Alternatives to trifle sponge for tiramisu please...

[Scootergirl]

Help! Am supposed to making tiramisu for Christmas Eve dinner party but bloody shop has run out of trifle sponges. Any ideas for alternatives?? I've already bought the rest of the stuff so would really like to use it

Can't you just use any old plain sponge? Maybe cut it up and dry it out a bit in the oven first?

Just googling, and one recipe pointed out that if you don't use the trifle sponges, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid, as whatever you do end up using is likely to absorb liquid at a different rate.

I'm not the world's best cook and am very likely to end up with lumpy topping swimming in a sea of soggy brandy-soaked sponge! I'll just give them all a straw
Also the shop had no Marsala but I presumed I could just use sweet sherry? Maybe?

As my mum would say - as long as the ingredients are good...

Did a search on the BBC Food website, and they have loads of recipes . Have to say, you might get away with sherry, but I'd be more inclined to go for brandy or amaretto, if you have them. Or even something like Tia Maria, as it's coffee flavoured.

any sponge fingers/boudoir bicuits? Those little italian almond bicuits - amaretti (sp)?
A ready made sponge flan case cut up?

Stale bread... ?

I know it sounds a little dubious - but it does work wonderfully with gingernut biscuits!

You do need to allow the biscuits to soak for longer in the expresso coffee though - they take a little longer to soak up the liquid.

or chocolate cake or gingerbread, but easy on the liquid

Panettone!