There are so many delicious desserts you can make from egg whites, from souffles, fruit mousses, buttercream, meringue cookies, French macarons, fruit sorbets to decadent meringue layered cakes. Just like the one I made recently, Vanilla Meringue Cake filled with Strawberry Chocolate Cream. Now, if title is not enough to seduce you, then imagine sweet strawberry with creamy chocolate, wrapped in a crunchy vanilla cookie, all singing in a perfect delicious harmony. Really, I mean it, it was fantastic.
Meringue Layers (makes 3 layers)
6egg whites, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tbl cornstarch
1tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
10inch x 4 inch template
parchment paper
cookie sheet
large round pastry tip, Wilton #1A
large flower pastry tip :Wilton- 2D or Wilton star tip 1M
pastry bag
soft pink food coloring
Preheat oven to 275F
Onto the parchment paper, trace the template(10x4) 3 times. I used a large cookies sheet so I fit all 3 layer on one sheet.
Flip the parchment and position it onto the cookie sheet. Set aside
Make sure the bowl of your mixer is grease free. Wipe it dry with white distilled vinegar if needed.
Add egg whites into the clean bowl, add a pinch of salt and beat egg whites on high, until
soft peaks are formed, gradually add sugar and beat until stiff yet
glossy peaks are formed.
Beat in cornstarch and vanilla extract.
Fit the pastry bag with large round pastry tip, fill the bag with meringue.
Pipe the meringue onto the prepared parchment paper, following the rectangular patterns you prepared before. Make 2 layers.
To make the top layer : color about 1cup of remaining meringue with pink.
Fit the piping bag with a large star/flower tip, using a spatula spread pink meringue inside of the piping bag in one straight line.Then spoon white meringue inside to fill the bag(see the picture below)
Take the piping bag and pipe little and large rose/flower shapes onto the last 3rd template onto the parchment paper.
Bake at 275F for 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the meringue layers in the oven until it cools down completely.
If not using the same day, store meringue layers between layers of wax paper, in a large airtight container.
Fill the layers with strawberry and chocolate filling, alternating with meringue layers.
Serve the same day cake is filled.
Strawberry Filling Recipe
2cups Frozen or fresh strawberries
1/2cup water
1/4 to 1/3cup sugar
1tbl lemon juice
2 1/2 tbl corn starch dissolved in 1/4cup water
2tbl Orange Flavored Vodka
Cook strawberries with water, vodka and sugar until very soft and mushy. Process
mixture in a blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove
seeds.You should have about 1cup (or little over 1 cup) strawberry liquid.
Return
mixture to the sauce pan, add lemon and dissolved corn starch, cook the
mixture on low heat until is bubbles and thickens, cook for 2 minutes,
remove from heat and let cool in a water bath, stirring frequently to
prevent skin forming. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours. Can
be store in the fridge for several days.Use as filling for cupcakes or
cakes.
Stabilized Chocolate Cream Frosting Recipe
1tbl water
1tsp unflavored gelatin
1cup heavy cream
1/3cup powdered sugar
1/2tsp vanilla extract
1tbl dark cocoa powder
Let the gelatin bloom in the water for 5 minutes, using a microwave heat
if for 5 seconds, it should be dissolved after 5 seconds, if not heat
it a little more but be careful not to overheat gelatin.Let the
dissolved gelatin cool to lukewarm.
Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks are formed, add dissolved gelatin,
beat and then add powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla extract, beat until stiff,
don't over beat.Use as frosting on meringues cake, cupcakes and cakes.
How to fill a piping bag with 2 tone icing/meringue to create a marbled effect - use this technique to create marbled effect on top meringue layer
Baked meringue layers
Spread strawberry filling onto meringue layers
Pipe chocolate whipped cream onto strawberry filling
Stack second meringue layer on top of the chocolate filling and repeat with strawberry and whipped cream
Put the 3rd meringue layer on the top
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