Beat the heat: create the perfect frozen chocolate desserts

Refresh, revitalise, and indulge with cacao-rich frozen treats. Discover our favourite frozen chocolate dessert recipes

There’s nothing quite like taking a moment out of your busy day to indulge in a cooling frozen chocolate treat — especially when it’s hotter than usual. Whilst many of us may be cranking up the AC or opening the windows as far as possible, why not make something soothing, cooling and irresistible? Here’s where our frozen chocolate desserts may come in handy.

Chocolate: The underrated frozen delicacy

If you freeze chocolate, it transforms into a completely different kind of luxury. From what was once a piece of smooth and meltable chocolate, frozen chocolate turns into a bold yet soothing treat. And it’s definitely worth the fuss.

Can colder chocolate taste better?

There’s just something about the crisp snap of a piece of cold, freshly refrigerated chocolate. In fact, some chocolate connoisseurs enjoy the sensation so much that they prefer to store their chocolate in the fridge. Is this a wise move?

In our previous article, we explored the question: should you put chocolate in the fridge? Our conclusion was that the best temperature for chocolate is between 10℃ and 20℃ to avoid soft, crumbly chocolate — and this stands true for our chocolate Batons, Slabs, truffles, and more.

Having said that, incorporating chocolate into frozen desserts is a whole different field. This usually involves melting and tempering your chocolate to ensure that glossy snap. What’s more, because we use high levels of cacao butter in our chocolate, you can experience a glorious release of nuanced flavours as each bite melts in your mouth.

Frozen chocolate dessert ideas

Now, onto our favourite chocolate desserts. We’ve put together a variety of frozen chocolate dessert recipes for you to choose from. These are ideal for parties, a quick bite of indulgence for yourself, or as a crowd pleaser for the kids. We’re sure you’ll find something delectable to create.

Chocolate Semifreddo

We’ll kick off this list of frozen chocolate desserts with the Chocolate Semifreddo — a stunning treat with humble Italian origins.

Semifreddo in Italian means ‘half cold’ or ‘half frozen’, so we think it deserves a spot on this list of frozen chocolate desserts. Its texture can be compared to the lovechild of an ice cream and a mousse, and it sounds all kinds of wonderful.

The crust of the semifreddo is similar to the crust of a cheesecake. You’ll need a simple combination of chocolate wafer cookies, sugar, salt, and melted butter to create the base. If you fancy something a bit richer for your palette, then our Chocolat Shortbreads would be a great replacement instead of chocolate wafer cookies.

For the filling, you’ll need sugar, egg yolks, heavy whipping cream, mascarpone cheese, and of course, chocolate. Grab 125g of our dark chocolate (or semi-sweet chocolate if you’d prefer a lighter taste) and be sure to save a few chocolate shavings for garnishing.

Once you’ve folded your creamy chocolate mixture into an 8 inch pan, make sure to cover it in plastic wrap before freezing overnight (or at least for 6 hours). When you’re ready to tuck into your chocolate treat, remove the semifreddo from the freezer 15-30 minutes before serving and serve with some whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or get creative and add your own chocolate toppings with the Mini Chocolate Dipping Adventure box.

Frozen Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter Bites

Chocolate, banana and peanut butter — the comfort food combination that we’ll never get tired of. With the mellow chocolate and salty peanut butter sandwiched between slices of sweet banana, there’s not much that could go wrong when making this comforting frozen chocolate treat.

If you’re looking for a frozen chocolate dessert that you can easily make in the hustle and bustle of a busy schedule, then we think you’ll love these frozen chocolate, banana, and peanut butter bites. With only 3 ingredients, it’s a quick and easy pick-me-up treat, and our chocolate Batons and Slabs would help you achieve all levels of chocolate-melty goodness.

All you need to do is slice your banana, then add a spoonful of peanut butter between two banana slices. Dip the whole lot in melted chocolate, then pop in the freezer to chill.

Iced Chocolate Milkshake

Mind-numbingly tasty in every sense of the world, an iced chocolate milkshake is sometimes exactly what you need to quench the taste buds on a sweltering day. To make an iced chocolate milkshake, all you’ll need is a hot chocolate sachet, milk, ice cream and ice. It couldn’t be more simple than that.

You can read all about how to make a delectable iced chocolate milkshake on our Velvetiser recipe blog. Our Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser isn’t just great at making delicious hot chocolate, it can also help you make a silky smooth chocolate milkshake. It truly is a product that offers the best of both worlds for whatever your taste buds desire.

Frozen Chocolate Mousse

A velvety chocolate mousse is hard to resist, but you could elevate it by turning it into a frozen chocolate dessert. This sounds especially appealing when the temperature begins to creep up.

If you’re hosting a summer gathering or dinner party for other adults in your life, why not add 2 tsp of Salted Caramel & Clementine Velvetised Chocolate Cream to add a warming edge?

For this rich frozen dessert idea, you’ll need 60g of high-quality dark chocolate broken into pieces. Depending on your taste, you could adapt this frozen chocolate mousse with semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and even white chocolate. Or, if you fancy a wider variety, our Mellow Baton Library includes caramel chocolate, 40% milk chocolate, and white chocolate Batons to suit every taste.

The method

• Melt your choice of chocolate and 60g of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 2-3 minutes. Let it cool slightly.
• Then add two egg yolks to the mixture. You can also add your choice of flavoured liquor or cream at this point if you wish.
• Stir all of this together until well-combined.
• Next, beat your two remaining egg whites and a pinch of salt until they form soft peaks.
• Add 1-tbsp of sugar and stir a third of the egg white into the chocolate mix.
• Use a spoon or a silicone spatula to dish every last drop into ramekins lined with cling film.
• Fold over the cling film to ensure that the mousse mixture is completely enclosed, before popping your ramekins into the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours (preferably overnight).

When you’re ready to serve, use the plastic wrap to gently ease your frozen chocolate mousse out of the ramekin. Top your delicious frozen chocolate mousse with a light dusting of our chocolate flakes, available in an array of flavours to satisfy your cravings.

Frequently asked questions about freezing chocolate

Got some queries about chilling your chocolate? Don’t worry, we’re on hand to shed some light on these FAQs.

Is it safe to freeze chocolate?

When it comes to devouring your chocolate treats, there’s no need to worry or rush. Milk chocolate is hardy enough to be kept in the freezer for up to 12 months, and some dark chocolate can be kept in the freezer for up to 24 months.

So, if you end up with too much melted chocolate, all you need to do is store it in your freezer and you’ll be able to use it again without a problem.

How long do frozen chocolate desserts last?

Chocolate is one of the best foods to freeze as it doesn’t contain any water. It is the water molecules within certain food products that expand and rupture when frozen, damaging the overall flavour. As you can tell, it’s the other ingredients within the chocolate dessert that you’ll need to consider.

For the frozen chocolate desserts listed above, you should divide them into individual portions and place them in airtight, freezer-safe containers.

We recommend the following freezing times (in the unlikely case of having portions left over):

• Chocolate Semifreddo: Freeze your leftover chocolate semifreddo for a maximum of one month. This is because the texture can become overly hard and icy after a prolonged period of freezing. and this can minimise the flavour.

• Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter Bites: These delicious bites of goodness will keep in the freezer for up to two months. This makes them the perfect addition to a snack or breakfast meal-prep routine.

• Iced Chocolate Milkshake: If you find yourself unable to finish your iced chocolate milkshake, the experience doesn’t have to end then and there. Ensure that your iced chocolate milkshake is sealed in an airtight container, and it will hold its rich flavour for around four months.

• Frozen Chocolate Mousse: You can enjoy your delectable frozen chocolate mousse for up to two months when stored in a freezer.

Get creative with your frozen chocolate desserts

Once you’ve selected your flavour and type of chocolate, all that’s left is to start making your frozen chocolate dessert! Take a look at our chocolate selection, and test out your favourite flavour combinations for a perfectly satisfying chocolate treat.