Walnut and Chocolate Semifreddo

17/11/2023

Walnut and chocolate semifreddo is a very tasty dessert and not too complicated to prepare. Here is the recipe for you.

Ingredients

250 ml of whipping cream
100 g of dark chocolate
4 egg yolks
100 g of granulated sugar
100 g of chopped walnuts
50 g of powdered sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation

Start by melting the dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Be careful to stir often and not to burn the chocolate.
In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the granulated sugar until you get a light and foamy mixture.
Whip the cream until it is well stiff.
Gently fold the cooled melted chocolate into the whipped yolks, with slow movements from top to bottom so as not to deflate the mixture.
Add the chopped walnuts, milk, and, if desired, a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture.
Finally, incorporate the whipped cream, again with gentle movements to keep the mixture aerated.
Pour the mixture into a loaf pan lined with cling film or parchment paper to facilitate the removal of the semifreddo once ready.
Let the semifreddo rest in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, or better yet, overnight.
Before serving, dust the semifreddo with powdered sugar and decorate as you like with additional chopped walnuts or chocolate shavings.

Trivia

Semifreddo is a typical Italian dessert that comes in many variations. The term “semifreddo” refers to the soft and creamy consistency of an ice cream that is not completely frozen. The origins of this dessert are quite ancient, and it is believed that the first versions date back to the Renaissance, when ice creams and sorbets were made for noble families using snow and ice collected in winter and stored in special “ice houses.”

If you don’t have or don’t want to use dark chocolate, you can substitute it with milk chocolate for a sweeter taste or with white chocolate for a more delicate texture. And the walnuts can be replaced or combined with other types of nuts, such as almonds or pistachios, to experiment with new flavor combinations.