The perfect summer treat: a raspberry cheesecake knickerbocker glory. Refreshing, tangy and sweet, this dessert hits the spot on a hot day. With layers of fresh raspberry semifreddo, whipped cream cheese and a caramelized nutty topping, it’s as delicious as it is pretty to look at.
What is a knickerbocker glory?
Well, per Wikipedia, it is a “layered ice cream sundae” that is eaten in a “large tall conical glass” with a “distinctive long spoon”. And apparently it’s more common in the British Isles versus the other parts of Britain. I’m not sure how specific the serveware shape and length of spoon needs to be but the rest of it sounds enticing!
I first heard of a ‘knickerbocker glory’ when I was flipping through the book ‘Sweet’ by Ottolenghi and Goh. The photo of it just stopped me in my tracks and I knew I needed to recreate one for myself.
In the book, Ottolenghi’s recipe uses a custard based homemade ice cream layered with creme fraiche and fresh fruit but you could really put anything in your own version of a knickerbocker glory!
You can even buy pre-made components and layer it into cups for a super quick and super easy dessert.
What goes in a raspberry cheesecake knickerbocker glory?
I decided to take on the tangy and sweet flavours of a fruit cheesecake, raspberry to be specific. I also wanted contrast and to add some complexity within the layers of textures so I gave it a touch of crunch with a nutty crumble.
This is what I layered into mine:
- raspberry semifreddo
- whipped cream cheese
- whipped cream
- raspberry puree
- toasted hazelnut and almond crumble
As mentioned above, there really is no right or wrong when it comes to knickerbocker glory. You can build it to your own taste, whatever floats your boat!
Check out these other individual mini desserts:
Recipe for raspberry cheesecake knickerbocker glory:
Raspberry Cheesecake Knickerbocker Glory
Ingredients
Raspberry Semifreddo
- 1 1/2 cup raspberry puree strained
- 1/2 cup yogurt I used Balkan style
- 3/4 cup heavy cream whipped
Cream Cheese Topping
- 1 cup cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cup icing sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream whipped
Whipped Cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
Raspberry Puree
- 1 cup raspberry puree strained
Toasted Hazelnut Almond Crumble
- 1/4 cup hazelnuts chopped
- 2 tbsp almond meal
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter cold
Instructions
Raspberry Semifreddo
- To make the raspberry puree, you'll need to blend fresh raspberries and strain through a fine sieve to get rid of the seeds
- In a medium bowl, combine the raspberry puree with the yogurt
- In a small bowl, whip up the heavy cream until you get soft peaks
- Gently fold in the whipped cream into the raspberry mixture until just combined
- Place the bowl into the freezer overnight or until frozen solid
Cream Cheese Topping
- In a medium bowl, gently beat together the cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth
- In a small bowl, whip up the heavy cream until you get soft peaks
- Gently fold in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until just combined
- Keep this in the fridge while you prepare the other steps
Whipped Cream
- Beat heavy cream with icing sugar until soft peaks, place in fridge
Raspberry puree
- Blend raspberries, strain through fine sieve to get rid of seeds, place in fridge to keep cool
Toasted Hazelnut Almond Crumble
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Throw all ingredients (hazelnuts, almond meal, brown sugar, butter) into a small bowl
- Gently work and toss it together with your fingers, pressing the butter into the other components until you reach a crumbly consistency
- Spread out on a baking sheet and toast it for 15 minutes, stir it around at the halfway point to make sure all surface areas get toasted
- Remove from oven, let cool on baking sheet while you assemble everything together
Assembly
- In sundae glasses or bowls, randomly scoop the semifreddo, cream cheese, whipped cream and raspberry puree to your liking and top with the hazelnut crumble!
Did you make this recipe?
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The perfect summer treat: a raspberry cheesecake knickerbocker glory. Comment below if you’ve ever tried one!