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Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo

This Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo, is made with fresh Strawberries, Cream and Greek Yogurt. A delicious Italian alternative to ice cream. It’s the perfect summertime No-Bake Dessert Recipe.

Semifreddo on a white plate with strawberries.


 

Who can resist Strawberry Season? Once the season begins I am buying strawberries right until the end,  baking up a storm and of course freezing a bunch too! But one of my favourite things to make and eat is a Semifreddo.

This version is a much simpler and easier to make. Made without eggs. The original Semifreddo is made from a mixture of Italian cream, whipped cream and Italian meringue.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Cream – heavy, whipping or whole (with at least 30% fat)
  • Greek Yogurt – whole
  • Vanilla
  • Sugar – granulated
  • Strawberries – I usually make this with fresh strawberries although you can use frozen.
  • Lemon juice

Strawberry Topping

  • Strawberries
  • powdered/icing sugar
  • lemon juice
Pourring strawberry sauce on 2 slices of semifreddo.

How to make a Semifreddo

In a small pot add the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice bring to a boil, squishing with a potato masher, cook 3-5 minutes stirring constantly, remove to a clean bowl and let cool and then refrigerate until cold or freeze for about 10-15 minutes.

Cooking the strawberries in a small pot.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl whip the cream until stiff, fold in the yogurt and vanilla.

Whipping the cream in a bowl & adding the yogurt.

Then gently fold in cold strawberry sauce. Pour into loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and let freeze at least 4-5 hours.

Adding the strawberry sauce to the yogurt mix and placing in a loaf pan.

While the semifreddo is in the freezer, place the cut up strawberries and lemon juice in a blender, blend until smooth. Pour into a small pot add the sugar and cook on low for approximately 5 minutes or until thickened.

Blending the strawberries and cooking in a small pot.

Let cool completely then serve if desired over the semifreddo.

Pouring the sauce in a bowl.

What is a semifreddo

Semifreddo is an Italian word meaning half cold. It refers to a type of frozen desserts similar to ice cream, but even though it is frozen, it remains creamy, soft and lighter.

Where did it originate?

Lo Zuccotto was considered the first semifreddo cake of Florentine origin. It was invented at the Medici court in the 16th century by the well-known architect (he was also a chemist, engineer and talented handyman) Bernardo Buontalenti he is also considered the inventor of artisanal gelato as we know it today.

Strawberry semifreddo on a white plate.

How to serve a semifreddo

Leave the semifreddo in the freezer for 4-5 hours to firm up, but be sure to remove it from the freezer at least 20 minutes before serving.

How to store it

It should be stored well covered in the freezer, it will keep for 1-2 weeks.

More Delicious fresh Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry semifreddo on a white plate.

So when you are looking for something a little different from Ice Cream and you have all those beautiful sweet Strawberries hanging around, give this Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Semifreddo on a white plate with strawberries.

Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo

Rosemary Molloy
A fast and easy no-bake dessert, Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo. Made with greek yogurt, cream and strawberries. A Perfect summertime recipe.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 293 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

SEMIFREDDO

  • 1 1/2 cups cream whole/whipping or heavy (at least 30% fat)
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt (whole)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

STRAWBERRY SAUCE #1

  • 1/3 cup sugar*
  • 10 1/2 ounces fresh strawberries chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

* If the strawberries are not very sweet then add 1-2 tablespoons extra.

    STRAWBERRY SAUCE #2 TOPPING

    • 7 ounces fresh strawberries chopped
    • 2-3 tablespoons powdered/icing sugar
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Line an 8 x 4 inch (21 x 10 centimeters) loaf pan with plastic or use a silicone loaf pan**

    STRAWBERRY SAUCE #1

    • In a small pot add the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice bring to a boil, squishing with a potato masher, cook 3-5 minutes stirring constantly, remove to a clean bowl and let cool, then refrigerate until cold (I placed mine in the freezer for 10-15 minutes).

    SEMIFREDDO

    • Meanwhile in a medium bowl whip the cream until stiff, fold in the yogurt and vanilla then gently fold in the cold strawberry sauce. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and let freeze at least 4-5 hours.

    STRAWBERRY SAUCE #2 TOPPING

    • In a blender add the cut up strawberries, lemon juice and sugar, blend until smooth. Pour into a small pot add sugar and cook on low for approximately 5 minutes or until thickened. Let cool and serve if desired over the semifreddo. Enjoy!
    • ** If using a silicone loaf pan place it in a larger firmer pan, silicone doesn’t hold together very well. Great for peeling out the dessert though.

    Notes

    The semifreddo should be stored well covered in the freezer, it will keep for 1-2 weeks.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 49.6mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

    Updated from April 22, 2016.

    25 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      This was FABULOUS. I made it as a gift for a friend’s birthday with a chocolate fudge insert hidden inside with a thin layer of homemade strawberry jam. Is there any way to use this recipe as a base for a LEMON semifreddo?? Thanks again for sharing this with us.

      1. Hi April, thanks so much and what a great idea! I think you could substitute with lemon juice, but I can’t really say how much because I would have to test it a few times. I will add it to my to do list. 🙂 Take care.

    2. 5 stars
      Made this fabulous dessert to take to a friends house. It was a great hit and will definitely make it again. I added a few drops of red food coloring to the topping and the sauce to brighten the color.
      Thanks for sharing this.

    3. This recipe looks delicious – do you think it would this work with raspberries? I would appreciate your opinion – thanks!

    4. 5 stars
      I’m obviously a bit late finding this recipe looking at the dates of the reviews. But I had strawberries from the allotment and a visit coming up from my sister – the first since lockdown started. A very hot day forecast so a chilled dessert was required. I was not disappointed with this semifreddo and neither was my sister. It was so easy to do and really tasty. Thank you.

      1. Hi Jan, yes you could because you cook them and mash them up, so frozen is fine. Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes.

    5. 5 stars
      Hi Rosemary, I made your beautiful semifreddo for my guests today and it was a hit. I have visitors from overseas at Christmas so your desert will certainly be on the menu. The beauty of this desert I can make in advance.
      Once again thank you for sharing.

      1. Hi Linda, so glad it was enjoyed and yes made in advance desserts are certainly helpful during the holidays. Have a wonderful Sunday.

    6. Can the strawberry semi freddo be made ahead and left in the refrigerator? If so, how long can you keep?
      Thank you for sharing.

      1. Hi Linda, it can be made ahead, but should be stored in the freezer, since it is a frozen dessert, you could then remove it to the fridge to soften it up a bit before serving, but not too long, it shouldn’t melt. Hope that helps.

    7. Rosemary,
      Another great recipe! My family loves strawberries, so I know they will love this semifreddo. Thanks for the post. You know, your recipes are wonderful—-you need to do a cookbook!

    8. Love this! We always get a ton of strawberries from my dad and it will be nice to do something different besides shortcake with them. Gorgeous spring and summer dessert!

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