Cherry Semifreddo Recipes

CHERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a large (23cm x 13cm x 6cm) loaf pan, cake pan, or mould, with plastic wrap leaving a good length of wrap hanging over the sides.
• Melt chocolate in a bowl with 1/4 cup cream over boiling water (or in the microwave for about 90 seconds on 100% power).
• Beat well together and cool.
• Lightly whip remaining cream.
• Whisk egg yolks together and beat into chocolate with cream and sugar.
• Stiffly beat egg whites and whisk into chocolate mixture.
• Stir in frozen cherries.
• Wrap securely in plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• Serve sliced.

CHERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Place the eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a heatproof bowl. Place over a saucepan of simmering water and, using a hand-held electric mixer, beat for 6-8 minutes or until thick and pale. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Whisk the cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold through the egg mixture until well combined.
• Line a 2 litre-capacity loaf tin with plastic wrap. Put the pitted cherries down into the bottom of the loaf tin, and pour the cream mixture on top. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve invert onto a plate, remove the plastic wrap and cut into slices.

SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In a mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream into medium peaks. Add 1 cup of the sugar to the cream and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Turn the cream out into a large bowl. Clean the bowl and whisk attachment. Add the egg yolks and the remaining 1 cup sugar. Whisk until the yolks are pale yellow and tripled in volume. Add the yolks to the whipped cream. Add the almond or vanilla extract and begin to fold the yolks into the cream. Add the pistachios and turn the mixture out into a glass serving dish. Freeze overnight. To serve: Cut the semifreddo into desired size pieces. Place individual pieces in a serving bowl and top with berries and chocolate sauce. Garnish with powdered sugar and a sprig of mint.

CHERRY-RASPBERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan. Add fruits; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute, then stir in lemon juice and liqueur.
• Transfer mixture to a food processor and purée, then pass through a medium-coarse-mesh sieve, discarding solids. (You should have about 1 1/4 cups.)
• Combine whole egg, yolks, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until mixture is warm (about 160°F) and sugar has dissolved. Using a mixer, beat on medium-high speed until thick and cool, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low; beat in 1 cup berry purée. In a clean bowl, whip 3/4 cup cream to stiff peaks, then fold into berry mixture. (You should have 3 1/2 cups.) Divide mixture between 8 freezer-safe glasses and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours or, covered in plastic wrap, up to 3 days. (Meanwhile, refrigerate remaining berry mixture in an airtight container.)
• To serve, remove semifreddo from freezer and let sit 10 minutes. Whip remaining 1/2 cup cream to soft peaks. Divide remaining berry mixture between glasses. Top with more raspberries, cherries, and whipped cream before serving.

CHERRY VANILLA SEMI-FREDDO

Steps:

• Coarsely cut or chop the cherries. Place them in a bowl and stir in the kirsch. Refrigerate.
• Line the bottom and sides of a six-cup metal loaf pan with wax paper, allowing enough paper to extend beyond the pan so it will cover the top. Place the pan in the freezer.
• Mix the sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture registers 237 to 239 degrees, the ''soft-ball'' stage, on a candy thermometer. While the sugar is cooking, beat the egg whites in a standing electric mixture until soft peaks form. As soon as the sugar has reached the proper temperature, drizzle it slowly into the egg whites, beating the egg whites at high speed while the sugar is being added. Continue beating the egg whites another five minutes, until they are stiff, glossy and have cooled. Refrigerate.
• Whip the cream with chilled beaters until firm but still creamy. Add the vanilla, beat a moment longer, then refrigerate.
• Fold the cherries and kirsch into the chilled egg whites, then fold in the whipped cream. Spread this mixture into the loaf pan, cover the top with the extra waxed paper and freeze at least six hours or up to several days.
• To serve, unmold the loaf onto a chilled platter and peel off the wax paper. Dust the top of the loaf with the cocoa. Serve in slices.

MASCARPONE SEMIFREDDO WITH CHERRY-PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the cherry-port sauce: Bring port and granulated sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until reduced by one third, about 5 minutes. Stir in cherries. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, until plump, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until thick, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the semifreddo: Whisk mascarpone, cream, confectioners' sugar, and a pinch of salt until medium-stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate. Spread mixture into a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan; cover with plastic wrap. Freeze until edges beginto harden and semifreddo is very cold, at least 50 minutes. Scoop into 4 serving dishes. Spoon cherry-port sauce over tops. Serve with chocolate wafer cookies.

DOUBLE CHERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Set aside a handful (about 50g) of the pitted cherries. Place the remainder in a large pan set over a medium heat with the cream and 50g icing sugar. Bring up to the boil, then gently simmer for 5 mins until the cherries start to soften. Carefully whizz in a blender, then pass through a sieve.
• Pour a little of the hot cherry cream over the egg yolks, whisk well, then pour back into the pan. Cook for about 5 mins more or until the mixture has thickened a little and will coat the back of a wooden spoon. Pour through a sieve into a bowl, cover the surface with cling film, then leave to cool completely.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then whisk in the remaining 50g sugar, 1 tbsp at a time. Keep whisking until the mixture is stiff and resembles shaving foam. Stir a third of the mixture into the cooled cream, mix until it is well incorporated, then gently fold through the remaining mixture in 2 goes.
• Line a 900g loaf tin with cling film. Pour the mixture into the tin, then cover with cling film and place in the freezer for about 3 hrs until just starting to freeze. Stir the whole cherries into the semi-frozen mixture, then return to the freezer for at least 8 hrs or preferably overnight. Serve cut into slices with some berries, or sandwiched between wafers.