Gingerbread Semifreddo Recipes

SEMIFREDDO MIXTURE

Steps:

• In bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs until pale and thick. Gradually add sugar; beat until fluffy. Slowly add Calvados, and combine.
• Hold bowl over, but not touching, pan of simmering water. Whisk until shiny and thick, about 8 minutes. Return to mixer; beat on medium speed until cool, about 10 minutes.
• In a chilled bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add one-fourth of the whipped cream to egg mixture; whisk. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch metal pan. Cover; freeze for 3 to 4 hours.

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.

GINGER SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to fold over top. Bring an inch or two of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. In a heatproof mixing bowl that will fit on saucepan, combine egg, egg yolks, honey and ginger. Place bowl over simmering water, and whisk mixture until pale and thick; do not allow to overheat, or mixture will curdle. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, or by hand, whisk cream just until stiff peaks form. Fold egg mixture into cream, and pour into loaf pan. Fold plastic so it covers top of pan, and place in freezer until solid, at least 3 hours.
• To serve, remove semifreddo from pan and plastic wrap, place on a chilled platter, and scatter about half the diced ginger over top. Working quickly (semifreddo will melt more quickly than ice cream), slice and serve, scattering each plate with more ginger cubes.

GINGERBREAD SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Unroll gingerbread genoise; brush generously with Calvados soaking syrup. Quickly spread semifreddo mixture over surface to within one inch of side edges. Roll cake into jelly-roll shape; wrap with towel to cover. Freeze until hard, about 5 hours or overnight.
• To serve, temper slightly in refrigerator, about 15 minutes, and slice. Top with cranberry coulis; use 2 or 3 sugared cranberries and a sprig of sugared rosemary for garnish.

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.

GINGER CHILI PEPPER SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a small loaf pan or other mold with plastic wrap, leaving some plastic wrap hanging over the edges.
• Combine jalapeno, whole milk and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a saucepan and heat until steaming, stirring often. Remove milk from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Peel and grate ginger and squeeze the gratings to release ginger juice. Stir into milk mixture.
• Combine heavy cream, remaining sugar and vanilla extract and whip to soft peaks. Fold into milk mixture.
• Transfer to prepared pan and freeze until set.
• Remove semifreddo by pulling evenly on opposite ends of the plastic wrap lining.