Chocolate Chestnut Meringues Recipes

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 225°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• In medium bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to medium; gradually add 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high; gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, the powdered sugar and cocoa, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating 2 to 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in hazelnuts.
• Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with large open star tip. Onto cookie sheets, pipe meringues about 1 inch apart.
• Bake 1 hour 35 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven with door closed 2 hours. Store tightly covered at room temperature up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a food processor, pulse to combine chestnut flour, walnuts, 1/3 cup sugar, and the cinnamon until nuts are ground to a fine powder. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Whisk egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Continue to whisk, gradually adding remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a slow stream, until whites are very stiff and glossy, 11 to 13 minutes. Gently fold egg whites into chestnut-flour mixture with a flexible spatula just until combined.
• Transfer one-third of mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip, and pipe 1-inch circles, 1 1/2 inches apart, on parchment-lined baking sheets, holding pastry bag vertically, then pulling up to create a peak. Bake until completely dry and crisp, about 2 hours. Let meringues cool completely on sheets on a wire rack.
• Temper chocolate: Melt chocolate in a small bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of barely simmering water. Using a chocolate or candy thermometer, melt until temperature registers 115 degrees. Remove bowl, wiping away moisture from bottom of bowl. Leave water at a simmer. Stir chocolate, cooling it until temperature reads 83 to 85 degrees. Replace bowl over simmering water in 30-second intervals until thermometer reaches 88 to 89 degrees. Transfer to another bowl to cool. Use immediately.
• Holding a cookie by one side, dip in tempered chocolate until half is submerged. Gently shake off excess chocolate. Place dipped meringues on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let set completely without disturbing. Meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and shiny and the sugar granules cannot be felt in the whites. Beat in the vanilla, reduce speed to low and add cocoa until combined. With a spatula put the egg white mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch meringue "kisses" on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the middle of oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave the meringues in it for at least 2 more hours or until meringues are completely dry.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using an electric mixer, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, continuing until stiff peaks form. Remove bowl from mixer.
• Melt the chocolate in a microwave oven or a double boiler. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the melted chocolate and half the coconut into the bowl of egg whites. Fold in the remaining coconut.
• Drop heaping tablespoons of the batter onto baking sheets lined with lightly greased parchment paper. Bake about 12 minutes, or until meringues are firm. Turn oven off, but leave cookies in oven with door ajar 15 minutes longer.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON MERINGUES

Steps:

• Sift together sugar and cocoa powder.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites, cinnamon, and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on medium speed until it forms soft peaks.
• Beat in the sugar mixture one tablespoon at a time.
• Beat the entire mixture on high until it's glossy and stiff.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls of batter onto the sheets, leaving 1-inch between.
• Bake at 250 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tops feel dry to the touch.
• Cool 5 minutes, then remove from parchment paper.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Make the torte:
• Line the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan with wax paper, grease the paper, and dust the pan with flour, knocking out the excess. In a food processor purée the chestnuts with the butter and the rum, scraping down the sides, until the mixture is smooth. Add the chocolate and blend the mixture until it is combined well. With the motor running, add the yolks, 1 at a time, and transfer the mixture to a large bowl. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the whites with the salt until they hold soft peaks, add the sugar, a little at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks. Whisk about one fourth of the meringue into the chocolate mixture to lighten it and fold in the remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake the torte in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it and the top is cracked. Let the torte cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, remove the side of the pan, and invert the torte onto another rack. Remove the bottom of the pan, reinvert the torte onto a rack, and let it cool completely. (The torte will fall as it cools.)
• Make the glaze and garnish:
• Put the chocolate in a small bowl, in a saucepan bring the cream to a boil, and pour it over the chocolate. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth and stir in the rum. Dip each candied chestnut halfway into the glaze to coat it partially, transfer the chestnuts to a foil-covered tray, and let them set.
• Invert the torte onto a rack set on wax paper, pour the glaze over it, smoothing the glaze with a spatula and letting the excess drip down the side, and let the torte stand for 2 hours, or until the glaze is set. Transfer the torte carefully to a serving plate and garnish it with the coated chestnuts.
• Make the whipped cream just before serving the torte:
• In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters beat the cream until it holds soft peaks, beat in the sugar and the rum, and beat the mixture until it holds stiff peaks. Fold in the chopped candied chestnuts.
• Serve the torte with the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl using an electric mixer on low speed until foamy. Add sugar slowly, continuing to beat until meringue is smooth, shiny, and satiny, about 10 minutes. Let stand while coating 2 baking sheets with butter and flour.
• Add cocoa powder to egg white mixture slowly, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Beat on medium power until very smooth and evenly colored.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until each cookie comes off the baking sheet cleanly, 1 to 2 hours.

PEAR & CHOCOLATE MINI PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Line 2 large baking sheets with non-stick baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff.
• Gradually whisk in the sugar 1 tbsp at a time until the mixture is very stiff and shiny. Sift in the cornflour then, using a large metal spoon, fold in along with the vinegar. Divide the mixture into 8 mounds and place on the parchment paper. With a dessert spoon, flatten each one out to approximately 9cm in diameter and make a light indent in the centre of each.
• Cook for 40-50 mins or until the meringue mixture is hard and the baking parchment peels away easily from the bottom of the each one. Cool on a wire rack. You can make these up to three days in advance and store in an airtight container or freeze for up to a month.
• Using a sharp knife, score around and scoop out the core of the pears, keeping the stalk on. Place the pears in a medium pan in a single layer - they should fit quite tightly. Add the honey, apple juice and cinnamon stick. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover with a round of baking parchment and a lid. Simmer for 35-40 mins until pears are tender. Remove lid and paper, turn up the heat and allow the liquid to bubble away until it has turned to a sticky glaze. Leave to cool. Pears may be refrigerated for up to 2 days, coated in glaze and covered.
• Meanwhile, make the chocolate sauce and cream filling. Add the double cream and chocolate to the pan and stir constantly over a gentle heat, until the chocolate has melted. Stir together the cream and Greek yogurt until thick, but still soft - it will thicken up without beating.
• To serve, put the meringues on serving plates and top with a dollop of the cream filling. Place a glazed pear on top and drizzle with some warm chocolate sauce. Serve straight away, handing round any extra sauce.

MOM'S CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
• Blend egg whites and salt with an electric mixer until peaks begin to form. With the mixer still running, gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all is incorporated, then add the cream of tartar.
• Gently fold in chocolate chips using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Using a teaspoon, drop batter onto prepared cookie sheet. Place in the oven, and turn off heat. Leave in the oven at least 4 hours, or overnight for even better results.