Black Forest Macaroon Conserve Recipes

BLACK FOREST CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with oil and line the bottom of each with parchment paper.
• To prepare the cake, in a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth. Add the buttermilk and 1 cup vegetable oil, and whisk to combine. Add the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla extract, then whisk to combine.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, then whisk to combine. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the cakes to a rack to cool for about 20 minutes, then flip the cakes out onto the rack and let them cool completely. Flip the cakes again, so the domed portion is on top, and trim a bit of the dome off each cake to flatten the top. Carefully cut each layer in half horizontally, creating four layers.
• While the cake cools, prepare the cherry jam: In a small saucepan, combine the cherries and sugar over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking the cherries down with a wooden spoon or potato masher, until the fruit has released its juice, about 6 minutes.
• Pass the cherry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the syrup in a medium bowl and setting aside the cooked cherries. Measure out 1/2 cup/120 milliliters of the syrup. (If you have more, store the rest in the refrigerator for another use). Transfer 1 tablespoon syrup from the 1/2 cup to small bowl, then stir the Kirsch into remaining syrup; set aside to cool completely.
• Add 1 teaspoon cornstarch to the reserved 1 tablespoon cherry syrup in the small bowl; whisk to combine. Transfer it to the saucepan, add the cooked cherries and cook over medium, stirring, until the mixture has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool completely. (You should have about 1 1/4 cups/300 milliliters jam.)
• Prepare the whipped cream: In a small saucepan, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, cornstarch and 1 cup heavy cream. Bring that mixture to a low boil over medium heat and cook, stirring, until thickened to the consistency of thin pudding, reducing heat as necessary to avoid scorching, about 2 minutes. Transfer cream mixture to a large bowl to cool completely.
• Assemble the cake: Whisk the cream mixture to loosen it, then add the remaining 3 cups heavy cream. Using an electric mixer on medium, beat the mixture until you have medium-stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Set one cake layer on a serving plate, cut-side up. Brush it with some of the cherry-Kirsch syrup, spread about 1 cup whipped cream over the top, then 1/3 of the cherry jam. Swirl the jam and the cream together a bit to spread it out evenly. Repeat this process two more times and top it with the last cake layer, cut-side down. Then cover the entire cake with a thin layer of whipped cream. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• To finish, frost the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Prepare the chocolate curls: Warm the chocolate bar in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, then use a vegetable peeler to create curled chocolate shavings. Press the chocolate shavings onto the sides of the cake and over a 1-inch of the border on top. Top with the 8 cherries. Store leftovers, well wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

BLACK FOREST MACAROON CONSERVE

Steps:

• PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
• COMBINE sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Set aside. Combine cherries, lemon juice and cocoa mixture in a large saucepan. Bring to a full rolling bowl that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add coconut and Kirsh, stirring well. Skim foam if necessary.
• LADLE hot conserve into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
• PROCESS in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

BLACK MACARONS

Steps:

• For the macarons:
• In the food processor, mix the almond powder and icing sugar together until it's reduced into a very fine powder, for about 2 minutes. Add 2 egg whites and process until smooth.
• Cook's Note: the texture will be similar to almond paste.
• Add the food coloring and continue processing until the color is all blended in. You can add a few more drops just until you get the color you want. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and put aside.
• In a stockpot, bring the water and sugar to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes, until reduced by 1/2 and syrup is coating the back of a spoon when dropped in cold water or until a candy thermometer reads 230 degrees F.
• Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly add 1/2 of the hot syrup and continue beating until firm peaks form and the meringue has cooled.
• With a spatula, gently fold in 1/4 of the meringue into the almond mixture. Continue folding the meringue until completely incorporated. The mixture will be shiny and smooth.
• Fit a piping bag with a 3/8-inch/1 cm round tip. Pipe the batter onto the baking sheets. Tap the underside of the baking sheet to remove air bubbles. Let dry at room temperature for 1 hour to allow skins to form.
• For the butter cream:
• Bring the water and sugar to a boil and cook it until it reaches 242 degrees F on a candy thermometer, approximately 4 minutes.
• Using a stand or hand mixer, pour in egg yolks and crack in one extra egg. While beating, gradually pour the remaining hot syrup on the egg yolks. Beat until cooled, light and fluffy, approximately 10 minutes.
• Add the butter and continue beating until smooth. Add the vanilla. Put aside.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Bake the macarons for 20 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet after 10 minutes for even baking.
• Remove the macarons from the oven and transfer parchment to a cooling rack.
• Pair the macarons of similar size, and pipe about 1/2 teaspoon filling onto one of the macarons. Top with the other macaron to sandwich the filling.

COCONUT & JAM MACAROON TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking parchment. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Mix the sugar, egg whites, vanilla and a pinch of salt together in a bowl. Add the coconut and flour and stir until thoroughly combined - the mixture will be quite thick and sticky. Tip into the tin and gently spread out with a spatula. Dot the jam over the top using a teaspoon, nestling it into the batter. Bake for 25-30 mins, until set and golden around the edges. Leave to cool completely in the tin.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave, or in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove the cake from the tin, drizzle with chocolate and leave to set before cutting into squares. Will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

BLACK FOREST PARFAIT

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix as directed. Pour batter into a greased and floured 11 x 17-inch baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes our clean. Let cool. Cut into 1-inch squares and remove from pan. Prepare French Vanilla Pudding and cool. Beat whipping cream until thick. Stir in sugar and vanilla. In individual parfait dishes or a trifle bowl, layer cake pieces, pudding, pie filling and whipping cream. Repeat. Grate chocolate on top for garnish.

PASSOVER BLACK & WHITE COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix the coconut, matzoh cake meal, and 1 cup of the sugar together in a bowl.
• Add the eggs and egg white and mix with your fingers until well blended.
• Gently shape about two tablespoons of the dough into a pyramid and set on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
• Bake 25 minutes, cool.
• In a saucepan melt the chocolate with the water and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil then simmer slowly for a few minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.
• Let the chocolate cool slightly. Holding a macaroon with 2 fingers, dip half the cookie in chocolate so that it is half-black and half-white.
• Dry for a few minutes, tilted over a dish and place on wax paper. Repeat.