Cappuccino Semifreddo

Pin It

Before I get to the recipes that I wanted to share last week,  I want to share something sweet today, July 19.  This day holds a special day in my heart for two reasons, my mother's birthday and my 25th wedding anniversary! Oh, what a celebratory day that was!

 

If you are a lover of iced coffee, then you will LOVE this dessert- or you could even indulge and have a slice for breakfast for your morning caffeine fix😉.  As the name implies, this is a half-cold or half-frozen cappuccino. The combination of whipping egg whites into a meringue and then folding in whipped heavy cream creates a cloud-like texture.  The almond biscotti adds a little bulk to the semifreddo and crunch to the topping.  Speaking of topping, I gilded the lily with a homemade "Magic Shell" (you know, that nostalgic chocolate sauce that firms up almost immediately on top of frozen treats).  The "Magic Shell" adds an additional tasty texture to the overall dessert. It is certainly optional, but who doesn't love the chocolate-coffee combo?

I have to point out that he recipe instructions seem a bit methodical.  For one,  it says to start beating the egg whites when the sugar syrup reaches exactly 210° F,  don't let that daunt you.  If your whipped egg whites sit for a minute or two before adding the syrup, that's ok.  Secondly, it says that when you add the hot syrup, one needs to avoid pouring the syrup against the sides of the bowl and on the whisk attachment.  All you need is a steady hand or a pot with a pouring spout.  

There are so many things to love about this semifreddo, but there is one that really stands out.  It can be made up to one month in advance, which makes it ideal for planning ahead and entertaining!  

Happy cooking!

Vanilla Bean Biscotti

Pin It

During the cold winter months, a cup of tea or a nice latte always hits the spot in the afternoon to warm me up.  But I also like a little something sweet on the side.  Biscotti are always nice to dunk and after receiving a very nice Christmas gift of 1/4 lb. of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans (thanks Mom and Dad), I decided that a batch of these Vanilla Bean Biscotti would satisfy that sweet craving.


These biscotti are all about the vanilla.  Using vanilla beans really adds a beautiful, sweet, floral note.  I use the same recipe for my Cinnamon Toast Biscotti, but I use all white sugar and omit the cinnamon and egg glaze.  Like the Cinnamon Toast Biscotti, I sprinkle the cut biscotti with a little bit of Dr. Oetker Vanilla Sugar (my local grocery store carries packets of this) to really bump up that sweet vanilla flavor.


Not only are these simple and delicious, they will perfume your house with a wonderful vanilla essence.  My children came home from school yesterday and before they even said hello they said, "Mmmm--what's that smell?" with wide eyes and big grins on their faces.  I love that!  These are perfect with my cup of tea or coffee, but also great as an after school snack to dunk in a tall glass of milk.

Cinnamon Toast Biscotti

Pin It

I came across this recipe years ago in a December issue of Bon Appetit.  I had made biscotti before, but this recipe was a bit different.  After reading reviews online I decided to make a few changes.  The original recipe called for 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, but I had always used 2 eggs.  I find that using 2 eggs makes the handling of the dough easier.  I also used 1/2 white sugar and 1/2 brown sugar.  Lastly, I reduced the baking time. 


 I am happy to say that I have been making them the same way ever since.  And since I made a few changes, I thought they deserved a new name.  The original was Cinnamon-Sugar Biscotti, but I thought Cinnamon Toast Biscotti was more suitable because they taste just like cinnamon toast!     

These are absolutely fantastic!!!  It is an excellent excuse to eat a cookie for breakfast.  And even though I am not a big coffee drinker, I definitely break out my french press to make myself a latte which is perfect for dunking the biscotti into.  Just make sure when you sit down to enjoy these that your are not reading the paper because I guarantee you that distraction will cause you to eat way more than you should.  They are too good to eat just one!

My kids enjoy these on busy mornings with a mug of milk-n-sugar coffee and my husband enjoys these with his coffee at work as well.   These biscotti are also wonderful to give as a gift.  So make them for yourself, make them for your family, or make them for your friends.  Just please make them!  You'll be glad you did:)