Amaretti Semifreddo Recipes

CITRUS SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Spray a 9 by 5 by 3-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick spray. Line the pan with plastic wrap, allowing the excess to hang over the ends and sides.
• Combine the crushed amaretti cookies and the melted butter. Put in the lined pan and press down to firm and form a crust.
• Whisk 1/2 cup of the sugar, the egg yolks, lemon juice, lime juice, limoncello, and salt in a large metal bowl to blend. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Whisk the egg mixture until it is thick and creamy, and a thermometer inserted into the mixture registers 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Set the bowl of custard into another bowl of ice water to cool completely. Stir in the zest.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in another large bowl until firm peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the custard. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared crust. Fold the overhanging plastic wrap over the custard and freeze until frozen, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Unfold the plastic wrap. Invert the semifreddo onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Cut the semifreddo into 1-inch slices and sprinkle with crushed amaretti cookies and serve.

LEMON AND AMARETTI SEMIFREDDO WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Puree raspberries with syrup in blender. Strain puree into medium bowl; discard seeds. Cover; chill. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Line 7- to 8-cup loaf pan or other mold with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving long overhang. Freeze pan. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar; beat until stiff but not dry. Using same beaters, beat cream and remaining 3/4 cup powdered sugar in large bowl until peaks form. Fold in lemon peel and cinnamon. Fold large spoonful of cream mixture into whites, then fold whites back into cream in 2 additions. Fold in 3/4 cup amaretti. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap overhang, then foil. Freeze at least 4 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Remove foil and open plastic. Turn semifreddo out onto platter. Remove pan; peel off plastic. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup amaretti. Serve semifreddo with sauce.

AMARETTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, grind the almonds into a fine meal. Add the sugar and continue to process for another 15 seconds. Finally, add egg whites and almond extract, continue to process until a smooth dough forms around the blade.
• Using a teaspoon, place well rounded spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets. Cookies should be at least 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Cookies should be golden. Allow cookies to cool completely on the paper before removing. Store in a dry place.

ANDREA DA MERANO'S SEMIFREDDO DI AMARETTI WITH FRESH PEACHES

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks until they thicken. Add the amaretto cookie crumbs and continue beating 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl periodically, until the mixture becomes quite light in color and very thick. Stir in the liqueur.
• In a clean, dry bowl beat the egg whites until they foam. With the mixer at high speed continue beating, gradually adding 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar. Beat until the egg whites hold firm peaks, about 3 minutes longer.
• In a chilled bowl beat the cream until it holds soft peaks. Fold the egg whites and cream together.
• Fold one-quarter of the cream and egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture until well blended. Gently fold in the remaining cream and egg white mixture.
• Spread the mixture in 12 individual 1/2-cup custard cups or 8 six-ounce custard cups or molds or a 6-cup loaf pan or mold; cover with plastic wrap and freeze several hours or overnight. The semifreddo will keep at least a week in the freezer.
• Shortly before serving, plunge the peaches into boiling water 15 seconds, rinse under cold water, peel, pit and cut them into thin slices. Toss with remaining 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice.
• Dip the mold or molds briefly into hot water and turn out onto individual chilled plates or a serving platter. Surround with peach slices. Sprinkle the semifreddo with crumbled amaretto cookies and serve.

PLUM & AMARETTI SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a 30 x 20cm tray with cling film. Put the plums in a pan with 2 tbsp water and 110g of the sugar. Cover with a lid and stew over a medium heat for 10 mins until soft. Allow to cool slightly, then blitz with a hand blender. Pass through a sieve to remove the plum skins. Allow to cool.
• Put the remaining sugar in a pan with 150ml water, and dissolve over a low heat. Boil for 5 mins or until the mixture reaches 120C on a cooking thermometer.
• To make the meringue base, whisk the egg whites until stiff. With the beaters running, carefully pour the sugar mixture onto the egg white, whisking until thick. In another bowl, softly whip the cream, then gently fold in the liqueur, plum pulp, biscuits and the meringue. Pour into the tin, cover with cling film and freeze for a few hrs until set. To serve, remove from the freezer 5 mins before scooping into balls.

PEACH PRALINE SEMIFREDDO WITH AMARETTI

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Invert bottom of springform pan (to make it easier to slide semifreddo off bottom), then lock on side and oil pan.
• Stir together ground amaretti and melted butter in a bowl until combined well, then press evenly over bottom and up side of springform pan. Bake until crust is firm and a shade darker, about 10 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack, 20 to 30 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Make praline:
• Spread nuts in a shallow baking pan and toast in oven, stirring once or twice, until fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer nuts to a bowl. Lightly oil same baking pan.
• Cook sugar in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat, stirring with a fork to heat sugar evenly, until it starts to melt, then stop stirring and cook, swirling skillet occasionally so sugar melts evenly, until it is a dark amber.
• Immediately stir in nuts, then pour mixture into oiled baking pan and let stand to harden and cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Break praline into pieces, then pulse in cleaned food processor until finely chopped.
• Make semifreddo:
• Pit and coarsely chop peaches, with skins if desired, then purée in cleaned food processor with crushed vitaminutes C, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Force thourough a medium-mesh sieve set over a large metal bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids.
• Stir in egg yolks, then place bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and beat with mixer until mixture is thick and pale and registers 140°F on an instant-read thermometer, then beat 3 minutes more (do not let boil).
• Remove bowl from saucepan and set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Add almond extract and beat until cold, about 6 minutes.
• Beat cream with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in another bowl using cleaned beaters until it just holds soft peaks.
• Fold one third of cream into peach mixture, then fold in praline and remaining cream gently but thoroughly. Pour mixture into cooled crust and freeze, covered with plastic wrap, until firm, at least 3 hours. Let stand in refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.
• Make peach topping while semifreddo stands in refrigerator:
• Cut an X in bottom of each peach, then blanch in a medium saucepan of boiling water 10 seconds. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Peel peaches and cut into 1/2-inch wedges.
• Toss peaches with crushed vitaminutes C and sugar and let stand, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon peaches over semifreddo with a slotted spoon just before serving.

SEMIFREDDO AMARETTI WITH FRESH PEACHES

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks until they thicken. Add the half-cup of amaretti crumbs and continue beating for five minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl periodically, until the color of the mixture becomes light and the texture quite thick. Stir in the liqueur, if desired.
• In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites at medium speed until they foam. With the mixer at high speed, slowly add one-half cup of confectioner's sugar. Continue beating until the egg whites hold firm - but not stiff -peaks, about three more minutes.
• In a chilled bowl, beat the cream until it forms soft - but not stiff -peaks.
• Fold together the egg whites and the cream.
• Fold one quarter of the cream and egg white mixture into the egg yolks until they are well blended. Fold in the rest of the cream and egg white mixture by halves, deflating the mixture as little as possible.
• Turn the mixture into custard cups, individual molds, a loaf pan or an ice-cube tray without the separator. Cover well with plastic. Freeze for two to three hours. Semifreddo will keep in freezer for several weeks.
• When ready to serve, plunge the peaches into boiling water for 15 seconds. Rinse under cold water, peel and slice very thinly. Toss with lemon juice and the remaining one-half cup confectioner's sugar, adding sugar according to taste.
• Dip the molds (or mold) briefly into hot water and turn out the semifreddo. Serve individual portions or slices of semifreddo, surrounded by peach slices. Garnish the semifreddo (but not the peaches) with broken pieces of amaretti.

AMARETTI SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Place chopped almonds on a tray and toast in preheated oven until lightly colored and fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning; if there is a strong odor of nuts in your kitchen, they'll be burnt by the time they cool. Let cool completely.
• Crumble the amaretti into 1/2 inch pieces by wrapping in a tea towel and tapping lightly with a rolling pin or mallet. Do not crush into small pieces. Place crumbled cookies in a medium bowl and sprinkle with rum. Toss with almonds and chocolate chips. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat cream with an electric mixer until thickened. Pour in brandy and beat until soft peaks form. Spoon whipped cream over cookie mixture. In same bowl, beat ice cream just until softened (with a flat whip, if available). Fold cookie and cream mixture into ice cream. Freeze until ready to serve.