Words by Finn Healey, Ambra Spirits.
No celebration ever feels complete without tiramisu.
It’s a dish that appears at every milestone – birthdays, Christmas lunches, long Sunday dinners where time slows down and the wine flows freely. There’s a version in our family that I hold close to my heart. My Nonna’s limoncello tiramisu.
Her twist on the classic was light, citrusy and joyfully bright. A sunlit version where she swapped traditional Marsala for her homemade limoncello. "A little sunshine makes everything taste better” she used to say, smiling as she splashed the golden liqueur into the cream.
The phrase has become something of a family mantra. The dessert became a tradition.
Her tiramisu was different not just in flavour, but in spirit. As it set in the fridge the kitchen would fill with the scent of citrus zest and freshly brewed espresso. To this day, that combination is like time travel to me. It instantly transports me back to her table.
The first Christmas we served her limoncello tiramisu in place of the usual suspects was unforgettable. There was a moment of silence at the table, then a chorus of spoons scraping the dish, while my Dad joked "next year, just make this and forget everything else.” It has become a signature family dessert, the one everyone requested and the one no gathering felt complete without.
Simply put, it’s a dessert that feels like home.
The recipe has been passed down through generations and today we honour it in our own way at Ambra. We prepare it with Ambra Limoncello, bright and zesty, layered with biscotti soaked in rich espresso, pillowy mascarpone and a finishing sprinkle of pistachio – a subtle nod to our Southern Italian roots.
This isn’t just a dessert. It’s a story that has been passed down, shared, reimagined. It’s the perfect blend of old and new, where tradition meets interpretation. A reminder that family traditions evolve, but their essence never fades.
Every time the bottle of limoncello comes out, someone still
repeats Nonna’s words:
"A little sunshine makes everything taste better.”
