Semifreddo is a typical Italian dessert and it can be made with different flavours. Even though it is a cold dessert (semifreddo literally means “partially cold”) and it is very similar to ice cream, we often eat it for Christmas. That is why I chose to serve it as one of the desserts of my Foodbuzz 24×24 Christmas in July event. The most common Christmas semifreddo is made with one of the most popular Italian Christmas sweets: torrone. You can make it with store bought torrone or make your own using my recipe on Torrone Morbido. This dessert it really quick and easy to make and it tastes delicious. I served it with a classic hot dark chocolate sauce as I love the contrast between hot and cold, sweet and bitter. Enjoy!
For the semifreddo al torroncino
Ingredients (for 4 persons)
150 gms torrone
1 egg white
100 gms sugar
200 gms cream to whip
2 tbsp toasted hazelnuts, chopped
1 pinch salt
For the hot chocolate sauce
Ingredients:
100 gms dark chocolate
10 gms butter
100 ml milk
Cut the torrone in smaller pieces and blend it in a mixer.
Dry roast the hazelnuts on a pan over the stove. Move them around often so they do not burn. They should be ready in 3 to 5 minutes. Let them cool down, remove the outer skin then roughly crush them with a meat mallet.
Now whip the egg white with a pinch of salt and add the sugar while continuously whipping until shiny (it will look like meringue).
Whip the cream.
Mix the whipped cream together with the torrone powder and the chopped roasted hazelnuts until combined.
Fold in the egg white and sugar mix and combine well, but delicately.
Line some individual moulds with cling wrap, put in the mixture, cover with more cling wrap and freeze overnight.
To prepare the hot chocolate sauce, melt the chocolate in a double boiler.
Put the milk and butter in a separate pan and cook until the butter melts. Add the melted chocolate to it and stir well until smooth.
When ready to serve, unmould and drizzle with the hot chocolate sauce and extra toasted hazelnuts.
Oh, Manu! This looks amazing! It’s like Toblerone meets ice cream… but BETTER! 😀
I love it! This is my kind of dessert. I can’t wait to find some torrone around here (which might be easier said than done), and make this. Beautiful pictures and lovely recipe!
I’ve been BAD today…just had a grasshopper bar and a couple spoonfuls of a lemon trifle…but somehow I could still make room for your lovely dessert. Fabulous photos, Manu!
This looks absolutely amazing..what a lovely combination of flavors and so pretty! Just wonderful recipe!
Ma che bello! I love semifreddo. The cousin of my granpa used to make a great one for Christmas. You reminded me to go and try to find the recipe… I think I have it somewhere….
This looks amazing. I will definitely try this!
Congrats on Top 9!!! This looks amazing!!!
This looks so amazing! How awesome would this be to serve at a dinner party? So far, I am loving all your 24×24 recipes. 🙂
Manuela, congrats on being featured on Foodbuzz Top 9! Great!!
This looks amazing!!!! All I can say is that I’m drooling…..
Love it. Congrats for Foodbuzz Top 9!
I really like your blog.
This looks so good! Congrats on the Top 9 Today! Wonderful pictures!
Sounds delicious. I love torrone, thing is that is in the stores around Holidays….but I will book this recipe, Thanks Manu!
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Manu this looks amazing!
Congrats on Top 9 yesterday (sorry for my late congrats)!!! What a delicious dessert. Your step-by-step pictures make us follow so easily (even for me!).
Oh my God! Even if I don’t love torrone and torroncini, this semifreddo looks divine! 🙂
I have never made semifreddo and this looks absolutely delicious and simple. I hope to attempt this soon. New to your blog and you have a large collection of interesting recipes. Have a nice weekend
Yummy! I love semifreddo… I made a peanut butter one a while ago, but didn’t like my photographs 🙂 So I didn’t post it… but yours is picture perfect… and with that chocolate sauce! Yummy! Great post, Manu!
Manu this looks so beautiful. Your photos are just wonderful