White Chocolate Semifreddo with Pistachios and Raspberries
This chambord-spiked white chocolate semifreddo is an easy but elegant summer dessert that has all the richness of ice cream and the light and airy texture of frozen mousse.
Happy Monday!! I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend (that is if it was a holiday where you live). We had a relaxing one with both friends and family. It was a weekend full of food, laughs, sunshine and family hangouts. I made these carrot cake cupcakes into a cake per the MIL’s request because we were also celebrating her birthday! I don’t know why I don’t enjoy carrot cake more over the summer, so perfect.
Mondays after a long weekend are always the worst to bounce back from. But thank God for white chocolate, Chambord liqueur, pistachios and raspberries in a mousse-like rich ice cream concoction. It makes Mondays oh-so bearable!! This semifreddo will take you places; good places of course. But first, what the heck is semifreddo? Since that is what the Boy asked once I started making them. I just discovered the world of this class of semi-frozen dessert and I couldn’t wait to share the joy with you!
Traditionally, they are made from two equal parts of ice cream and whipped cream. So just imagine the richness of ice cream with the texture of frozen mousse. Amazing right? Usually made in a loaf pan and served in frozen slices, they are incredibly delicious, smooth and easy to make. Want to know the best part? You don’t need an ice cream maker to make this!!
This white chocolate semifreddo with pistachios and raspberries is creamy, crunchy and crazy good. Oh did I mention it’s got booze in it too? I added in some Chambord (raspberry liqueur) for added flavor which is totally optional (NOT!). It’s one of my favorite combinations I’ve made so far and it’s so refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day. The rich chocolate combined with crunchy pistachios and a touch of Chambord is just to die for. You need to try this one soon.
White Chocolate Semifreddo with Pistachios and Raspberries
This chambord-spiked white chocolate semifreddo is an easy but elegant summer dessert that has all the richness of ice cream and the light and airy texture of frozen mousse.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large egg yolks, room temperature
- ¼ cup chambord (raspberry liqueur, optional)
- ½ cups heavy cream, cold
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ounces white chocolate, melted
- ½ cup shelled pistachios, chopped
- ½ cup raspberries, chopped if desired
Instructions
- Combine sugar, egg yolks and chambord in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk mixture until pale and thickened, about 2-3 minutes. You can use an electric hand mixer or just whisk by hand. Remove from heat and continue whisking for an additional minute to thicken. Pass through a fine sieve into a small bowl. Place bowl into an ice bath and whisk until completely cooled. Wrap bowl with plastic wrap, pressing plastic to the surface of egg mixture, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving enough hanging over the sides to fold over.
- In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla extract. Fold in the white chocolate gently and then the chilled egg yolk mixture.
- Spoon half the mixture into the prepared pan. If desired, sprinkle some pistachios and raspberries over the top. Then spoon the rest of the mixture into the pan. Smooth surface. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap. Freeze until set, about 2-6 hours.
- When set, transfer semifreddo to a clean surface. Peel off plastic wrap. Slice and serve immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer.
I joined Roxana’s chocolate party this month and she challenged us to pair chocolate and heavy cream in a delicious treat. I made this white chocolate semifreddo that goes beyond just creamy white chocolate and heavy cream!!
Want to join the party? Here’s how:

How to participate (the rules)
1.) Blog about your chocolate treat. Your recipe must include the two ingredients we choose. This month it’s chocolate and heavy cream. It can be a simple no bake treat or a sophisticated layer cake, the complexity level of the recipe is totally up to you.
2.) Include a link back to the Chocolate party page. Optionally, add the Chocolate Party logo in your blog post or on your sidebar.
3.) Your recipe must be published during the current month. Please do not link old recipes, they will be deleted.
4.) Add the linky code at the bottom of your post.
I’m on my summer break now, so life is just a big, big long weekend for me hahaha :”) I hope you had a truly wonderful one, Zainab! This semifreddo looks breath-taking. Seriously girl, these are some gorgeous shots you’ve got here!
Plus I’m sure it tastes really delicious with the raspberries and pistachios. One of my favorite fruits and my favorite nut – what a combo!!
I’m so so jealous of you chica!!! I wish I get summers off so I can relax and enjoy 🙂
I love semifreddo and I’m loving the sound of the this especially with pistachios and the booze!
Thanks Rochelle!
Your photos are just gorgeous! Love the pop of bright raspberries and white chocolate is the best! Pinned 🙂
Thank you Chelsea!!
Whoa girl! that looks divine. I never heard of semifreddo but I’m totally intrigued.
Have a beautiful day Zainab!
Thanks Melanie!! Hope you have a great day too 🙂
OMG this looks so fantastic!!! In love with the beautiful berries that really bring out the photography of this on the light background!
Thanks Jocelyn!!
Oh my sweetness, this looks gorgeous Zainab! I love love love the white chocolate raspberry combo and of course with the crunchy pistachios this sounds like the perfect summer dessert! Pinning 🙂
Isn’t raspberry and white chocolate the best? I’m glad we are on the same page Kelly!! Thanks for stopping by! Hope your Monday is off to a great start!
Hi Zainab, this looks amazing, love that no ice cream maker is involved. This would be so impressive to make when guest come. Thanks! Pinned!
Cheri thanks so much 🙂
We are white chocolate dessert sisters this week, Zainab, which means that white chocolate desserts rule. This semifreddo of yours has just had both myself and Mr. Scrummy drooling and sparked a conversation about what semi-freddo is. I can’t believe what an amazing combination of flavours are in this – and of course that chambord isn’t optional.
We are!! Just saw your white chocolate cheesecake and I am still drooling over it. I had to educate the Mr here too about semifreddo and I am glad he enjoyed it after he tried it. It’s now going to be on rotation 🙂
I’ve had semifreddo on my bucket list for a while, and this is really inspiring to get off it and just make one already. This looks so delicious and the colors are gorgeous! 🙂
yes Marcie, you need to kick it off the bucket list soon :p
I have never had a semifreddo but this look absolutely delicious and I am on a huge pistachio kick! Yum!!
Thanks Kelly!! You will love semifreddo!
Yes, yes, and more yes! This is such an impressive dessert, Z! I’ve never made semifreddo, but now I am totally inspired to try it out! Hope you had an awesome long weekend!
I will quadripple that YES!! Thanks David! I am sure you will love this 😉
This looks so beautiful and delicious. I can’t wait to try out the recipe!
Thanks Jordan! I hope you get to try it soon!
Monday’s ARE so hard to deal with after a nice long holiday weekend! But yes, this delicious little sweet treat makes them a little easier to deal with! 🙂 Great recipe, Zainab!
They are so hard!! I am all done with work and so ready to leave but it is only 3.30!!! Boooooo! Thanks Julie 🙂 Hope your week is off to a great start!
Yes, thank goodness for chocolate! I would love a slice of this semifreddo cake. Not only it is beautiful, but it is a great way to cool off on these hot summer days!
Indeed chocolate!!! Thanks Ashley!
gawleeee this semifreddo looks so freaking good.
Thanks Dixya!
That sounds like a wonderful, relaxing weekend, Zainab, which you totally deserve because you work so hard. I haven’t had carrot cake in forever and you know what? I’ve never made my own. So bizarre! I think it’s cause I didn’t want to grate the carrots (lazy, much?) but now I have a food processor so it can do the job. As for this semifreddo – wowza, that’s gorgeous! And creamy ‘n cold ‘n luscious…perfect for summer. These photos are absolutely beautiful and droolworthy!
It really was a great weekend!! I had to unplug from the interwebs and freaking Instagram for as much as possible lol! Oh my gawd you have not made carrot cake before? You need to my dear. I love that recipe so give it a try!! SO goodddd!!! Thanks as always for being here and so supportive. You honestly have no idea how you help me weekly with blogging and staying objective 🙂 mucho love!! Hope you are having a great week!
You are the sweetest, Zainab. Thank you so much for this comment and the one you left on my post about taking a break from all the competition and feelings of inadequacy. I’m slow to respond but I will! I want to tell you how much I appreciate you and your support. And I can’t believe that you have these feelings – you’re way too smart and talented and beloved by all of your readers (me included)! But I totally understand too. We’re our own worst and harshest critics. Just know that you rock!
These are some of the most gorgeous photos Zainab! Ahhh frozen mousse sounds uh-mazing. Monday definitely needs this stat. Love the raspberries and pistachios – such a beautiful color and flavor combo! You took the chocolate and heavy cream to the next level with this – what a fun party!
Thank you so much Mary Frances! I am glad you love the photos (I was not a fan of them at all last night while editing and as I was grumbling about it, the husband said to me “you are so critical of your own work, I bet people are going to love them” I should listen to him more often lol!
I think I’m starting to have a weird obsession with pistachios in the summer time – just last night I had pistachio gelato at like 10pm and was dying. Pistachios go so well with chocolate (and white chocolate) too!
Me too!! What’s with pistachio being so addictive?
I cannot believe that I’ve never had semifreddo! I need to try your version, because white chocolate and raspberries really are the best combo.
I agree!! You will love it 🙂
Zainab this looks so fancy but love how simple and easy it is! The pistachio addition sounds like a killer salty addition to this sweet treat. Gorgeous pics as always girl!
Thanks Krista!! It’s really easy to make and I love that part of it 🙂
That looks delicious!
This is certainly the best way to bounce back from a long weekend! Heavenly!
This is so crazy gorgeous and sounds delicious. Excellent Chocolate Party choice!!
Wow! It looks fantastic! You are not just a great baker, you can make anything! 🙂
Thanks Medeja 🙂
Z!!! oh my gawd!!! I love this! White chocolate semifreddo with the richness of ice cream and the light and airy texture of frozen mousse?!!! Sounds amazing!!! I’ve never made this before and love that it’s so doable and no ice cream maker is needed!!! love this!
Thanks Alice 🙂
Gosh this looks super delicious and refreshing! I think this is perfect to wow a crowd at a dinner party. 🙂
It is!! And it’s so easy to make too 🙂 Thanks Tina!
Semifreddo is one of my favorite summer desserts because it is both light and rich all at once which makes it so addictive. I am drooling over this flavor combination! Pinned!
I agree!! So light and rich! Thanks Amanda 🙂
What a beautiful dessert!!! I am a HUGE fan of semifreddo!
Thanks Kate!
This semifreddo is gorgeous, Zainab! I first learned of semifreddos last summer about this time and totally fell in love with them. I’ve never actually made one myself though, and this just reminded me that I need to do that! Love the flavors you went with, especially the Chambord and raspberries! 🙂
Thanks Beth! This is my first year learning of them and I can’t get enough already!!
Woooowieee hope you had a GREAAAAT weekend Zainab!!!!! I spent mine watching the same movie thrice with 3 sets of friends in the theatre! hahaha! It’s supposed to be monsoons here but when it doesn’t rain, it’s toooooo hot and sunny and humid and sweaty! This is just perfect to serve for dessert or just when it gets too hot to handle! Yummmm!!!!! I’m loving the white chocolate-pistachio-raspberry combo!!!! I DEFINITELY have to buy this raspberry liqueur!!!! <3 *_*
I am definitely wishing I had some of this on Monday. Better late than never though. Right?
Oh yes this will always be welcome!!
Zainab, the combination of your cooking skills, styling skills, and photography skills makes for stunning food! This semifreddo is so beautiful, I am not sure whether to make it and eat immediately or just sit and admire it! White chocolate semifreddo sounds too good to just admire!
Thank you very much Wendy!! I kinda did stare at it a bit before indulging lol!
This looks like the most perfect summer treat. YUMMMM!
Thanks Maggie!
This looks so good!
Never had semifreddo, but wow! looks really tasty!