Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various partially frozen desserts with a mousselike consistency, made with eggs, cream, sugar, flavorings, and often other ingredients.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Any dessert eaten cold but not frozen.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian, half-cold, semifreddo : semi-, semi- (from Latin sēmi-; see semi-) + freddo, cold (from Vulgar Latin *frigidus, alteration of Latin frīgidus; see frigid).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Italian loanword.

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Examples

  • A semifreddo is a frozen dessert that is a cross between mousse and ice cream, with a soft, light consistency that belies its richness.

    2009 November | Baking Bites 2009

  • A semifreddo is a frozen dessert that is a cross between mousse and ice cream, with a soft, light consistency that belies its richness.

    Bites from other Blogs | Baking Bites 2009

  • The caramel sauce was so delicious - and semifreddo is a hassle to make so its just the thing to have out, especially when it is as yummy as this.

    Archive 2006-03-01 Mrs Frog 2006

  • The caramel sauce was so delicious - and semifreddo is a hassle to make so its just the thing to have out, especially when it is as yummy as this.

    Oasis and Pinocchios Mrs Frog 2006

  • The crunchy, chocolaty cookies held up amazingly well in the creamy semifreddo and the chocolate mousse stayed just soft enough to melt in my mouth along with the dessert base.

    Tim Tam Semifreddo | Baking Bites 2009

  • The roasted lamb shoulder tasted like it came from a salt marsh, the fish braised in olive oil was an exercise in radical simplicity my mantra, and dessert -- an olive oil cake with amaretti semifreddo and chocolate sauce -- was a crowd-pleaser.

    Rozanne Gold: Marc Vetri: A Culinary Bodhisattva Rozanne Gold 2011

  • Other dishes were very good: brill with a broth of onions, clams and borlotti beans; roast baby chicken with spicy potatoes; and a lovely, not too sweet white chocolate and hazelnut semifreddo served with cocoa sauce.

    Restaurant: Tinello, London SW1 John Lanchester 2010

  • The roasted lamb shoulder tasted like it came from a salt marsh, the fish braised in olive oil was an exercise in radical simplicity my mantra, and dessert -- an olive oil cake with amaretti semifreddo and chocolate sauce -- was a crowd-pleaser.

    Rozanne Gold: Marc Vetri: A Culinary Bodhisattva Rozanne Gold 2011

  • I used cookies in this recipe, adding the chocolate and crunch of Tim Tams into the ultra-light vanilla base of the semifreddo.

    Tim Tam Semifreddo | Baking Bites 2009

  • To serve, slice semifreddo into portions with a sharp knife.

    Tim Tam Semifreddo | Baking Bites 2009

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