With creamy, ultra-flavorful layers of tropical passionfruit and bold raspberry semifreddo and a dark chocolate crumb for a bit of sweet and salty crunch, this no-churn frozen dessert is truly next-level. A semifreddo is an Italian frozen dessert (literally translating to half frozen) that, texturally, falls somewhere between an ice cream and a frozen mousse. […]
With creamy, ultra-flavorful layers of tropical passionfruit and bold raspberry semifreddo and a dark chocolate crumb for a bit of sweet and salty crunch, this no-churn frozen dessert is truly next-level.
A semifreddo is an Italian frozen dessert (literally translating to half frozen) that, texturally, falls somewhere between an ice cream and a frozen mousse. It is a great option if you’re craving a frozen treat but don’t have an ice cream maker.
This recipe was created in partnership with Amoretti (use coupon code LOVEANDOLIVEOILFREESHIP for free shipping on your order!) All opinions expressed here are my own.
Spoiler alert: this is not Neapolitan! At first glance you may think you’re seeing the classic strawberry-vanilla-chocolate combo, but don’t be fooled, this sweet frozen treat is anything but ordinary, a next-level-Neapolitan if you will, featuring the trifecta of raspberry, passionfruit, and chocolate flavors.
The texture is lighter than ice cream thanks to the folded-in whipped cream, giving the consistency of a luscious frozen mousse that softens into a velvety smooth texture on your tongue. And thanks to the custard base, it has all the creaminess that you love in ice cream without the extra effort of churning.
The beauty of a molded frozen dessert like this is its layering ability, a benefit that poor ice cream certainly can’t claim. Here I’ve stacked layers of bright passionfruit and bold raspberry with Milk Bar-style chocolate crumbs in between and on top for the prefect foil of salty to sweet, crunchy to creamy.
Linzer cookies are traditional Austrian jam-filled sandwich cookies! This classic recipe is simple to whip up at home.
When it comes to Christmas cookies, here’s one type we can’t resist: Linzer cookies! This classic Austrian sandwich cookie stars buttery almond shortbread with fun cutout window to show a layer of fruity preserves, making a treat that’s nuanced and just sweet enough. This recipe spells childhood nostalgia for us, and here we’re sharing a traditional recipe for this classic cookie!
Ingredients in linzer cookies
Linzer cookies are a shortbread jam-filled sandwich cookie based on the Austrian dessert Linzer torte, a tart made with ground nuts and fruit preserves. Linzer cookies bring in those signature flavors by making a shortbread with both all-purpose flour and almond flour, which gives it a complex, nutty flavor. The traditional shape features cut-out windows where the jam shows through.
This recipe comes from my dear Austrian friend Milena’s mother: Milena currently lives in Vienna, but we grew up together in Minnesota eating Linzer cookies at the holidays. This recipe has the nostalgia of childhood all over it for us, and it’s perfect for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, or any time you need a sweet treat. Here’s what you’ll need for classic Linzer cookies:
Flour
Almond flour
Cinnamon
Fine sea salt
Unsalted butter
Granulated sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
Raspberry jam or other fruit preserves
Powdered sugar
Tip: use almond flour, not almond meal!
Avoid using almond meal for Linzer cookies: look for almond flour when you are shopping. You should be able to find it at your local grocery, depending on your location.
Almond flour is made from blanched almonds, or almonds with their skins removed. It’s ground very finely, resulting in a fluffy texture in baked goods.
Almond meal contains the skins, making it darker brown in color instead of off-white like almond flour. It has a coarser grind than almond flour and results in denser, chewy texture in baked goods.
Linzer cookie cutter and an alternative
Linzer cookies are a cutout cookie with a twist! Instead of cutting out just one cookie, you’ll need two: a cookie with a window and a solid cookie. There are special cookie cutters just for this purpose, but you can also use a alternative based on what you have at home.
Option 1: Use a Linzer cookie cutter. We like this Linzer cookie cutter. It comes with various cutout window shapes: hearts, stars, flowers, etc. It is worth buying if you plan to make Linzer cookies multiple times!
Option 2: Use a 2-inch circular cutter and a smaller shape for the window. If you happen to have both of these shapes on hand, it’s easy to make your own version of cutout cookies!
Tips for making the cookies
Linzer cookies are a fun baking project that results in visually-stunning, sugar dusted cookies with bright shapes of jam. There are a few notes for how to put together this recipe:
Chill the dough 1 to 3 hours. This is important with a cutout cookie dough: you’ll want it nice and cold to get uniform shapes.
Gently roll the dough slightly less than 1/4-inch thick. This makes just the right thickness for the finished cookie.
Simple cutout window shapes (like circles and hearts) are easier to cut out. The stars were a little trickier to cut, and they became more distorted when baked. But, they still turned out great.
Linzer cookie storage info
Once you’ve made your linzer cookies, you probably won’t be eating all 30 at once. How to store them? Here are some tips and notes about storage:
The cookies taste crisp the first day, then soft after storage. They’re delicious both ways, but we like the soft version best!
Store in a container with a few layers of parchment paper or foil between each. The powdered sugar on the bottom layer of cookies after a few days, so it’s good to protect between each layer.
Store at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated up to 2 weeks. With room temperature storage, the powdered sugar can start to melt on the cookies that are stacked in layers beneath other cookies. We recommend storing them refrigerated for longer term storage.
Or, freeze for up to 3 months. The powdered sugar topping is a little fragile, so keep in mind the cookies look best when they are fresh.
More cookie recipes
Love a good batch of cookies? Here are a few more fun cookie recipes to enjoy:
Linzer cookies are traditional Austrian jam-filled sandwich cookies! This classic recipe is simple to whip up at home.
Ingredients
2 cups (240 g) flour, sifted
1 cup (120 g) almond flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ⅓ cups raspberry jam
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, almond flour, cinnamon and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer add the butter and sugar. Beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix on low speed until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture and continue mixing on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. Divide the dough into two disks. Wrap the disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Take one disc of dough out of the fridge and place it on a floured surface. Using a light touch, roll the dough out until it is slightly less than 1/4-inch thick. Use plenty of flour on the counter and the rolling pin to prevent sticking. Moving quickly so the dough remains chilled, use a linzer cookie cutter (or a 2-inch round cutter and smaller heart-shaped cutter) to cut an equal number of cookies with and without a hole in the center. Place excess dough back in the refrigerator and re-roll it after it’s chilled again (after baking the first sheet). Place the cookies on a baking sheet and refrigerate the sheet for 5 minutes.
Transfer the baking sheet directly to the oven and bake for 11 to 14 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool the cookies for 1 minute on the cookie sheet. Then transfer to a cooling rack.
Repeat with remaining disc of dough and re-rolled scraps of dough.
Cool the cookies completely, at least 15 minutes. Then sift powdered sugar the cookies with the cutout centers. On the bottom cookies, spread a layer of jam about 1/8” thick (about 2 teaspoons per cookie), not quite to the edges of a cookie. Then very gently press on the top cookie to sandwich the jam.
Repeat for all cookies to make 30 to 32 sandwiches. Store room temperature with several sheets of parchment paper between the cookies for up to 2 days*, or refrigerated for 2 weeks. You can also freeze for up to 3 months. The cookies taste crispy the first day, and become softer after storage (both delicious, but we prefer the softer version!).
Notes
*With room temperature storage, the powdered sugar can start to melt on the cookies that are stacked in layers beneath other cookies. We recommend storing them refrigerated for longer term storage.
No dry, bland scones here: these cream scones are tender and fluffy and ultra flavorful! This particular version has dark chocolate chunks and freeze-dried raspberries mixed in, but the base recipe is ultra flexible to accommodate whatever flavors you happen to be craving! Compared to their butter-based counterparts, cream scones are a cinch to whip […]
No dry, bland scones here: these cream scones are tender and fluffy and ultra flavorful! This particular version has dark chocolate chunks and freeze-dried raspberries mixed in, but the base recipe is ultra flexible to accommodate whatever flavors you happen to be craving!
Compared to their butter-based counterparts, cream scones are a cinch to whip up with little more than flour, sugar, cream and a fork—no finicky cold butter, pastry blenders or stand mixers needed!
Trust me when I say these are not the dry, crumbly things you probably think of when you hear the word “scone”. Instead, these cream scones are tender and fluffy and chock-full of punchy freeze-dried raspberries and rich, dark chocolate.
I’d argue that cream scones are an entirely different beast, made with heavy cream rather than butter and/or buttermilk.
The high-hydration dough results in a super light and fluffy scone that’s worlds away from the dry, chalky pucks that often pass for scones (it’s sad, really). Trust me, you’ll be shocked at how not-dry these are. They’re almost more muffin-like than anything.
Hello! This post is a little refresh of my very favorite recipe - Galettes! If you follow me on instagram you know that I am a galette evangelist. I think galettes are the very best and most fun dessert because they are so easy to make and adaptable, but my recipe was a little bit hidden in the archives so I am pulling it out into the spotlight with this easy to find post. You can use just about any fruit you like or a combination of fruits, and feel free to adjust the sugar to taste. Be free! Don’t worry about it too much! Have fun!
If you bake a galette make sure to tag me and #summerofgalettes on instagram and feel free to message me with any questions. I love seeing what you bake!
All Butter Pie Crust
All pie crust is made from the same basic ingredients: flour, fat, water, and salt. I am partial to an all-butter crust because I think it tastes the best. The key to flaky pie crust is to keep the ingredients nice and cold— especially the butter and water—and to work quickly and intentionally. I like to mix pie crust with my hands rather than a food processor or pastry blender because I can control the exact size and shape of the butter pieces for the flakiest results. Add a few teaspoons of sugar if you prefer a sweetened crust.
Ingredients
2 2⁄3 cups (340g) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (255g) very cold unsalted butter
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
8-10 tablespoons (120ml) ice water
Whisk the flour and salt together in a large bowl, cut the butter into 1⁄2-inch cubes, and add the apple cider vinegar to the ice water.
Working quickly, add the butter to the flour and toss to coat. Then use your fingers or the palms of your hands to press each cube of butter into a flat sheet. Keep tossing the butter in the flour as you go to ensure that each butter piece is coated with flour. The idea is to create flat, thin shards of butter that range from about the size of a dime to about the size of a quarter. If at any time the butter seems warm or soft, briefly refrigerate the bowl.
Sprinkle about 6 tablespoons of the icy cold vinegar-water mixture over the flour mixture. Use a gentle hand or wooden spoon to stir the water into the flour until just combined. If the dough seems dry, add more cold water a couple of teaspoons at a time. You have added enough water when you can pick up a handful of the dough and easily squeeze it together without it falling apart.
Press the dough together, then split it in half. Form each half into a disk, and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours before using, but preferably overnight. Keeps for up to three months in the freezer wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
VARIATIONS: For a rye variation, substitute 11⁄3 cups (175g) rye flour for an equal amount of the all purpose flour. For a spelt variation, substitute 11⁄3 cups (175g) spelt flour for an equal amount of the all purpose flour. You also may need a bit more water to bind the dough for these variations.
Any Fruit Galette
Yield: One 8-inch galette
You can use this formula with just about any seasonal fruit. For apples, pears, and stone fruit peel if desired then slice into 1/4-1/3-inch slices. Apricots (my fave!) can be gently torn in half or cut into quarters. Slice strawberries in halves or quarters if they are large. Rhubarb can be sliced into thin batons or 1/2-inch chunks. Feel free to experiment with combining your favorite fruits. I love stone fruit and berries together in the summer. Also, the apricot jam can be replaced with any jam or marmalade you like that will compliment the fruit you are using.
1 disc pie crust
3/4 pound (340g) fresh fruit
1/4 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar, to taste
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
seeds of one vanilla bean (optional)
pinch salt
1 egg, for egg wash
turbinado sugar and flaky salt for sprinkling
Arrange a rack in the oven in the lower third and preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the sugar vanilla bean seeds, lemon zest, flour and salt in a bowl. Add the fruit to a large bowl and sprinkle the sugar mixture over the top, but don’t stir quite yet.
On a lightly floured surface roll the dough into a rough circle between 1/8-1/4-inch thick and transfer it to a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently stir the fruit mixture until well combined.
Spread the jam onto the center of the dough, then pour the fruit into the center of the galette. Press gently to compact the fruit into an even layer. Fold the edges of the dough up and over the fruit and press the folds gently to seal. Refrigerate the formed galettes until the dough is very firm.
Brush the galette with egg wash, sprinkle with turbinado sugar and flaky salt if desired and bake until deep golden brown and bubbling, 45-55 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
We are still in a bit of an in between produce season, but the weather is warming up and the sun is out so I am craving fresh fruit desserts like it’s my job. I guess it kind of is my job…I love to make desserts like this pavlova because it is fairly low lift and aside from a low, slow bake in the oven for the meringue (which you can make the day before if it’s not too humid where you live) everything comes together in a few minutes.
The tart crushed raspberries provide some nice sauciness here and contrast well with sweet strawberries and the crisp, pillowy meringue. Make sure to use the best strawberries you can find for this dessert, and adjust the sugar to your personal tastes. In NYC we get some really nice organic berries from California but they are $$ so you may just want to bookmark this until they are in season locally where you live. The mini mint leaves are also totally optional, but they do add a nice freshness and beautiful pop of contrasting color.
Crushed Raspberry and Strawberry Pavlova
Crisp and chewy meringue, pillowy whipped cream, and sweet-tart berries are combined to make this super springy, and fairly simple dessert. Assemble just before serving for the best textural experience as the meringue will weep and melt as it sits.
Meringue
4 large egg whites
1 cup (200g) superfine sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
Berries
1 pound of the best strawberries you can find
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
pinch salt
To Serve
1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
mint leaves
To make the meringue: Preheat the oven to 250ºF (130ºC/Gas Mark 1/2). Trace an 8-inch (20cm) circle onto a piece of parchment paper and flip it upside down on a baking sheet.
Stir the cornstarch and sugar together in a small bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or with a handheld electric mixer in a large bowl, beat the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar on high speed until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, slowly add the sugar mixture about one tablespoon at a time until you have added all of the sugar and the egg whites are stiff and glossy about 7 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and vinegar and mix for 30 more seconds.
Dollop the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet and use an offset spatula to spread it evenly to the edges of the traced circle. Make a shallow indent in the center of the meringue which will hold all of the delicious toppings. Bake the meringue for 1-1 1/2 hours or until the outside looks dry and slightly creamy in color. Turn off the oven and prop the door ajar with a wooden spoon. Let the meringue cool completely in the oven. It should feel firm and crackly when you press it, but will be soft and marshmallowy in the center. When cooled, you should be able to gently peel it off of the parchment paper and place it on a serving platter or cake stand.
To make the topping: Slice the strawberries in half if they are small, quarters if they are large. Combine the raspberries, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and crush the berries with a fork. Gently stir in the strawberries and let the fruit macerate for a few minutes. Taste and add a bit more sugar if desired, keeping in mind that the meringue will be quite sweet.
Whip the cream and sugar together to soft peaks. Top the cooled meringue with the whipped heavy cream, followed by the berries. Sprinkle mint leaves over the top and serve immediately.
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