With a name meaning “foam,” this colorful semifreddo (half cold or half frozen) dessert combines multiple flavored layers. These are typically, cherry, pistachio, and chocolate or vanilla—colors representing the Italian flag. Spumoni often contains candied fruit or nuts layered between flavors. Popular in Italian-American neighborhoods in New York City and Chicago, spumoni is celebrated in the US on August 21. The treat originated in the village of Casamassima, Italy, where almonds are a major crop. This recipe for spumoni has flavors of chocolate, pistachio, and cherry-almond, and uses heavier US-style ice cream rather than the light gelato used in Italian preparations.
Recipe Servings: 8
+ 3 hours 50 minutes resting
Ingredients
Directions
- Prepare a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, lining it with plastic wrap and covering with a 12 x 8-inch piece of parchment, letting the sides overhang.
- Spread a layer of the pistachio ice cream in the bottom of the pan, smoothing the top. Chill in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the vanilla ice cream, chopped cherries, almonds, brandy, and almond extract. If desired, stir in a few drops of food coloring.
- Layer the almond-cherry ice cream over the top of the pistachio ice cream in the loaf pan, and freeze all for an additional 30 minutes.
- Layer the chocolate ice cream over the top of the cherry ice cream. Smooth the top.
- Wrap the pan and freeze for 3–4 hours, until completely solid.
- To serve, remove from the wrap and pan and slice with a warm, damp knife.
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