Honey Butter Nuts & Seeds Semifreddo

My absolute favourite summer & Christmas dessert is Semifreddo. It’s an Italian style semi-cold treat – its not gelato or ice cream, but more like a frozen mousse. It is a close chic cousin. It is made using only a few ingredients – mainly egg yolks, egg whites and pouring cream, however further ingredients can be added (such as ground coffee, nuts, chocolate, nougat, liqueurs, fruits, spices and much more) to create a flavour and texture sensation.

I think I was exposed to it from an early age because it feels so familiar to me – like a favourite childhood toy.  My Mum says she can’t remember the exact age I was when introduced to it.  She laughs ever time I ask her things like that – says that I’m crazy if I think she was able to record insignificant details like when I first ate a particular item! Even so, she said it would have been early on because it was a family favourite at Christmas.

Semifreddo is the King of entertaining desserts. If you don’t have this on your party treats register, then get it on there! And here is why:

• as mentioned previously, it only requires a few ingredients;
• takes little time to prepare;
• can be whisked all by hand – no mixer required;
• requires no churning like other frozen desserts such as gelato & ice cream;
• can be prepared ahead of time allowing seamless entertaining and generates space for you to enjoy your guests;
• visually appealing, especially as it is usually served unmoulded on to a serving dish (from a loaf tin), topped with shaved chocolate, nuts, caramel, and the like – then sliced;
• tastes like a soft smooth velvety cold mousse which is a splendid way to finish a summer evening of dining.  Add any crunchy texture (like praline, nuts, nougat) to that blend and I am in heaven!

I think you’re all now adding Semifreddo to your dessert repertoire!!!  In particular, this recipe of Honey Butter Nuts & Seeds Semifreddo that I share with you today.

I am ecstatic with the result of this creation and its pretty funny that it came about via a mistake in making something else. I was actually experimenting with ingredients to craft a slice a few weeks ago. I heated honey and butter in a small pan then poured it into a bowl containing nuts – almonds & pistachios, and white & black sesame seeds. I poured this into a prepared slice tin and baked it for 30 minutes.

When cooled, the mixture was too soft and unable to be cut into slices. I resolved that I didn’t heat the honey to the correct temperature in the initial stages when heated with the butter. As I don’t throw any food away, I decided to make a semifreddo with the added flavours of honey, butter, almonds, pistachio, and white & black sesame seeds. Since then, I have made this semifreddo dessert three times when entertaining friends and have received great reviews. I was told that I MUST share this recipe by my nephew, Xavier, who is a very hard food critic – so here it is. I have attached just below a video demonstration of how to make this recipe.

You will find this plus many more of my how to cook or bake food videos on my YouTube food channel – link is here if you would like to subscribe https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpi6My9y8ODHVx5NYLieeyg?disable_polymer=true

I take this opportunity to now wish you a Merry Christmas and hope Santa is good to you. Enjoy this time of indulging and I look forward to hearing all about your successful entertaining dessert of Honey Butter Nuts & Seeds Semifreddo.

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