This orange semifreddo with Licor 43 is a creamy frozen dessert that tastes like orange ice cream with a grown-up twist. You mix everything in one bowl, spoon it into orange halves and let the freezer do the work.
In one glance
- ⏲️ Prep time: 10 minutes • ❄️ Freezer time: 2 hours • 🍽️ Yield: 4 persons
- 🥄 Calories: 509 kcal per serving
- ⭐ Difficulty: easy
🥘 Key ingredients: oranges, Licor 43, mascarpone, powdered sugar, cream, dark chocolate - Allergens contains: milk (mascarpone, cream and chocolate), chocolate may contain milk, soy, nuts and peanuts, check the ingredients before using).
Does not contain: egg (in this version), nuts, peanuts, fish (with standard products).
Jump to:
Creamy Orange Semifreddo with Licor 43 and Chocolate
Some desserts are all about timing and stress. This one is the opposite. You prep it when the house is still busy, tuck it into the freezer, and forget about it until dessert time. I love the moment when you open the freezer, see those orange halves waiting, and know you've already won.
The flavor is simple but lush: fresh orange, silky mascarpone, whipped cream and a splash of Licor 43, finished with dark chocolate on top. Served in the orange skins, it looks like something from a restaurant, but the actual work is done in about 10 minutes. That's my kind of dinner party dessert.
And if you like licor 43, you might also like: licor 43 tiramisu in a glass, spiked hot chocolate with licor 43 and white sangria with licor 43.
This recipe was adapted from the Dutch blog of Anne-Marie called myhappykitchen
Why this works
- No churn, no fuss: you just mix everything until thick, spoon it in the oranges and freeze. No ice cream machine needed.
- Served in orange shells: Using the orange halves as "bowls" gives instant presentation without extra dishes.
- Licor 43 for warmth: The liqueur adds warm vanilla-citrus notes that match the orange perfectly.
- Mascarpone for creaminess: Mascarpone replaces raw egg and makes the semifreddo rich and smooth.
- Chocolate on top: Dark chocolate shavings or pieces give bite and balance the sweetness.
- Serving kids or skipping alcohol? There's a no-alcohol version in the notes below.
When to Serve this Orange Semifredo
This orange semifreddo with Licor43 is perfect for:
- Dinner parties: prep in the morning, serve straight from the freezer after dinner.
- Holiday meals: a light, citrusy dessert after a rich main coarse.
- Warm-weather evenings: when you want something creamy and cold and without any baking.
- Date night at home: two orange halves on a plate look instantly restaurant-worthy.
What You'll Need?
The exact amounts are in the recipe card.
- Oranges (organic): Two for serving halves and one for zest; juice from the first two is set aside.
- Licor 43: Sweet Spanish liqueur with warmth, vanilla and citrus notes.
- Mascarpone: Soft Italian cheese that makes the base rich and creamy.
- Confectioners sugar: Sweetens the mixture and dissolves easily.
- Heavy cream: Whipped with the mixture for lightness.
- Dark chocolate: Grated, shaved or chopped to decorate the frozen dessert.
How to Make It
You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe card below.
- Step 1: Halve two oranges, juice them and carefully remove the inside skins so you have clean orange shells.
- Step 2: Grate the zest of the third orange into a bowl. Add Licor 43, mascarpone, powdered sugar and cream to the bowl with the zest.
- Step 3: Mix until the mixture has the thickness of whole yogurt.
- Step 4: Spoon the mixture into the orange halves and place them in the freezer. Freeze for at least 2 hours, then decorate with dark chocolate before serving.
Top Tips
- Use organic oranges: You're using the zest and the skins, so good oranges matter.
- Save the orange juice: You don't use it in the recipe, so save it for breakfast or a cook's treat.
- Don't overbeat: Mix until thick and smooth; you don't need stiff peaks.
- Stabilize the halves: Sit the orange shells in a muffin tin so they don't tip in the freezer.
- Cover while freezing: Lightly cover with foil or wrap so they don't pick up freezer smells.
- Plan ahead: Make them in the morning for an easy "already done" dessert at night.
- Add chocolate just before serving: So it stays crisp on top of the cold semifreddo.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- 3 oranges, organic
- 2 tablespoons Licor 43
- ¾ cup mascarpone
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons dark chocolate, pieces, grated or shavings
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Halve the first two oranges. Juice them and carefully remove the inside skin with a sharp knife so you have orange shells.3 oranges
- Grate the zest of the third orange into a bowl.
- Add Licor 43, mascarpone, sugar and cream to the bowl with the zest.2 tablespoons Licor 43, ¾ cup mascarpone, ½ cup confectioners sugar, ½ cup heavy cream
- Mix until the mixture has the thickness of whole yogurt, about 3 minutes.
- Freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, decorate with dark chocolate.4 tablespoons dark chocolate
Notes
- No alcohol version: Skip the Licor 43 and add a bit more orange zest and juice for a kid-friendly version.
- Different chocolate: Use milk or white chocolate shavings if you prefer a sweeter topping.
- Extra crunch: Sprinkle some crushed cookies over the top before serving for texture (not in base recipe, so check for allergens).
- Freezer: Keep the filled orange halves covered in the freezer for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Serving: Take them from the freezer and let them sit a few minutes to soften slightly, then add chocolate and serve.
Nutrition
Leave a Reply