Valentine’s Day Dessert : Almond-Flavored Cookies Are Diverse Italian Treat

Lazzaroni Amaretti cookies were created more than a century ago in Italy. The elegant, almond-flavored cookies are wrapped in pairs in delicate tissue paper and can be served with ice cream or gelato, used as an after-dinner Italian fortune cookie or finely crushed and presented in this Valentine’s Day dessert, Sweetheart Semifreddo.

This creamy chocolate and amaretti- flavored dessert is similar to a frozen mousse and is simply irresistible. It’s an easy and elegant dessert for a special dinner party.

SWEETHEART SEMIFREDDO

2 cups whipping cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup finely crushed Amaretti di Saronno biscuits

3 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated

6 egg whites

1/2 cup whole Amaretti di Saronno biscuits

Chocolate whipped cream

Beat whipping cream until thick in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed. Gradually add sugar and crushed biscuits. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate.

Beat egg whites in medium bowl with mixer at medium speed until stiff. Gently fold into cream mixture.

Line 9x5-inch loaf pan with wax paper. Arrange whole biscuits in bottom of pan. Carefully spoon cream mixture into pan. Cover with plastic and freeze overnight or until very firm. Garnish with chocolate whipped cream. Makes 10 servings.

Chocolate Whipped Cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup chilled whipped cream

Beat powdered sugar, cocoa powder and whipped cream in chilled bowl until stiff. Pipe around cake.