Creamy, rich and indulgent this Chocolate Dulce de Leche Semifreddo will have you swooning! Lighter than ice cream but just as easy to make!
"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get" - Forrest Gump
That is sometimes how I feel when I clean out my refrigerator - I just never know exactly what I am going to get. Unfortunately, most of the time it isn't something as nice as a chocolate!! Occasionally though, I come across something that is a pleasant surprise - in this case that would be some leftover dulce de leche and some whipping cream. Being the thrifty soul that I am (yes, dear I can hear you laughing as I type this!) I figured I simply couldn't let it go to waste so the next question of course was "what am I gonna do with that"?
Fortunately finding uses for dulce de leche and whipping cream isn't brain surgery - ice creams, puddings and Chocolate Chili Dulce de Leche cookies all sprang instantly to mind. But I'd been wanting to make a semifreddo and thought this would be the perfect opportunity. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, Semifreddo is a frozen dessert that is (at least to my way of thinking) a cross between a mousse and an ice cream and typically consists of meringue, whipped cream and whatever flavoring combination you fancy. Hence, an internet search will turn up hundreds of recipes.
Yikes. Cleaning out the refrigerator was the easy part.
After reviewing a bunch of recipes it was easy to narrow down what I was going to use as my basic recipe - I passed on those that included gelatin (not that I have anything against gelatin but in this dessert it just seemed wrong) and on those that were heavy on the egg yolks since I really wanted something lighter and airier. I finally settled on one from The Essential New York Times Cookbook to use as my starting point - 1) because I didn't have to convert mL's and grams (tough for me when I am adapting a recipe) and 2) because it included a technique for an italian meringue that I'd never tried.
Suffice it to say that I will be using this technique for italian style meringue from now on...to be blunt, it rocks. No drizzling hot sugar syrup into egg whites and hoping I don't cook them.. those days are now gone!!
Have I lost you or bored you to tears yet? Sorry about that - I tend to "geek out" a little when it comes to technique but in the interests of brevity I think I am gonna just move on to the recipe.
And tell you that this Chocolate Dulce de Leche Semifreddo is ONE of the best desserts I have ever made.
And tell you that you really should try it. Today.
And that it is TOTALLY worth splurging on.
And that it would make a fabulous Valentine's Day dessert...so you can plan ahead.
Chocolate and Dulce De Leche Semifreddo
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites
- ¾ cup sugar
- pinch of salt
- 5 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate plus 1 - 2 oz. extra for garnish
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- ¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup dulce de leche
- 1 ½ Tbsp. dark rum
Instructions
- Combine the egg whites, sugar and salt in a metal bowl over a pan of water (don't let the water touch the bottom of the bowl) or in the top of a double boiler. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture reaches 140 degrees.
- Transfer mixture to the bowl of a mixer and with the whisk attachment, beat on high speed for 20 - 25 minutes until the meringue is cool.
- While the meringue is cooling, combine the chocolate and the butter in a metal bowl set over the same pan of water (or in the top of a double boiler) and cook over medium heat until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the dulce de leche. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine the whipping cream and the rum and whip the cream until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
- If serving as a sliced dessert, line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl and stir in the dulce de leche. Fold in the whipped cream. Then fold in ¼ of the meringue mixture and then fold in the remainder of the meringue. If some meringue streaks remain, that is ok! Scrape the semifreddo into the prepared loaf pan or into a plastic container. Cover and freeze overnight.
- To serve, remove the plastic and, if using the loaf pan, invert the loaf pan on a platter and peel away the plastic wrap and slice into ½ inch thick slices. If using a plastic container, use an ice cream scoop to scoop portions into dessert cups or glasses. Garnish each with chocolate shavings if desired.
thelittleloaf says
Gorgeous combination of flavours! And I agree, this all in one method of making italian meringue is the best and most hassle free 🙂
Nancy says
I agree... it was one of those "ah ha!" moments for me!!!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
How absolutely delicious and indulgent this sounds! I'm filing this one away for Valentine's Day.
Nancy says
It definitely is rich and definitely worthy of Valentine's Day!
marla {family fresh cooking} says
What a beautiful treat Nancy! Not sure I have ever had semi freddo but apparently I need to!
Nancy says
Oh, Marla... once you get started there will be no end to the flavor combinations you will come up with!!!
Tickled Red says
Holy Cow! I just feel in love. That is a Triple D dessert if I ever saw one. You can come hang at the beach anytime you like, just make me this when you do purty please 😀
Nancy says
LOL!! I have to admit it is pretty rich... but oh, so good! Definitely will have to come and hang at the beach with you.. and I will, of course, bring this!
Judy says
A lovely photo, so glad it comes with a spoon because I am ready to eat!
Nancy says
Hi Judy!! So glad you like the photo - this was a fun dessert to shoot!
aida mollenkamp says
Two of my favorite flavors in one of my favorite dessert preparations. Thanks, Nancy!
Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] says
Dulce de leche..now that's a flavor I love. Thanks for the dessert inspiration, Nancy!
Lana says
Another perfect creamy, chocolate dessert! My girls are going to love you for this:) I usually have all the ingredients at hand (except for dulce de leche), including frozen egg whites:)
I am eager to try this method for Italian meringue: so far I only attempted the old-fashioned one:)
Nancy says
Hi Lana! I love this method - no more worries about cooking the egg whites!! Hope you like the dessert - it was a big hit in our house!!
Lucy Lean says
I'm in love with the silver 'goblet' you have served this in - does it have any special family history?
Nancy says
Hi Lucy! Actually there is a story! my great aunt used to work for the Doheny family as their house manager and these goblets were given to her and she in turn passed them on to my mother. You can't see it in the photo but each goblet has the family's monogram on it!
the urban baker says
I, too, cannot let anything go to waste. I love that you created this with the almost "castaways" in your fridge. Looks, delish, Nancy! Wish I lived next door!!!
Nancy says
I wish you lived next door too Susan...although can you imagine ALL the trouble we'd get into???
Esi says
This is a gorgeous dessert!
Madonna says
The best you ever made is quiet a declaration. I almost passed on this because it is chocolate, and I can’t seem to find any chocolate without lecithin. However, as I read on I see that I could adopt your technique for other semifredo. I always passed on semifredos because of the egg white issue, but this seems to be the answer.
Also, I love it when you elaborate on technique. I am more interested in that than the recipe - well almost. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy says
Hi Madonna,
Oh yes, you could make this completely without chocolate - you could use just lemon curd for example (no chocolate and no dulce de leche!) or just with dulce de leche - you could even add some toasted nuts to it - it really is a very versatile type of recipe! So glad that someone else loves to "geek out" over technique!!!
Madonna says
Oh darn, I hit the send button too soon. One question, is it true if you put a little booze (rum) in the frozen semifreddo, or ice cream it keeps it from getting icy?
Nancy says
Hi Madonna,
Yes, alcohol can impede the freezing process! With the semifreddo, even without the rum it would still be softer than ice cream because of the meringue. When making a regular ice cream adding alcohol can be tricky since the ice cream won't be as firm as regular ice cream !!
Madonna says
Oh good. That is just what I wanted to know. If we do not eat all of the ice cream the first day it gets too hard and icy. So if it keeps it from freezing so solid I will be very happy. Now where is my booze?
Thanks Nancy.
Debs @ The Spanish Wok says
Wow, this only caught eye because I have dulce de leche, chocolate and cream in the fridge to use up too.
I don't recall ever having semifreddo and judging by your description I'm damn sure I would have remembered the experience.
I also happen to have rum. Perfect, must be fate!!!! Thanks.
Nancy says
Hi Debs!
I do hope you like it - although with Dulce de leche and chocolate that hopefully won't be hard! It really is easy to make - the hardest part is waiting for it to freeze!
TidyMom says
That looks AMAZING!! thanks for sharing!!
classic•casual•home says
WOW! I can't tell which I love more the silver cup, heirloom lace napkin OR THAT FAB looking chocolate dessert!!!
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says
OH man...now that is a dessert I can't wait to dive into!
SwoonMySpoon says
You had me had chocolate......
Chocolate, dulce de leche, whipping cream, and dark rum.....can life get any better?!
Nancy says
I honestly don't think so.... Swoon my Spoon indeed!!!
Lisa says
I love that you cobbled together such a beautiful dessert via leftovers you needed to use up in your fridge. I only use the swiss meringue method now - not only easier, but I find the results to be thicker and creamier, especially for frosting cakes or use in mousses, or well, just baked meringues. Love the Essential NY Times Cookbook - fantastic recipe to adapt, and you did it more than justice!
Nancy says
Hi Lisa! I have to admit, I've never had quite so much fun cleaning out my fridge!! I totally agree that the swiss meringue method is easier and that the results are thicker and creamier - can't wait to play with it again!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Wow, nothing this good ever come from me cleaning out my fridge! lol
Terra says
Wow, you came up with this gorgeous recipe after cleaning out your refrigerator? I wish I had found delicious finds when I cleaned mine on Sunday, LOL! Simply beautiful! Hugs, Terra
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Nancy, this looks SO delicious. Do you buy your dulce de leche or make it?
Nancy says
This was a batch that I purchased but I generally make my own - very easy to make!!!
Magic of Spice says
What a sinful looking treat! This is not only gorgeous but I can just imagine the every glorious bite!
Madonna says
Because I have a difficult time finding chocolate without lecithin I decided to make coffee semifreddo using your method. I had a few scary moments when the whites came to temp so quickly. I thought I might have overcooked it, but I made it through. Nancy, this is so good I can’t stop eating it. Thank you so much - Another for my keeper file. BTW I found my chocolate in the back of the pantry, but now who cares.
Jennifer says
Can't wait to try this! Thanks so much for sharing. Just an FYI, your meringue technique is actually known as Swiss Meringue, and is the basis of a wonderful, easy buttercream we used to use at a cake shop I worked at. Yum!
Nancy says
Hi Jennifer! Hope you enjoy it.. and you are absolutely right... I love the technique for the Swiss Meringue, sooo easy!!!
Katrina says
THAT looks like perfect semifreddo. Great flavors.