Tiramisu is a mascarpone and espresso-centric dessert that originated in Italy, but has made a name for itself all across the world. Part of the tiramisu-making process involves soaking delicate, cake-like ladyfinger biscuits in coffee and liquor, and celebrity chef Ina Garten has the perfect tip for preventing a soggy end result.

Garten dips ladyfingers one by one in a mixture of rum and coffee, allowing each to soak for just a few seconds, then quickly moves them to the dish she's using to layer the tiramisu. Once she's soaked enough ladyfingers to form one layer, she pours the mascarpone cream mixture over the cookies and moves on to the next layer.

By mastering Garten’s technique and timing, you’ll be able to soak your ladyfingers quickly and thoroughly at the same time. As Garten notes, dipping the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture for too long will turn them soggy, while not dipping them for long enough won’t let them properly absorb the flavors, so hitting that balance is crucial.