9 Recipes That Prove Semifreddo Is Simpler Than You Think (2024)

‘Tis the season for ice cream. Or is it? A creamy, cold, and refreshingly light dessert recently popped up on our radar, and we can’t get enough of it. No, not fro-yo. We’re talking about semifreddo, a semi-frozen spin on ice cream that’s still delightfully cold but closer in consistency to mousse. We say skip the cone—at least today—and try one of these nine simple semifreddo recipes.

1. Chocolate Semifreddo

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Homemade dessert in 15 minutes? Yup, this is something we can get behind. Similar to mousse, this semifreddo is made by melting chocolate and slowly folding in the egg yolks and cream (oh, and mascarpone). The hardest part is waiting for the semifreddo to properly chill—six hours at least—and then for an additional 15-30 minutes when it thaws (hence being semifreddo).

2. Strawberry Coconut Semifreddo

It’s easy to go overboard at summer farmer’s markets. The boxes of berries are just so beautiful! Using all that fresh produce… that’s another story. This recipe is perfect for those who were a bit overzealous buying berries and want to make the most of them. Simply blend strawberries and sugar (we love subbing honey), bring to a simmer, make the coconut cream, fold together once they’re cool, sprinkle with coconut cream, and let the chilling commence.

3. Espresso and Toasted Almond Semifreddo

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Can we talk about the amazingness that is instant espresso? You get all of the perks of a perfectly brewed coffee shot with a simple little powder. Genius. It’s particularly convenient in recipes like this, where a small spoonful is enough to give the semifreddo just the right amount of kick. We also love the added creaminess from almond butter and crunch from toasted almonds chunks.

4. Easy Pistachio Semifreddo

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Do you ever spot a recipe that looks crazy-delicious just to find out it’s made of 20-plus ingredients, most of which would require trips—yes, plural—to specialized food shops? Thanks but no thanks. This recipe, fortunately, is the exact opposite of that. With only five ingredients and a mere seven steps, this pistachio semifreddo is one of those recipes that looks (and tastes) elegant but doesn’t come with any fuss. Sometimes keeping it simple really does yield the best results.

5. Lemon Raspberry Semifreddo

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Not all semifreddos—or ice creams, for that matter—need to be overly creamy and heavy. This recipe sticks to light and bright flavors like raspberry and lemon to balance the creaminess and temper the heaviness that often comes with using heavy creams. This party-friendly dessert is also accompanied by a tangy, booze-infused sauce, which both tastes and looks amazing.

6. Tiramisu Semifreddo

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And just when we thought tiramisu couldn’t get any better, along came tiramisu semifreddo. As with the classic recipe, this tiramisu semifreddo takes a bit more effort, but a little trip to an Italian supermarket will ease any freddo woes—as that’s where you’ll find ladyfingers, the best espresso powder (though feel free to brew your own!), and quality mascarpone. Though it’s tempting to skip the brandy, we highly recommend sticking to the recipe as is for the best flavor. It’s worth it.

7. Vegan Semifreddo Layer Cake

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Dairy lovers shouldn’t have all the fun when it comes to semifreddo.Though it’s true that heavy cream results in the best semi-frozen texture, this vegan recipe proves that alternatives are worth exploring. Made with puréed banana, peanut butter sauce, smashed pretzels, and melted vegan chocolate, this heavenly semifreddo layer cake has us appreciating that dairy-free life.

8. Mascarpone White Chocolate Cappuccino Semifreddo

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Though we’re often fans of making things from scratch, sometimes shortcuts are all kinds of worth it. Take this recipe, which relies on a white chocolate caramel cappuccino mix to give it it’s multi-dimensional (and ultra irresistible) flavor. The pre-mixed powder also means the recipe sticks to a mere six ingredients so you can focus on the important stuff—like eating your masterpiece. Feel free to substitute any pre-mixed coffee powder or even mint hot cocoa mix.

9. Peach Semifreddo

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Peaches and cream are peak summer flavors. (Not to mention, the makings of a pretty catchy tune.) We love that this recipe gets its creaminess not from heavy cream, but instead from crème fraiche and sweetened condensed milk. It also gets crunch from crumbled graham cracker and juiciness from fresh peach slices—though our favorite ingredients may just be the white wine vinegar and pinch of salt, which temper the sweetness perfectly.

9 Recipes That Prove Semifreddo Is Simpler Than You Think (2024)

FAQs

What type of dessert is semifreddo What does semifreddo mean? ›

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.

What is the difference between semifreddo and parfait? ›

French parfait is made with pâte à bombe while semifreddo is made with Italian meringue. Pâte à bombe is foamed egg yolks tempered with sugar syrup. Italian meringue is made by foaming egg whites and sugar syrup. This is the main difference: parfait is made with egg yolks while semifreddo is made with egg whites.

What is semifreddo vs ice cream? ›

Semifreddo (in Italian means 'half-cold' or 'half-frozen'), is a frozen dessert, texture-wise, it is similar between ice cream and mousse. Compared to ice cream: it is less cold, it contains about 10/15% more sugars and fats and a smaller amount of water, it is made up of air for over 50%.

What does semifreddo taste like? ›

Semifreddo is an Italian creation that tastes like a cross between frozen mousse and ice cream. It's a combination of equal parts ice cream and whipped cream that are semi frozen, but we just like to think of it as a little bit of heaven.

What is similar to semifreddo? ›

Italian semifreddo is often compared to French parfait. But true Italian semifreddo is made by folding whipped cream into Italian meringue (which is where the egg whites are whipped with boiling hot sugar syrup, which cooks them and stabilises them).

What is semifreddo made of? ›

Like ice cream, the most common ingredients are eggs, sugar, milk and heavy cream. The technique for creating semifreddo varies from recipe to recipe. Some recipes will come together by combining whipped cream, whipped egg whites and beaten egg yolks, and sugar.

Is semifreddo the same as gelato? ›

Semifreddo and spumone are two frozen desserts that are in a category of “gelato” but are different from the traditional gelato most people are familiar with; they have a distinct consistency, and even a different temperature than gelato.

What is the difference between custard and semifreddo? ›

This frozen dessert contains dairy and eggs, as in ice cream or gelato, and while the semifreddo has a similar texture, the difference is in the process of aeration. Instead of chilling a spinning custard base, semifreddo gets air bubbles whipped into it and then is frozen stationary.

What is the French version of semifreddo? ›

Semifreddo (Italian: [ˌsemiˈfreddo]; lit. 'half-cold') or perfetti is a class of frozen desserts similar to ice cream. It is derived from the French parfait introduced in Italy during the 19th century.

What is Russian ice cream? ›

The most popular type of ice cream in Russia is plombieres - it originated in France and became popular in the USSR. It's tasty ice cream, but get any quality vanilla ice cream (like Haagen Dazs) and it's going to be better that typical plombir made in Russia.

Is semifreddo a cake? ›

Semifreddo is the adult alternative to ice cream cake. Originating in Europe, Semifreddo is an Italian dessert meaning “half frozen” and is like ice cream cake in texture but is deliciously smooth and creamy.

What is Russian ice cream called? ›

The name "plombir" descends from the French dessert Plombières, a vanilla ice cream mixed with candied fruit soaked in kirsch. In 1936, Joseph Stalin sent People's Commissar of the Food Industry Anastas Mikoyan on a business trip to the United States to study and adapt American food production.

What is Greek ice cream called? ›

The Greek Kaimaki. An oriental taste. The "Kaimaki" or "dondurma" ice cream is of Turkish derivation and of Greek adoption. In Turkish language “dondurma” means freezing and "kaimaki dondurma" means cream ice-cream. The kaimaki ice cream looks like a white cream.

What is the texture of semifreddo? ›

It has a creamy, velvety consistency that's sophisticated and decadent. It doesn't have quite the same sharp coldness to it on the palate that ice cream has - it's much more fluffy and creamy. Perhaps because this dessert doesn't have the most extensive history, the flavor variations that exist are pretty much endless.

Do Greek people eat ice cream? ›

Especially in summer, Greeks often head to a cafe for some ice cream around 8pm.

Why is it called semifreddo? ›

Semifreddo is not churned in a batch freezer, but instead is simply frozen in a mold. Semifreddo means “semi-cold,” and it earned its name because, thanks to its formulation, it feels less cold than it actually is.

What does semifreddo mean in Italian? ›

It roughly translates to “half cold” in Italian, meaning that you should expect a frozen treat brought to your table! Semifreddo refers to a collection of frozen desserts that bear a striking resemblance to ice cream, but aren't quite the same thing.

What is the meaning of semifreddo cake? ›

Semifreddo is the adult alternative to ice cream cake. Originating in Europe, Semifreddo is an Italian dessert meaning “half frozen” and is like ice cream cake in texture but is deliciously smooth and creamy.

Where does the dessert semifreddo originate? ›

Semifreddo or perfetti (Italian: [ˌsemiˈfreddo]; lit. 'half-cold') is a class of frozen desserts similar to ice cream. It is derived from the French parfait introduced in Italy during the 19th century.

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