Peanut Butter Semifreddo Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Spray a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; spray the plastic wrap. Finely grind the peanuts and graham crackers in a food processor. Add the melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and refrigerate.
• Make the ice cream: Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Fill a bowl with ice water. Whisk the egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, the banana puree, hazelnut liqueur and salt in a large metal bowl. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and put in the ice water to cool.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with a mixer until the cream just holds stiff peaks (do not overbeat). Gently fold the cream into the banana custard.
• Heat the peanut butter in the microwave until soft, about 20 seconds; let cool slightly.
• Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter into the banana cream and fold until swirled.
• Spread the mixture over the crust in the pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 9 hours. Lift out of the pan using the plastic wrap and cut into 1-inch slices.
• Photograpy by Kate Sears

CREAM CHEESE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat heavy cream on high until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator. Wash the mixing bowl and whisk attachment and set aside. (You'll need them again.)
• In a medium heat-proof bowl, combine the yolks, sugar, vanilla, salt and rum, if using. Whisk continuously, otherwise the sugar and alcohol will cook the egg, making the mixture grainy.
• In small saucepan, bring about an inch of water to a very low simmer. Place the bowl with the yolks on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler. (The bowl should not touch the water.) Whisk the yolk mixture continuously until the yolks are glossy, and have lightened in color and doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. The mixture should feel warm to the touch, and the sugar should be completely dissolved.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and continue to whisk until the mixture cools to room temperature, 8 to 10 minutes. (It will thicken a bit as it cools.) Transfer the yolk mixture and the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed, until completely smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Very gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the chilled whipped cream using a silicone spatula, being careful not to deflate the mixture. Stop earlier than you think because transferring the semifreddo to the loaf pan will continue to mix it together.
• Carefully pour the semifreddo into the prepared loaf pan. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 12 hours and up to overnight. Mixture should be frozen solid.
• When ready to serve, carefully remove the semifreddo from the mold (you may need to run the base of the loaf pan under warm water for a few seconds to aid removal) and transfer to a chilled cutting board or platter. Peel off the plastic wrap. Using a clean knife that's been run under hot water then wiped dry, slice the semifreddo into 1-inch-thick slabs. Place onto a chilled plate, top with a spoonful of maple syrup, a drizzle of cherry surette or balsamic vinegar, and a sprinkle of flaky salt.

PEANUT BUTTER SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line an 8x4-inch (2 L) loaf pan with a large piece of plastic wrap, making sure it generously hangs over the sides. Warm 3 tbsp (45 mL) whipping cream with peanut butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile in a large bowl, beat egg whites with salt until frothy. Gradually add granulated sugar, increasing speed to medium-high. Beat until whites hold stiff peaks. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, beat remaining whipping cream with vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold cooled peanut butter mixture into egg whites, then fold in whipping cream. Scrape into loaf pan, smoothing surface. Cover surface with overhanging plastic wrap, then cover with foil. Freeze overnight.
• Just before serving, unmold onto a cutting board and discard plastic wrap. For each serving, cut a 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick slice, then slice diagonally into 2 triangles. To serve, stand one triangle upright against the other. Sprinkle with toasted peanuts. Excellent with a tropical fruit salad, such as mango, pineapple and papaya. Rewrap and freeze any leftovers for up to a month.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER SEMIFREDDO WITH CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Caramel Corn: Preheat oven to 225 degrees. In a large heatproof bowl, sprinkle peanuts over popcorn.
• In a saucepan, bring brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until smooth and combined. Cook until darkened slightly and fragrant, about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat; immediately stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour over popcorn mixture, stirring to evenly coat. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake 1 hour. Let cool completely. Break into bite-size pieces and serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days. (Makes 10 cups.)
• Semifreddo: Line the bottom and sides of a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. In a large heatproof bowl, combine chocolate, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In another large heatproof bowl, combine peanut butter and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Remove from heat; immediately divide cream evenly between bowls. Let stand 5 minutes, then stir each mixture until smooth. Let cool until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Combine egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Beat constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to the touch (it should feel smooth when rubbed between fingers), 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, then transfer to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to high; continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form and bowl no longer feels warm to the touch, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Divide meringue evenly between chocolate and peanut-butter mixtures; gently fold into each until thoroughly combined and no white streaks remain. Transfer half of chocolate mixture to prepared loaf pan; smooth top with an offset spatula. (Refrigerate peanut-butter mixture and remaining chocolate mixture until ready to use.) Freeze until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Pour peanut-butter mixture into pan, smoothing top; freeze 15 minutes. Pour remaining chocolate mixture over peanut-butter mixture and smooth top. Gently fold plastic-wrap overhangs over semifreddo to cover. Freeze until firm, at least 12 hours and up to 3 days.
• Remove semifreddo from freezer 10 minutes before serving. Remove plastic from top, flip pan onto a chilled serving platter or cutting board, and lift pan from plastic. Remove plastic and slice semifreddo crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Serve, with caramel corn. Semifreddo can be stored, covered, in freezer up to 3 days.

MY NUTTY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Lightly grease a baking sheet with oil. Line a 10-inch springform tin with plastic wrap.
• Combine 1 cup sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, without stirring, until sugar dissolves and syrup starts to bubble and turn golden brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in hazelnuts. Remove from heat and pour evenly onto the oiled baking sheet. Let praline cool until solid, about 15 minutes.
• Place half of the hazelnut praline in a food processor; blend into a fine powder. Pour into a bowl. Blend remaining praline into coarse chunks.
• Beat heavy cream in large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until firm peaks form.
• Combine egg yolks and remaining 1 cup sugar in another bowl; beat with the electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and pale, 3 to 5 minutes. Fold into whipped cream.
• Beat egg whites in another bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into the whipped cream and egg yolk mixture. Fold in hazelnut powder and hazelnuts chunks. Spoon into the prepared springform tin; cover with plastic wrap.
• Freeze until semifreddo hold its shape, about 1 hour. Stir well. Return to freezer and freeze, stirring every hour, until firm, 4 to 5 hours more.

PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a 5-by-10-inch jumbo loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 4-inch overhang on all sides. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add peanut butter, and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.
• In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, whisk cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add half the peanut butter mixture and whisk until combined. With a rubber spatula, add half the remaining peanut butter mixture and gently fold 3 times (mixture will be rippled).
• Transfer half the cream mixture to loaf pan. Top with half the peanut butter mixture and 1/4 cup chocolate mixture. Top with remaining cream mixture, then drizzle with remaining peanut butter mixture and 1/4 cup chocolate mixture. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, swirl mixtures together. Freeze until firm, about 5 hours (or up to 3 days). Let sit 20 minutes at room temperature before serving with extra chocolate sauce.