Whip the cream: In a bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
Combine mascarpone: Gently fold the mascarpone into the whipped cream. Don’t overmix—keep it fluffy!
Prep the coffee layer: Pour the cooled coffee into a shallow dish. Quickly dip the ladyfingers, one by one. Quick tip: Don’t soak too long, or they turn mushy.
Layer the dessert: In a serving dish or individual cups, alternate layers of dipped ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. End with a generous layer of cream.
Chill: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight if patience is your thing). This helps flavors meld beautifully.
Finish with cocoa: Just before serving, dust with cocoa powder and sprinkle chocolate shavings or berries if desired.