Tiramisu Inside of a Purse Is the Fashion Trend We Didn’t Ask For

If you’re wondering how to make a statement with your fashion this year, then I have a tip on the latest accessory trend, and it starts with a classic Italian dessert.

When I say that tiramisu purses are going viral, I’m not talking about a hand bag that simply comes in the neutral colors of espresso and mascarpone. A “tiramisu purse” is, instead, exactly what it sounds like: a purse full of tiramisu.

Two tiramisu totes have recently left their own marks on the internet, and I’m on board with anything that involves more dessert for all — especially when it also looks this cute. Four weeks ago content creator Shelly Bella (@_bellabakes) posted a quick clip of herself walking with a transparent glass purse full of tiramisu, which has now racked up 6.5 million views. (And to prove that her dessert is the real deal, the trained baker has also shared how she made the tiramisu.)

The budding trend really blew up when pistachio spread brand Pistakio (@eatpistakio) jumped on it just a few days ago. Footage of Pistakio’s pistachio-infused tiramisu in a glass purse going through the TSA security screening process at an airport, before being toted onto a plane as a carry-on, has now been viewed 24.1 million times. Considering how much a batch of pistachio tiramisu would improve all of my plane flights, I’m not surprised that it’s captured a lot of attention — but I am intrigued by what started this hyper-specific and slightly strange dessert-meets-fashion format.

If you spend a lot of time scrolling through food videos, you may recognize the glass purse that each of these tiramisus was layered in. This product has been featured in quite a few viral clips over the past year, although it's been more commonly filled with a large format drink. Content creators have poured cocktails and giant servings of iced coffee into the vessel, and I've spotted someone topping up a glass purse with Slurpees at 7-Eleven.

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Transparency is the key to this delicate accessory's popularity online. Being able to clearly see food or drink inside of a purse creates shock value and visual interest — after all, wouldn't you stop in your tracks if you saw a purse full of tiramisu or an iced latte? But if you want to recreate the trend at home, with the Italian dessert or another edible idea, it’s crucial to make sure you purchase a purse made of food-grade glass. Glass that isn’t classified as food grade could potentially contain cadmium or lead, so you don’t want to risk eating or drinking out of it. If labels on the product don't specify that it's food-grade or food-safe, email the manufacturer to ask for more information. Most glass is food-grade, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I reached out to Pistakio to learn more about how the brand actually built the tiramisu inside a glass purse, and founders Francine Voit and Nicola Buffo said "We planned the timing around when we had the flight back home to make the recipe, so we made the tiramisu purse around 10 a.m. and then left the next day around 3 p.m. . . . It wasn’t too hard to layer, but more challenging than a regular pyrex for sure."

When it comes to what you’re layering in your hand bag of tiramisu, there aren’t really any rules. After all, you’re already making a purse full of dessert. Get creative! Try sprinkling chocolate shavings or slices of your favorite fruit between layers. I recommend testing out our recipes for Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu or Strawberry Tiramisu.

As much as I’d like to enjoy tiramisu the next time I’m flying coach, I wouldn’t recommend trying to recreate Pistakio’s airport experience. It’s highly likely that the TSA wouldn't permit your dessert to go through security — they don’t allow “spreadable” items like cranberry sauce to be carried onto flights during the holidays, and the decision that security makes about something as strange as tiramisu may vary depending on the airport.

Related: 7 Rich, Creamy Tiramisu Recipes

But if you do decide to try and take a purse full of espresso, mascarpone, and lady fingers aboard a flight, I recommend following Francine and Nicola's technique for ensuring it stays as cold as possible. The duo explains that "After making it we kept it in the fridge the whole time since tiramisu does need to rest for at least a day. Then right before heading out, we grabbed the purse and we also grabbed an insulated grocery bag to carry it in."

Outside of air travel, the world of tiramisu purses is wide open. The next time you’re going to a party at a friend’s place or hosting people for dinner, where your dessert isn't at risk of being confiscated, consider using this quirky serving idea to win over everyone in attendance.

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