Banana Semifreddo Recipes

Steps:

• Cake: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons water. Sprinkle with gelatin; let stand 5 minutes. Combine egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until pale and thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Transfer mixture to a cool bowl.
• Beat 2 1/2 cups cream with vanilla seeds on medium‐high speed to stiff peaks. Fold one third of whipped cream into gelatin mixture, then fold gelatin mixture into remaining cream.
• In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium‐high speed to soft peaks. Gradually add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat to stiff peaks, 5 to 6 minutes. Fold into cream mixture. (You should have about 9 cups total.)
• Line a 9‐by‐13‐inch baking pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 4‐inch overhang on all sides. Arrange 18 cookies on bottom of pan, slightly overlapping. Arrange bananas over wafers in a single layer. Spread 4 cups cream mixture on top. Arrange 12 more cookies on top of cream. Fold halved cherries into remaining cream, then spread over cookies. Arrange remaining 12 cookies on top. Wrap in plastic and freeze at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
• Caramel: In a small saucepan, stir together remaining 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, and salt. Heat over medium, gently stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and syrup is clear. Cook, without stirring, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush a few times to prevent crystals from forming, until syrup comes to a boil. Continue to cook, gently swirling pan occasionally, until syrup is dark amber, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove caramel from heat; carefully pour in 1/2 cup cream (it will bubble). Stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Let cool completely. Sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks; reheat in microwave or a small pot before serving.
• Assembly: Remove cake from freezer; invert onto a platter, using plastic to pull out (if it's sticking, rub sides and bottom of pan with a warm, moist kitchen towel to loosen). Remove plastic; if desired, trim cake edges. Drizzle with 1/2 cup caramel. Beat remaining 1 cup heavy cream with confectioners' sugar on medium‐high speed to stiff peaks; dollop over cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and whole cherries; serve immediately with remaining caramel on the side.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toast almonds on baking sheet in oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until fragrant and crisp. Cool. Coarsely chop.
• Combine bananas, brown sugar, rum and lime juice in food processor and whirl until pureed.
• Transfer puree to large bowl.
• Beat cream in small bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in granulated sugar and salt until soft peaks form. Gently fold cream into banana mixture.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons nuts for garnish and fold remaining nuts into banana mixture.
• Spoon into 8 individual ramekins or dessert cups then cover with plastic wrap and freeze 1 1/2 hours or up to 3 days. (The longer the mixture is frozen the longer it will need to warm up slightly before serving.).
• To serve: Remove from freezer and let stand for 30 minutes or until softened to smooth and creamy consistency. Sprinkle with reserved nuts.

Steps:

• Grease a 10-inch spring form pan and line with parchment paper.
• In a food processor grind the hazelnuts and 3/4 cup sugar together, pulsing to avoid over blending so it does not become a paste. Whip the cream using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, until fluffy, soft peaks. Transfer to the refrigerator.
• In a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and 1/4 cup sugar and continue whipping until glossy and stiff, about 30 seconds more. Fold into the whipped cream, then fold in the ground nut mixture. Spoon the mixture into the spring form pan. Smooth the top. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Warm Glossy Chocolate Sauce: In the top half of a double boiler, combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water. Stir constantly until melted, then whisk in the corn syrup and water. Whisk until smooth and shiny.
• When ready to eat, remove the collar and serve frozen with chocolate sauce.
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

Steps:

• In a mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream into medium peaks. Add 1 cup of the sugar to the cream and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Turn the cream out into a large bowl. Clean the bowl and whisk attachment. Add the egg yolks and the remaining 1 cup sugar. Whisk until the yolks are pale yellow and tripled in volume. Add the yolks to the whipped cream. Add the almond or vanilla extract and begin to fold the yolks into the cream. Add the pistachios and turn the mixture out into a glass serving dish. Freeze overnight. To serve: Cut the semifreddo into desired size pieces. Place individual pieces in a serving bowl and top with berries and chocolate sauce. Garnish with powdered sugar and a sprig of mint.

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Pour into a 1 litre capacity airtight container.
• Freeze for 4-5 hours or until just frozen.

Steps:

• Cut each banana half into 3 or 4 pieces.
• Mix sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat; add banana slices and cook until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer banana slices to a paper towel-lined plate. Coat banana slices, 1 at a time, with cinnamon-sugar.