Instructions

High-Speed Blender Method

This recipe uses a high-speed blender. With a high-speed blender, the mixture becomes hot enough to cook the eggs and denature the proteins, thus setting the dessert. No high-speed blender? No problem – you can make this the old fashioned way using a double-boiler. Skip down the page for this alternate preparation method.

1. Whip the cream to firm peaks in blender or with a mixer and set aside or refrigerate. This step can be done up to the day before.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in blender, run on high for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool for about 5 minutes.
3. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap. You can use an unlined pan if you like, but you’ll need to warm it gently when removing the semifreddo at the end.
4. Fold whipped cream and egg mixture together, mixing gently until just combined. Don’t over-mix the semifreddo or it will deflate.
5. Slowly pour the semifreddo into the pan, tapping gently as you go to work out any pockets of air and to level the mixture. Gently press the lady fingers into the top of the semifreddo, forming a nice tight base (this will be the bottom layer when you turn the frozen mixture out onto a plate). Refrigerate for 1 hour, then freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
6. To serve: remove the pan from the freezer and turn the semifreddo out onto a serving plate. Remove the plastic/foil wrap and let the dessert stand for 3-4 minutes to soften slightly. Cut with a long, thin knife that’s been dipped in warm water. Serve with a drizzle of honey, candied lemon peel, nuts, or just as-is.

Double-Boiler Method

1. Whip the cream and line the loaf pan as for the standard recipe.
2. Set up a double boiler or bain marie (I use a large metal bowl over a large pot filled 2/3rds of the way up with water and placed over low/medium heat on the stove).
3. Combine all of the semifreddo ingredients in the double boiler, stirring more or less constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs, until the mixture reaches 165°F (74°C). This should take about 5-7 minutes over hot-but-not-boiling water.
4. Allow the semifreddo mixture to cool a bit, then whip at high speed until roughly quadrupled in volume and well-aerated.
5. Gently mix in the whipped cream, and finish as for the standard recipe above (step 5 and following).