The Perfect Raspberry & Passion Fruit Semifreddo Recipe You’ll Love

Semifreddo, a luxurious Italian frozen dessert, dances between the realms of ice cream and mousse with its silky, luscious texture.

Light yet decadent, this culinary creation promises a symphony of creamy smoothness that melts effortlessly on your palate.

Imagine a dessert that captures the essence of elegance while delivering an indulgent experience that transcends traditional frozen treats.

Its unique composition blends whipped cream and beaten eggs into a cloud-like mixture that freezes into a dreamy, semi-frozen delight.

The beauty of semifreddo lies in its versatility, welcoming a vibrant array of flavors and textural contrasts that make each bite an adventure.

Delicate yet intense, this dessert converts simple ingredients into a sophisticated sensory journey that challenges conventional frozen confections.

What Makes This Semifreddo So Refreshing

• Tropical Flavor Explosion: Raspberry and passion fruit create a vibrant, tangy combination that dances on your taste buds with bright, refreshing notes.
• Luxurious Textural Delight: The semifreddo offers a silky-smooth, almost mousse-like texture with crunchy chocolate crumbs that provide an irresistible contrast.
• Impressive No-Bake Dessert: This show-stopping treat requires no advanced pastry skills, making it perfect for home cooks wanting to create a restaurant-quality dessert without complicated techniques.
• Customizable Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this dessert entirely in advance, allowing you to impress guests with minimal last-minute effort and maximum flavor impact.

What Goes Into Raspberry & Passion Fruit Semifreddo

• Flour, Cocoa Powder: Rich dark base for chocolate crumbs with deep chocolate flavor, best when using unsweetened cocoa.
• Sugar, Cornstarch, Salt: Provides sweetness, texture, and balance to chocolate crumbs.
• Butter: Binds chocolate crumbs together, creates rich and crispy texture.

• Passion Fruit Pulp, Corn Syrup: Tangy tropical fruit base with smooth sweetness, choose ripe passion fruits for intense flavor.
• Raspberries, Sugar, Corn Syrup: Fresh berries creating vibrant fruity layer, select ripe and plump raspberries for best taste.
• Amoretti Flavor: Enhances fruit intensity and adds professional pastry flavor profile.

• Whole Eggs, Egg Yolks: Creates luxurious custard base with rich texture and smooth consistency.
• Heavy Cream: Provides lightness and airiness to semifreddo, use cold cream for best whipping results.
• Salt: Balances and enhances overall dessert flavors.

How to Build the Perfect Semifreddo with Chocolate Crumbs

Step 1: Prepare Chocolate Crumb Base

• Preheat oven to 250°F
• Gather ingredients
• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Melted butter

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix dry ingredients, then add melted butter until crumbly. Spread evenly on sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until crisp. Cool completely on wire rack.

Step 2: Create Passion Fruit Reduction

• Passion fruit pulp
• Sugar
• Corn syrup

Combine ingredients in saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and transfer to mixing bowl. Add Amoretti flavor and set aside.

Step 3: Cook Raspberry Sauce

• Fresh raspberries
• Sugar
• Corn syrup

Use same saucepan to cook raspberries. Mash berries while cooking to release juices. Simmer 3-5 minutes until thickened. Strain through fine mesh sieve. Mix in Amoretti flavor.

Step 4: Prepare Egg Base

Set up double boiler with heat-proof bowl. Whisk eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt. Heat until mixture reaches 170°F. Remove from heat and continue beating until pale yellow and cooled.

Step 5: Combine Fruit Bases

Divide egg mixture between raspberry and passion fruit bases. Fold gently to incorporate.

Step 6: Whip and Fold Cream

Whip cream to soft peaks. Fold half into each fruit base until smooth and uniform.

Step 7: Layer and Freeze Semifreddo

Line loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour raspberry mixture first. Tap to settle and sprinkle with half chocolate crumbs. Freeze for 1 hour.

Step 8: Add Final Layer

Pour passion fruit mixture over raspberry layer. Top with remaining chocolate crumbs. Cover lightly and freeze 4-6 hours or overnight.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from freezer 5-10 minutes before serving. Slice and plate for a stunning dessert experience.

Best Practices for a Creamy Semifreddo Finish

• Prevent Crystallization: Whisk egg mixture constantly over low heat to ensure smooth, creamy texture without sugar crystals forming.
• Achieve Perfect Peaks: Whip cream just until soft peaks form, avoiding overbeating which can make the semifreddo grainy and less silky.
• Layer with Precision: Tap the pan gently after each layer to remove air bubbles and create a smooth, compact semifreddo.
• Chill for Optimal Texture: Allow the dessert to freeze completely for at least 4-6 hours, giving it time to set and develop rich, creamy consistency.
• Serve Smartly: Remove semifreddo from freezer 5-10 minutes before serving to soften slightly, making it easier to slice and enhancing its luxurious mouthfeel.

Keeping Semifreddo Frozen and Flavorful

• Refrigerate: Wrap semifreddo tightly in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 1 week to maintain optimal texture and flavor.
• Thaw: Remove semifreddo from freezer 10-15 minutes before serving. Let it sit at room temperature to soften slightly, which helps release its creamy consistency.
• Slice: Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between cuts to create clean, smooth slices that showcase the beautiful layers and chocolate crumbs.

Drinks and Desserts to Pair with Your Semifreddo

• Elevate with Sweet Sips: Pair this luscious semifreddo with a chilled moscato d'asti or a light, sweet rosé wine. These delicate wines complement the dessert's fruity notes without overpowering its delicate texture.
• Chocolate Crumb Companion: Serve alongside a rich espresso or cappuccino. The coffee's robust intensity beautifully contrasts the semifreddo's creamy sweetness and adds depth to the chocolate crumb experience.
• Fruity Flavor Booster: Garnish with fresh raspberries and passion fruit seeds. These fresh fruits enhance the dessert's natural flavors and provide a vibrant, textural contrast to the smooth semifreddo.
• Palate-Cleansing Finale: Consider a small glass of limoncello as a refreshing digestif. Its bright citrus notes will cleanse the palate and provide a crisp, clean finish to this decadent dessert.

New Versions of Raspberry & Passion Fruit Semifreddo

• Tropical Tango: Swap passion fruit with mango and add a splash of coconut cream for a luscious Caribbean-inspired semifreddo that brings sunny beach vibes to your dessert.
• Berry Bold Remix: Replace raspberries with blackberries and add a hint of lavender extract for an elegant, sophisticated flavor profile that elevates the classic recipe.
• Citrus Spark: Incorporate blood orange and lemon zest into the bases, creating a bright, tangy semifreddo that offers a refreshing twist on the original composition.
• Nutty Indulgence: Mix toasted almond pieces into the chocolate crumbs and fold chopped pistachios through the fruit bases for a rich, textural experience that adds complexity and crunch.

Raspberry & Passion Fruit Semifreddo with Chocolate Crumbs Recipe

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4.9 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Silky smooth semifreddo marries tangy passion fruit with rich raspberries, nestled on a crumbly chocolate base. Creamy Italian-style frozen dessert promises cool luxury that melts deliciously on your palate, delivering pure summer indulgence.

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Ingredients

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Chocolate Crumb:

• ⅓ cup (79 ml) all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup (79 ml) dark or Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) cornstarch
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) unsalted butter, melted

Main Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 1 ¼ cup (296 ml) heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Fruit Bases:

• 1 cup (150 g) fresh raspberries, thawed if frozen
• ¼ cup (59 ml) strained passion fruit pulp
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) corn syrup for raspberries
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) corn syrup for passion fruit
• 1 tablespoon (20 g) granulated sugar for raspberries
• 1 tablespoon (20 g) granulated sugar for passion fruit
• 1 teaspoon Amoretti Natural Raspberry Artisan Flavor
• 1 teaspoon Amoretti Natural Passion Fruit Artisan Flavor

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Instructions

1. Craft chocolate crumbs by combining dry ingredients and melted butter, creating a coarse, sandy texture that will become a crunchy base for the dessert.
2. Spread the chocolate mixture evenly on a baking sheet, transforming it into crisp, dark crumbs through gentle baking at a low temperature.
3. Prepare passion fruit reduction by simmering pulp with sugar, developing a concentrated, tangy sauce that will infuse the semifreddo with vibrant tropical notes.
4. Transform raspberries into a luscious compote by cooking with sugar, releasing their intense ruby-red color and deep fruity essence.
5. Create a silky egg base using a double boiler, whisking eggs and sugar until they become light, airy, and reach a precise temperature for food safety.
6. Gently fold the warm egg mixture into separate raspberry and passion fruit reductions, ensuring each base maintains its distinct flavor profile.
7. Whip cream to soft, billowy peaks, then carefully incorporate into each fruit base, maintaining the delicate airiness of the mixture.
8. Assemble the semifreddo in layers, first pouring the raspberry mixture into a parchment-lined loaf pan and sprinkling with chocolate crumbs.
9. After an initial freezing period, add the passion fruit layer, top with remaining chocolate crumbs, and allow to freeze completely for a stunning, multi-layered dessert.

Notes

• Precision matters when tempering eggs, ensuring they reach 170°F for food safety and smooth texture.
• Straining fruit bases removes seeds, creating a silky-smooth semifreddo with refined consistency.
• Folding techniques are crucial: gently incorporate cream and egg mixtures to maintain delicate air bubbles.
• Layering creates beautiful color contrast and allows each fruit flavor to shine independently.
• Freezing in stages helps achieve clean, distinct layers without mixing colors.
• Chocolate crumbs add delightful crunch and rich depth to the dessert’s overall mouthfeel.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg