Double Chocolate Semifreddo With Pecan,Banana & Chocolate Sauce
January 16, 2012
Double Chocolate Semifreddo With Pecan,Banana & Chocolate Sauce
Death by Chocolate
Double Chocolate Semifreddo
I rarely make desserts. This one makes up for the small number of dessert recipes I will post by being super indulgent!
My recipe below has been created to participate in the Sweet Adventures-Death by Chocolate blog-hop hosted by The Hungry Australian. If you are a chocolate lover, ensure that you visit after reading this to see some other amazing desserts.
Participating in a blog-hop means there are some rules to follow. I have my own set of rules for making desserts and I have followed them for this recipe.
These are my rules for desserts:
- The recipe must be technically easy for a home cook – like me
- It must be quick to make or be possible to make in stages -I have small people who need my attention often!
- It must be memorable
- It must be tried and enjoyed by others – Our guests yesterday tried it, loved it, ate it all
- It has to have a really long name (just kidding)
Here is my recipe, divided into the stages of preparation:
Total Preparation Time: 1 hour plus overnight freezing
Serves: 8
Double Chocolate Semifreddo
*You will need to make the Semifreddo a day ahead
Ingredients for the Semifreddo:
- 2 eggs and 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup of castor sugar
- 600ml of cream
- 20 grams of cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste
- 100 grams of good quality chopped chocolate. I used Lindt “Dessert” cooking chocolate
- 80 grams of chopped Pecan nuts
- 1 banana thinly sliced
- Plus – 1 banana for serving
Steps:
- Prepare a loaf tin by lining it with baking paper
- Set a saucepan of water to simmer
- Select a bowl that will sit up in the top of a saucepan, without touching the water in the bottom of the saucepan
- Put the eggs and sugar into the bowl, whisk them together and place the bowl on top of the saucepan of simmering water and continue whisking until the mixture thickens. Avoid letting the water in the saucepan get too hot
- Remove from the heat when the mixture has thickened and then continue to whisk until the mixture cools. This will take a few minutes and will thicken the mix further
- Beat the cream, cocoa powder and vanilla paste until thick and peaks form
- Add the chunks of chocolate, the pecans and the banana to the cream mixture and stir through gently
- Add 1/4 of the cream mix at a time to the eggs and fold through
- Pour the Semifreddo mixture into the lined tin and freeze for 6 hours, or overnight
- Peel the second banana and slice it into 1 cm pieces. Fold in Al Foil and place in the freezer for the same amount of time as the Semifreddo.
Ingredients
Whip cream
Add banana, pecans & chocolate
Pour into tins to set
Pecan Toffee
Ingredients for the Pecan Toffee:
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of water
- 100 grams of pecans
Steps:
- Cover a baking tray with baking paper and lay out the nuts
- Combine the water and sugar in a pot and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Increase the heat to bring to the boil, cook without stirring for 10 minutes until the color changes to golden. Remove from the heat and pour over the pecans
- Pour onto tray and put aside until set. Break into pieces and use to top the semifreddo
Pecan Toffee
Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients for Gooey Chocolate Sauce:
- 100grams of good quality cooking chocolate chopped – I used Lindt “Dessert” cooking chocolate
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste
- 150 ml of pouring cream
- 1/2 cup of icing sugar
- 1/4 cup of water
Chocolate Sauce Ingredients
Steps:
- Combine the water, sugar, cream and vanilla and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves
- Stir in the chocolate until it melts
- Put in a pouring jug to serve warm
To assemble for serving
- Remove the Semifreddo and the banana from the freezer and allow it to sit for 5 minutes
- Remove the Semifreddo from the tin by turning it carefully over onto a serving plate
- Top with some Pecan toffee and the frozen bananas
- Slice to serve and add the chocolate sauce
Large Double Chocolate Semifreddo
Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
Yum, Looks delicious. I’ve never tried Semifreddo but it certainly looks impressive.
Hi Michelle, I hope that you get to give it a try one day.The recipe is easy so give it a go. Everyone should aim to sample as many chocolate related foods as possible 😀
Lordy, now that is death by chocolate. Come to mamma!
Hi Lizzy, thanks for visiting my little blog 🙂
Mmm I love semifreddo. It’s like a cross between cake and icecream and it doesn’t get much better than that!
Thanks for visiting Claire.
Kyrstie, I love the idea of double chocolate semifreddo. I’ve made straight chocolate before but next time I’m going to add more chocolate! Thanks for the great idea!
My motto since baby number 2 is sneak in as much chocolate as possible 🙂
Your semifreddo looks amazing!!!! I love that chocolate sauce oozing over the top.
Thanks Jennifer, that is a big compliment for me – coming from you!! Pity I couldn’t gobble it up – I love chocolate but I can’t eat cream or milk so I watched our visitors devour it all last night 🙂
For someone that doesnt make desserts , you’ve done a great job. Simple and delicious. … and nice to meet you.
Thanks so much Tania, that is really lovely feedback. I have enjoyed discovering your blog. I will certainly re-visit.
Love the rules you have set for desserts. I like the idea of two hits of chocolate, deathly in such a good way 🙂
Thanks Julie, I had to give myself some guidelines. I find it easy to get “carried away” when I do make a dessert 🙂
I totally love semifreddos and yours looks lovely! Who doesn’t love bananas with chocolate? 😀
Thanks Monica, banana and chocolate is under-rated, it is totally delicious. Thanks for visiting. K
It’s such a challenge cooking with little people around! I think I’m getting better at it though. Your Semifreddo sounds delicious.
Thanks for joining us – looks delicious!
Thanks JJ it has been fun
OMG! This looks amazing!
Thanks for visiting Jennifer
Looks great! I love all the different components, and particularly like your rule number 2 as I seem to be more and more time poor these days. In fact, I think all your rules for dessert are very sensible 🙂
Thank you Katie
Love the combination of chocolate and banana – it’s Mr Hungry Australian’s favourite combination ever, actually. So glad you joined this bloghop!
Thanks Christina, I am thrilled to be a part of the Sweet Adventures Blog Hop.
Love your rules for dessert…I think my life would simplify a LOT if I followed them! Your semifreddo looks fabulous…what a beautiful presentation! Brava!
Thanks so much Liz, I really appreciate your comments.
Mmm, not just chocolate but DOUBLE chocolate? YOu’ve got my attention! 😉 And I agree with your rules, I’m not much of a home cook myself even, so recipes should be near idiot proof! Hehe 🙂
Sounds like a real mouthful but looks absolutely awesome! There again I love anything with chocolate though.
I love frozen desserts and toffee, Yum!