Chocolate Hazelnut Semifreddo Recipes

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Special equipment: 3 by 15-inch piece of parchment paper, a 7 1/2 by 12-inch piece of parchment paper.
• For the crust: Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 5 by 3-inch nonstick loaf pan with vegetable oil cooking spray. Using 2 pieces of parchment paper, line the pan, allowing the excess to hang over the ends and sides.
• In a food processor, blend the biscotti and hazelnuts together until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until the crumbs are moistened. Using a flexible spatula, press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges of the crust are golden. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
• For the filling: In a medium stainless steel or glass bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Put the bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Whisk until the egg mixture is pale, thick and creamy, and an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, about 10 to 15 minutes. Put the bowl into a larger bowl of iced water to cool completely.
• In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream until thick. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until the cream holds stiff peaks. Mix 1/4 of the cream into the cooled custard. Using a spatula, gently fold the remaining cream into the custard. Drop spoonfuls of the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the custard mixture and gently fold until just incorporated but still chunky. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared crust. Fold the overhanging parchment paper over the custard and freeze for at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Run a thin-bladed spatula around the semifreddo between the parchment paper and the pan. Unfold the parchment paper and invert the semifreddo onto a platter. Peel off the paper and cut into 1-inch thick slices. Serve on chilled plates.
• Cook's Note: to toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 9x5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing 4 to 5 inches to extend over all sides.
• Stir cookie crumbs and almonds together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place chopped bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl and set a fine wire-mesh strainer over the bowl; set aside.
• Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Heat 1/2 cup cream and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly whisk hot cream mixture into egg mixture until completely combined. Return mixture to the saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula and scraping the bottom of the pan, until mixture is slightly thickened and registers 160 to 165 degrees F (70 to 74 degrees C), 4 to 5 minutes. Do not let mixture simmer.
• Immediately pour into the strainer over the chocolate. Discard any solids left in the strainer. Let chocolate mixture stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth; whisk in vanilla and almond extracts. Let stand until completely cool, about 15 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream with an electric stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Whisk 1/3 of whipped cream into chocolate mixture until completely combined. Gently fold remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula until incorporated and no streaks of whipped cream remain. Spoon mixture into the prepared pan and smooth evenly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle evenly with cookie crumb mixture.
• Pull excess plastic wrap at sides tightly over cake, gently pressing down on cookie crumb mixture. Freeze, 12 to 24 hours.
• Lift semifreddo from pan, using plastic wrap as handles, and transfer to a serving plate. Let stand for 15 minutes. Cut semifreddo into 8 slices, using a serrated knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each slice.

HALVAH SEMIFREDDO WITH HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Line a small loaf pan with plastic wrap. In a bowl, mash the halva with a strong fork until crumbled.
• Stir in the nuts (reserve some for topping), while continuing to mash, mixing the nuts and halvah together until almost smooth.
• Beat the cream to soft peaks and fold into the halvah mixture. Pour into the loaf pan and bang the pan on the counter several times to distribute the mixture evenly. Transfer to the freezer and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. (To keep longer, wrap semifreddo in plastic wrap and keep for up to 1 month.)
• To serve whole, place the frozen loaf in a serving dish. Drizzle chocolate sauce or spoon fruit preserves on top, if desired. Arrange hazelnuts on top and slice at the table. Alternatively, serve as individual slices and pass toppings at the table.

HAZELNUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Grease a 10-inch spring form pan and line with parchment paper.
• In a food processor grind the hazelnuts and 3/4 cup sugar together, pulsing to avoid over blending so it does not become a paste. Whip the cream using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, until fluffy, soft peaks. Transfer to the refrigerator.
• In a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and 1/4 cup sugar and continue whipping until glossy and stiff, about 30 seconds more. Fold into the whipped cream, then fold in the ground nut mixture. Spoon the mixture into the spring form pan. Smooth the top. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Warm Glossy Chocolate Sauce: In the top half of a double boiler, combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water. Stir constantly until melted, then whisk in the corn syrup and water. Whisk until smooth and shiny.
• When ready to eat, remove the collar and serve frozen with chocolate sauce.
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

HAZELNUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the hazelnuts in a single layer on a small sheet pan. Toast the nuts for 8 minutes, until they are lightly golden. Pour the nuts onto a clean kitchen towel and rub them to remove the peels. Put the hazelnuts in a large sealable plastic bag, seal the bag, and pound the nuts with a rolling pin until roughly crushed. Set aside.
• Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the ice cream into 16 equal-size balls (8 of each flavor) and arrange in a single layer on a cold plate lined with plastic wrap. Cover the ice cream balls with more plastic wrap and freeze again until firm.
• In a medium bowl, whip the cream, a pinch of salt, sugar and 2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur to stiff peaks, but do not over beat.
• To serve, put 2 scoops each of hazelnut (or coffee) and vanilla ice creams into each glass. Add to the top of each 1 tablespoon hazelnut liqueur and 2 tablespoons crushed hazelnuts. Pour 1/4 cup espresso into each bowl. Top the ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Serve immediately.
• Entertaining Notes: If you are doing this for a larger party you can pre-scoop the ice cream right into the glasses and store, covered, in the freezer.

CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Double line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with cling film.
• For the ganache, melt the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Stir in the icing sugar and double cream. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, place the egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract and sugar in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Beat the mixture over the heat for about 8 minutes using a hand-held electric whisk, until it is thick and pale. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a separate large bowl, whip the double cream until it is just stiff. Gently fold in the pale egg mixture until combined.
• Pour half the mix into the prepared loaf tin. Make a shallow well along the centre and pour in the ganache. Pour the rest of the semifreddo mix over the top and use a knife to make swirls with the ganache. Cover with cling film and place in the freezer to set for 6 hours.
• Just before serving, melt the chocolate pieces in a bowl standing over a pan of simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• To serve, turn the semifreddo out onto a serving platter and carefully remove the cling film. Pour the cooled chocolate over the top, sprinkle with the toasted hazelnuts and serve in generous slices.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line 8x4 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, extending the wrap at the sides and ends of the pan.
• In a bowl, mix hazelnut spread and melted chocolate.
• In a second bowl, beat cream just until stiff peaks form.
• Stir a large spoonful of whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
• Fold the remaining cream into the chocolate mixture, half at a time (mixture will not be uniformly blended).
• Pour mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Freeze for 1 hour.
• Remove from freezer and cover top with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight until firm.
• To serve: remove plastic wrap from top and invert semifreddo on to a platter.
• Remove remaining plastic wrap.
• Let stand a few minutes at room temperature (not more than 10) to soften slightly.
• Cut into 1-inch thick slices and place on plates, drizzle each serving with 1 Tablespoon of chocolate sauce and garnish with a few fresh strawberries.
• Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• To make the base for the semifreddo, melt the dark chocolate, cool slightly.
• Pulse the cornflakes and the melted chocolate until combined.
• Spread thinly over the base of 8 flan tins lined with cling wrap.
• Place in fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Melt the milk chocolate and put aside.
• Put egg yolks, Frangelica and 40g sugar in a bowl and place the bowl over a pot of boiling water then whisk until the mixture is light, thick and forms a slowly dissovling ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
• Set aside and cool. Then add the melted milk chocolate.
• While the egg yolk mixture is cooling, whisk egg whites until foamy.
• Slowly add the 75g sugar until they form a stiff meringue.
• Fold the meringue into the cooled chocolate egg mixture.
• Fold in the whipped cream until well incorporated.
• Pour the mixture into the 8 flan tins and freeze for 2-3 hours.
• To unmold lift out using the cling wrap.