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Semifreddo—Italian for "half-cold" or "half frozen"—got its name because of its unique texture. Even though it's technically frozen, the Italian dessert stays soft and creamy. Unlike ice cream, semifreddo isn't churned. Whereas ice cream is scooped, semifreddo is molded and sliced, usually in a metal loaf pan.

When using a loaf pan, the key is to line the pan with overhanging plastic wrap and add the semifreddo ingredients as directed. This will make removing the semifreddo from the pan a breeze.When ready to serve, just lift up the plastic and place the dessert on a work surface to slice.

As you'd do when making ice cream, it's important to keep all the ingredients and utensils very cold during the preparation process—but especially with semifreddo because it can melt easily, Semifreddo needs to set in the freezer for at least eight hours but preferably overnight (or even up to a day or two), making it a great make-ahead treat for a party or celebration. This delicious dessert looks like a professional created it and will dazzle your guests.

"If you are looking for a delicious dessert you can make at home that is just as impressive as it is delicious, please look no further because this is it! This recipe is so simple that you can add in your favorite toppings and flavors to completely customize it to your liking!" —Kiana Rollins

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A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup cold heavy whipping cream

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 4 large eggs

  • 6 amaretti cookies, finely crushed, more for garnish, if desired

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped almonds

  • 2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. Line a 9 x 5 x 3-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang of several inches on all the ends. Chill the pan in the freezer.At least 20 minutes before you are ready to whip the cream, place the large bowl and the beaters of an electric mixer in the refrigerator.

  3. Pour the chilled heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract into the chilled bowl and whip the cream at high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.

    Return the bowl to the refrigerator while proceeding with the next steps.

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  4. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes.

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  5. In another large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. With the mixer running, slowly add the hot sugar syrup into the eggs in a thin stream. Continue beating until the mixture is very light and fluffy and feels cool to the touch, 8 to 10 minutes.

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  6. Gently fold the chilled whipped cream into the cooled egg-syrup mixture.

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  7. Gently fold in the cookie crumbs and chopped almonds.

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  8. Remove the prepared loaf pan from the freezer. Spoon the mixture into the pan. Cover securely with the overhanging plastic wrap and return to the freezer. Freeze until set, at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.

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  9. Unwrap the top of the loaf pan. Invert onto a serving plate, lift off the pan and remove the plastic wrap. Sprinkle with the additional crushed cookies, if using, and the sliced almonds. Cut into slices and serve immediately.

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Tip

You can easily vary the flavor base of the semifreddo by creating different infused simple syrups, such as ginger, cinnamon, rose, lavender, or mint.

Variations

There are many ways to vary the flavors in semifreddo:

Chocolate chip: Fold 2 ounces chopped chocolate into the mixture before freezing.

Citrus: Add lemon, lime, or orange zest to the sugar syrup.

Fruit: Add 1 cup of blueberries, chopped strawberries, or raspberries to the mixture before freezing.

How to Store Semifreddo

Semifreddo will keep in the freezer for up to six weeks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
323Calories
18g Fat
36g Carbs
6g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories323
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g23%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 118mg39%
Sodium 123mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 36g13%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 45mg3%
Iron 2mg10%
Potassium 126mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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FAQs

How do you get perfect results from a recipe? ›

Read the recipe.

Take a good look at the recipe. Don't just skim it; read it through from start to finish. As you read, visualize doing the steps, which will help when you're prepping and prevent that dreaded yikes-I'm-missing-an-ingredient moment.

Which of the following terms in a recipe would indicate a measurement by count? ›

Final answer: The terms that indicate a measurement by count in a recipe are 'Each,' 'bunch,' and 'dozen. ' They refer to the actual count of items, unlike volume or weight measurements such as pint, quart, gallon, teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, ounce, pound, and gram.

What is the most important rule in baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe

Make sure to quickly skim the recipe before you start baking to understand the general flow and key steps. You can even make notes on the recipe or highlight key points to help you along.

What are three things to look for when evaluating a new recipe? ›

Food is delicious because of three main things: flavor, salt, and heat. If you know what to look for regarding these three components, you'll have a decent idea if a new recipe is worth a go.

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