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Spiced fruit, mascarpone and muscat semifreddo

Name: Spiced fruit, mascarpone and muscat semifreddo
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 6-8
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 250g mixed dried crystallised fruits and nuts (we used dried cranberries, tropical fruit mix, glacé cherries and pistachios), roughly chopped, plus extra dried fruit and nuts; 2 tbsp mixed peel; 150ml muscat dessert wine, or other sweet wine; 3 large free-range eggs, separated; 100g caster sugar; 300ml double cream; Large pinch each of ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and ground allspice; 150g mascarpone

Published: 30 Nov 13
Updated: 23 Oct 24

This beautiful, fruit-flecked semifreddo is a scrumptious alternative to traditional Christmas desserts and much lighter than Christmas pudding. Even better, we’ve updated this recipe in 2023 to make the ultimate Christmas ice-cream sandwich.

Or, for an equally Christmassy centrepiece dessert that you can make ahead of time, try this negroni meringue pavlova wreath with pomegranate and pisachio.

Medium
December 2013

Test kitchen approved

Serves 6-8
Hands-on time 30 min, plus 12 hours freezing

Or, for an equally Christmassy centrepiece dessert that you can make ahead of time, try this negroni meringue pavlova wreath with pomegranate and pisachio.

Vegetarian recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 535kcals
Fat: 40.2g (20g saturated)
Protein: 9.4g
Carbohydrates: 31.3g (30.3g sugars)
Fibre: 0.8g
Salt: 0.2g

For 8 servings

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Ingredients

250g mixed dried crystallised fruits and nuts (we used dried cranberries, tropical fruit mix, glacé cherries and pistachios), roughly chopped, plus extra dried fruit and nuts
2 tbsp mixed peel
150ml muscat dessert wine, or other sweet wine
3 large free-range eggs, separated
100g caster sugar
300ml double cream
Large pinch each of ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and ground allspice
150g mascarpone

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Method

Line a 1 litre pudding basin with a double layer of cling film, leaving a 10cm overhang at the top, then set aside. Put the dried fruit and nuts with the mixed peel and the muscat into a small pan and simmer over a medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar with an electric hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until they’ve increased in volume and turned the colour of rich cream. Add the cream, spices and mascarpone, then whip to soft, billowy peaks.
In a separate, spotlessly clean bowl and using clean beaters, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt to stiff peaks. Gently fold 2 tbsp of the egg whites into the cream mix using a balloon whisk, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites in 3 additions.

When the mixture is smooth and light, gently fold through the fruit and muscat, ensuring the fruit is evenly distributed. Try not to knock the air out of the mixture. Carefully transfer the mixture to the lined pudding basin, cover the top with the excess cling film, then put in the freezer for at least 12 hours.
Thirty minutes before you want to serve, transfer the basin to the fridge. Just before serving, open up the cling film at the top, then invert onto a serving plate or cake stand and peel off the cling film. Heat a palette knife in a jug of hot water, dry with paper towel, then smooth away the cling film marks. Top with crystallised fruits and nuts, then take to the table.