Chocolatti Semifreddo Recipes

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.

TANGERINE CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In top of a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, combine egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, tangerine zest, juice and salt. Beat on medium speed until mixture is thick, frothy and holds a ribbon and a thermometer reads 160°. Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate and vanilla. Quickly transfer to a bowl; place in ice water and refrigerate 15 minutes or until completely cool, stirring occasionally., In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into cooled chocolate mixture. Pour into six freezer-safe dessert glasses or dishes. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight., Just before serving, top with sweetened whipped cream and dust with cocoa. Serve immediately.

MARCELLA HAZAN'S SEMIFREDDO DI CIOCCOLATO

Steps:

• Whip the cream. Before it begins to stiffen and while it is still the consistency of buttermilk, add the confectioners' sugar a little at a time and continue whipping.
• When all the sugar has been incorporated and the cream is stiff enough to hold peaks, mix in the grated chocolate.
• Beat the egg whites until they are stiff but not dry; fold them into the cream and chocolate mixture.
• Line a loaf pan of 1 1/2 to 2 quarts with wax paper and pour the mixture into the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight. To serve, unmold the loaf onto a platter, remove wax paper and slice.

CHOCOLATE MALTED SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line round 2 1/2-inch collars with strips of acetate and place them in the freezer.
• In a large bowl, whisk the yolks, sugar, brandy, malt powder, milk, and vanilla bean together. Over a hot water bath cook whisking constantly until very thick, like a sabayon. Remove from the heat and take out the vanilla bean. Whisk in the chocolate to melt it, then let this cool almost completely. Fold in the whipped cream until completely combined.
• Pour semifreddo mixture into collars filling 1/8-inch from the top and freeze overnight. To serve it, take it out of the collar and sprinkle it lightly with cocoa powder and powdered sugar then place on dessert plates then peel off the acetate. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving to temper it a bit.

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.

WHITE-CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Combine egg yolks, sugar, and amaretto in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until mixture is pale and thickened, about 2 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a small bowl. Place bowl in ice water until mixture has cooled slightly. Press plastic wrap directly over the surface, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the white chocolate, then the chilled yolk mixture.
• Spoon mixture into one 4-by-2-inch baking ring set on a parchment-lined baking sheet or two 6-ounce ramekins, filling them to the rim. Smooth surface. Cover, and freeze until set, about 2 hours (or up to overnight).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until skins have split, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then rub with a damp towel to remove skins. Coarsely chop.
• If using a ring, run a knife around edge to loosen, and unmold. If using ramekins, do not unmold. Sprinkle with hazelnuts just before serving.

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.

CHOCOLATTI SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Break up all the cookies in a 6.75 oz. package of "Bordeaux" cookies. Then use a sieve or sifter to separate the pieces so that you end up with roughly 2/3 COARSE pieces (size of a dime) and 1/3 FINE pieces (like graham cracker crumbs).
• Set coarse and fine crumbs aside, in separate piles.
• Prepare semifreddo: in a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down sides. Then on SLOW mixer speed, add egg, egg yolk and cocoa; blend gently. Add lemon juice, zest and liqueur. By hand, fold in the COARSE cookie pieces.
• Prepare roll for freezing: Spoon the gooey mixture onto a sheet of foil or plastic wrap. Place in freezer and allow about 3 hours to firm up. HINT - a simpler method is to pack the gooey mixture into a bread pan (lined with plastic wrap). Note that you have not used the FINE cookie crumbs yet.
• Once frozen, unroll and coat the exterior of the roll with the FINE cookie crumbs. Return to freezer.
• To serve, place two slices frozen roll on a plate; garnish with whipped cream, raspberries and a dusting of cocoa, if desired.
• Funny note - our Italian cooking hosts called this dessert "Frozen Salami Roll" because the finished slices vaguely look like a slice of salami. We gently asked them if they would be offended if we NEVER referred to salami in the title, and they agreed!