set.  Tiramisu gets better over time, so it can be served up to 2 days after completion!

I hope you enjoy!  The ingredients listed can be substituted with healthier and organic materials if preferred.  Swap out the fat-free cream cheese and light whipped topping for the real deal and you have yourself a delicious treat!