Bittersweet Chocolate Semifreddo Food

DARK CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Combine chocolate, vanilla, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a medium heatproof bowl. Heat 1 1/2 cups cream in a small saucepan over medium until barely simmering. Pour hot cream over chocolate mixture and let sit until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Whisk chocolate mixture until combined and smooth. Chill, stirring occasionally, until cold, about 1 hour.
• Beat egg whites and a pinch of salt on high speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment until soft peaks form.
• Meanwhile, cook sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Clip thermometer to the side of saucepan; increase heat to medium. Bring to a boil without stirring and cook until thermometer registers 250°F.
• Working quickly and with motor running, pour syrup into egg whites in a steady stream, avoiding whisk so syrup doesn't splatter. Beat until glossy, stiff peaks form (be careful not to overbeat).
• Using an electric mixer, beat chilled chocolate mixture until soft peaks form. Gently fold in meringue, leaving a few streaks. Scrape into a large loaf pan and cover. Freeze until solid, at least 3 hours and up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, let semifreddo sit at room temperature 15 minutes. Beat remaining 1 cup cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Serve scoops of semifreddo in small bowls with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 9x5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing 4 to 5 inches to extend over all sides.
• Stir cookie crumbs and almonds together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place chopped bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl and set a fine wire-mesh strainer over the bowl; set aside.
• Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Heat 1/2 cup cream and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly whisk hot cream mixture into egg mixture until completely combined. Return mixture to the saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula and scraping the bottom of the pan, until mixture is slightly thickened and registers 160 to 165 degrees F (70 to 74 degrees C), 4 to 5 minutes. Do not let mixture simmer.
• Immediately pour into the strainer over the chocolate. Discard any solids left in the strainer. Let chocolate mixture stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth; whisk in vanilla and almond extracts. Let stand until completely cool, about 15 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream with an electric stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Whisk 1/3 of whipped cream into chocolate mixture until completely combined. Gently fold remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula until incorporated and no streaks of whipped cream remain. Spoon mixture into the prepared pan and smooth evenly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle evenly with cookie crumb mixture.
• Pull excess plastic wrap at sides tightly over cake, gently pressing down on cookie crumb mixture. Freeze, 12 to 24 hours.
• Lift semifreddo from pan, using plastic wrap as handles, and transfer to a serving plate. Let stand for 15 minutes. Cut semifreddo into 8 slices, using a serrated knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each slice.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside. Whip the cream with the rum until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate. In the top of a double boiler, combine the egg whites, sugar and salt. Cook, whisking continually, until the mixture registers 140 degrees on a candy thermometer and remove from heat. Transfer the mixture to a bowl of an electric mixer and whip on a high speed until the meringue is completely cooled, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the hazelnuts in a heavy baking pan and roast until the skins crack and the nuts are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Rub the nuts in a towel to remove the skins. Transfer the nuts to a food processor, add the remaining butter and process until a smooth paste is formed.
• Line a 2-quart loaf pan with plastic wrap. In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate and the hazelnut paste. Fold in the whipped cream. Fold in 1/4 of the meringue, then the remainder. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan, cover with a plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• To serve, remove the top layer of plastic wrap, invert the loaf pan onto a platter and peel away the remaining plastic wrap. Slice into 1/2-inch slices and garnish with chocolate shavings.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Put the butter and chocolate in the bowl, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take the bowl off the heat and set aside.
• First, whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs, coffee, and salt, whisking until the mixture is combined and smooth. Sprinkle on the flour and fold it in with a rubber spatula until it's incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (see Cook's Note), until the top puffs up and cracks and the cake doesn't wobble when you jiggle the pan. (A toothpick will not come out clean.) Remove from the oven and cool completely on a baking rack. The cake will deflate as it cools. Run a small knife around the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Cut the cake in wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO WITH CHILE-CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• For semifreddo:
• Spray a 9x4 1/2 x 3" loaf pan with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, leaving a 2" overhang; set aside. Whisk egg whites and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water until sugar dissolves and egg whites are warm (but not hot), about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until cool, tripled in volume, and stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. (If egg whites look grainy, you've gone too far.)
• Stir chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl over same saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth; remove from heat; let cool slightly.
• Beat cream in another medium bowl until medium-stiff peaks form (cream should be soft and pillowy; peaks will just fall onto themselves). Using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into warm chocolate. Fold in whipped cream. (Stop folding as soon as mixture becomes one smooth texture and light brown color.) Scrape semifreddo into prepared pan; smooth top. Cover tightly and freeze until firm, 3-4 hours. DO AHEAD: Semifreddo can be made 5 days ahead. Keep tightly wrapped and frozen.
• For chile-chocolate sauce:
• Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and cover. Let steep for 15 minutes.
• Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Strain milk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl; return to saucepan. Bring to a boil. Gradually pour milk mixture over chocolate, stirring until melted and smooth. Stir in tequila, if using. DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool completely. Cover and chill. Gently rewarm before continuing.
• Cinnamon whipped cream and assembly:
• Combine cream, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; discard bean. Using an electric mixer, beat until soft peaks form.
• Uncover semifreddo and invert onto a platter. Lift pan and discard plastic wrap. Using a knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry, cut semifreddo into clean slices. Transfer to plates. Garnish with cinnamon whipped cream and warm chile-chocolate sauce, if desired. Sprinkle almonds over.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a 1 quart (9x4x2 inch) loaf pan with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer while you prepare the semifreddo.
• Beat the cream in a bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until doubled in volume, airy, and smooth, but not stiff at all.
• Set aside at room temperature away from the stove's heat.
• Bring about 3 inches water to a boil in a large saucepan set over high heat.
• Decrease heat so that the water simmers gently; clean and dry the mixer's beaters.
• Place the egg yolks and the ½ cup sugar in a medium bowl that will eventually fit securely over the saucepan with the simmering water.
• Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed off the heat until thick and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Then add the milk; place the bowl over the saucepan, and continue beating, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to prevent the yolks from scrambling at the edges, until the mixture is thick enough to make glossy little mounds when the beaters are turned off, raised out of it, and the mixture itself dribbles back into the bowl, about 6 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat (but keep the water boiling); stir in the chocolate and vanilla until smooth; set aside.
• Clean the beaters again; place the egg whites, salt, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in another bowl, set it over the simmering water, and beat until foamy, about 1minute.
• Add in the cream of tartar and continue beating, scarping down the sides of the bowl, until thick and shiny, about like Marshmallow Fluff-about 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat-be careful of the escaping steam-and beat at room temperature, about 2 minutes.
• Fold about half the egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth, then fold in the remainder of the egg-white mixture.
• Gently fold in the whipped cream just until there are no white streaks visible.
• Remove the prepared loaf pan from the freezer and pour this mixture into it; spread with a rubber spatula until smooth; do not press down.
• Freeze until set, 6-8 hours; wrap the pan in plastic wrap to prevent its contamination by freezer odors; store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve: place the loaf pan upside down on a cutting board or a serving platter; gently rock it back and forth until the semifreddo pops free, holding on to the plastic wrap to release the semifreddo.
• Remove the pan and all plastic wrap; slice into 1-inch thick slices to serve on individual plates.

CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast nuts on a baking sheet until pale golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Pulse the nuts and chocolate in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add 1/3 cup sugar; pulse until combined, about 7 times (do not overprocess; mixture should not form a paste). Set aside.
• Beat cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Meanwhile, beat egg whites in the clean bowl of electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add vanilla and remaining 1/3 cup sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
• Fold egg whites into whipped cream; gently fold in nut mixture. Spoon into a glass baking dish; smooth with a rubber spatula. Press plastic wrap on surface; freeze at least 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• To make the base for the semifreddo, melt the dark chocolate, cool slightly.
• Pulse the cornflakes and the melted chocolate until combined.
• Spread thinly over the base of 8 flan tins lined with cling wrap.
• Place in fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Melt the milk chocolate and put aside.
• Put egg yolks, Frangelica and 40g sugar in a bowl and place the bowl over a pot of boiling water then whisk until the mixture is light, thick and forms a slowly dissovling ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
• Set aside and cool. Then add the melted milk chocolate.
• While the egg yolk mixture is cooling, whisk egg whites until foamy.
• Slowly add the 75g sugar until they form a stiff meringue.
• Fold the meringue into the cooled chocolate egg mixture.
• Fold in the whipped cream until well incorporated.
• Pour the mixture into the 8 flan tins and freeze for 2-3 hours.
• To unmold lift out using the cling wrap.