Cherry Apricot Peach Pistachio Meringue Stack Recipes

CHERRY, APRICOT, PEACH & PISTACHIO MERINGUE STACK

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Using the 28cm cake board, or the base of a 28cm cake tin as a template, draw a circle on the baking parchment, then flip it over so that the pen or pencil doesn't come into contact with the meringue.
• Tip 5 of the egg whites into a large bowl, or the bowl of a tabletop mixer (make sure it's extremely clean - any traces of grease will prevent the egg whites from holding) and add a pinch of salt. Whisk the egg whites using an electric whisk, or in the mixer, until stiff peaks form. Add 275g of the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, while continuing to mix. Once incorporated, the mixture should be stiff and shiny, and should hold up in peaks on the end of the beaters. Add 1 tsp cornflour and 1 tsp vinegar and mix again until combined.
• Use some meringue to stick the parchment to the baking sheet. Pile the meringue onto the parchment and spread it out with a spatula or palette knife to fill the circle. Bake on the middle shelf for 1 hr 20 mins, then turn off the oven without opening the door, and leave the meringue inside to cool for at least 4 hrs to prevent it from cracking. Once cool, loosely cover with cling film or a tea towel and leave in a cool and dry place for up to 2 days.
• Follow steps 1-3 for the next two layers, but this time line two baking sheets with parchment. Draw a 20cm circle on one and a 14cm circle on the other. Once you've made the meringue mixture, divide it between the baking sheets and spread out to fill the circles. Bake for 1 hr 20 mins and cool as before.
• To make the compote, put the apricots in a saucepan with the caster sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 5-8 mins until the fruit is soft and pulpy. Remove from the heat and use a stick blender to purée the fruit, adding a splash of water if needed. Cool until you're ready to assemble. Can be made up to 2 days before, or frozen for up to 2 months.
• On the day you want to assemble and serve the meringue, halve or quarter five apricots, and stone half the cherries. Toss the peach slices, apricots and stoned cherries with 2 tbsp icing sugar and set aside to macerate for 30 mins.
• Remove the cardamom seeds from the pods and grind to a powder using a pestle and mortar. Pour 1 litre of the cream into a large bowl or freestanding mixer. Add 25g icing sugar and half the cardamom. Whisk until the cream is just holding its shape - don't overwhip. Use a little of the cream to stick the largest meringue to a cake board or stand, then pile the rest on top. Drizzle over some compote and scatter with the macerated fruit and some pistachios. Insert four dowling rods, pushing them into the centre of the meringue until they hit the base, then snip the tops so they sit flush with the cream and fruit
• Whip the remaining cream, sugar and cardamom, and use a little to stick the 20cm meringue to the cake board. Carefully put this on top, then pile on just over half the cream. Top with compote, fruit and pistachios as before. then insert four more dowling rods and cut them to the correct height.
• Use some of the remaining cream to stick the final layer to its cake board and position on top carefully. Top with more cream, compote, nuts and fruit, and finish with the remaining unstoned cherries. Serve as soon as possible - the meringue will only hold for 1-2hrs.

SALTED PISTACHIO MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the sugar so it's a perfectly even thickness on the paper right to the edge of the sugar, leaving a border on the paper so the sugar doesn't spill onto the pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges start to brown lightly. Watch carefully! Lower the oven to 250˚ F.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Just before the sugar is ready, whisk the egg whites on high speed for 1 minute, until frothy. With the mixer on low, slowly add the hot sugar to the egg whites. (I use a large spoon at first, then pick up the paper and pour the sugar in slowly.) Add the vanilla and continue to whisk on high for 10 minutes, until the egg whites are room temperature. (The bowl may still be warm.) The meringue will be very thick and glossy.
• Using two large serving spoons, scoop 6 very large, messy oval dollops of meringue onto each of two sheet pans lined with parchment paper, spacing them out because they will expand while they bake. Sprinkle the pistachios on top and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours (make sure your oven isn't above 250˚ F!), until the outsides of the meringues are crisp but not browned and the centers are still soft. Sprinkle with the fleur de sel and set aside to cool.

APRICOT AND CHERRY CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the apricots, cherries, sugar and flour. Grease an 8 by 8-inch or 1 1/2 quart baking dish with the butter. Pour the fruit mixture into the dish. In a separate bowl, mix together the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and salt and mix well. Top the fruit with this mixture and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving.

PEACH AND PISTACHIO FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Mix flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter; using on/off turns, cut in until coarse meal forms. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and egg yolk; process until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is too dry. Gather dough into ball and flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim overhang to 1 inch. Fold in overhang and press, forming double-thick sides. Chill 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until light brown around edges, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake crust until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Cool 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Process 1/2 cup pistachios, 1/4 cup sugar, orange peel, and baking powder in processor until nuts are finely ground, scraping down sides occasionally. Add butter and egg; process until blended. Spread frangipane evenly over bottom of crust.
• Toss peaches with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl to coat. Arrange peach slices, rounded side down, in concentric circles atop frangipane, pushing slightly to adhere. Bake until frangipane is puffed and golden in center, about 55 minutes. Cool tart to room temperature.
• Melt apricot jam in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Brush warm jam over peaches. Chop remaining 2 tablespoons pistachios and sprinkle over top. Cut tart into wedges and serve.

APRICOT & MARASCHINO CHERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Place water and apricots in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated. Stir in pineapple, sugar and lemon juice. Cook and stir 35-40 minutes or until thickened., Using a potato masher, mash fruit. Add cherries; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; skim off foam if necessary. Carefully ladle hot mixture into five hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.