Cocoa Meringue Baskets With Nectarines Berries And Cream Recipes

COCOA MERINGUES WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Place egg white in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 275°. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 2 tablespoons sugar. , Combine cocoa and remaining sugar; add to meringue with vanilla. Beat on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in chopped chocolate., Drop 2 mounds onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into 3-in. cups with the back of a spoon. Bake until set and dry, 50-60 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1 hour., In a small saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, orange juice and water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in berries. Cool to room temperature. Spoon into meringues. If desired, top with grated orange zest.

COCOA MERINGUE BASKETS WITH NECTARINES, BERRIES, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 3 1/4- to 3 1/2-inch-diameter biscuit cutter or bowl as guide, heavily trace 9 circles on each of 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. On third parchment-lined baking sheet and using same guide, trace 10 semicircles. Turn parchment paper over so that marked side is down (circles and semicircles will show through).
• Whisk 1 1/2 cups sugar and cocoa powder in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes. Gradually add sugar-cocoa mixture and beat until very stiff and glossy, about 4 minutes.
• Cut off 1/3 to 1/2 inch from 1 corner of 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Scoop enough meringue into bag to fill 3/4 full. Twist bag shut above meringue and hold firmly closed while piping. Pipe small dot of meringue under parchment in each corner of baking sheets. Press parchment onto dots to anchor. To form basket bottoms: Starting in center of each marked circle on 1 baking sheet, pipe meringue in continuous spiral to fill circles completely. Pipe 12 marble-size balls atop edge of each circle. To form basket sides: On second baking sheet, pipe meringue atop edge of traced circles to form rings. Pipe 12 marble-size meringue balls atop each ring, spacing about 1/3 to 1/2 inch apart. To form basket handles: On third sheet, pipe meringue atop outline of semicircles.
• Bake meringues until firm and dry to touch, about 2 hours. Turn off oven; let meringues stand in closed oven overnight to dry completely. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight in single layer at room temperature.)
• Toss nectarine slices with crème de cassis in medium bowl. Beat whipping cream, remaining 6 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in large bowl until peaks form.
• Place 1 meringue bottom on each of 8 plates. Place 1 meringue side atop each bottom. Spoon dollop of whipped cream into center of each basket. Top with spoonful of nectarine slices, then a few raspberries and blackberries. Repeat with another layer of cream, nectarines, and berries. Dip ends of 1 meringue handle into whipped cream and attach to 1 basket; repeat with remaining handles. Sift powdered sugar over baskets. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: COCOA MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.
• Using a 9-inch cake circle as a guide, with a pencil trace a circle on a sheet parchment paper cut to fit a baking sheet. Turn the paper over and with trace mark down, place on a baking sheet.
• Place 4 egg whites, 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip. Whisk on high speed until soft peeks form, about 45 to 50 seconds. Gradually add 1 cup sugar while continuing to whisk on high speed. Whisk until stiff about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to fold in and thoroughly combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Fill a pastry bag (with no tip) with cocoa meringue. Fill the traced circle with meringue: start in the center and pipe a 3/4-inch wide spiral towards the outside of the circle. Place the meringue in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees F. and bake for 2 hours and 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cocoa meringue to cool on baking sheet for 45 minutes before handling. Adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

CRISPY MERINGUE CUPS WITH BERRIES AND SORBET

Steps:

• Stir together the strawberries, blackberries, sugar, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Set aside to macerate, stirring occasionally, while you make the meringue cups.
• Whisk together the egg white, vanilla, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and lemon zest in another medium bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar and stir with a rubber spatula until mostly combined, and then mix with your hands until a thick, firm dough forms.
• Remove about 1/8 of the dough and place in another bowl. Add the red gel food coloring. Wearing gloves, knead the dough to swirl in the color until no streaks remain. Return the red dough to the bowl with the other dough and mix together until swirled throughout.
• Transfer the dough to a cutting board and pat into a disk. Cut into 8 equal pieces (about 2 tablespoons each), and then roll each into a ball. Use a finger to poke a hole, about 1/2 inch across and 1/2 inch deep, into the center of each ball. If the ball starts to crack when poked, use your fingers to press it back together. Cover with a slightly damp kitchen towel so they don't dry out.
• Line a microwave-safe round dinner plate with a paper towel. Place 1 ball in the center of the plate and microwave on the highest setting until the dough puffs into a crispy meringue about 5 inches across-it should be hollow when tapped, about 1 minute 30 seconds. Use an oven mitt or kitchen towel to remove the very hot plate from the microwave and transfer the paper towel with the meringue to a wire rack.
• Line a second large microwave-safe round dinner plate with a new paper towel and repeat this process with the remaining pieces of dough, alternating between the two plates so that they have a little time to cool down after microwaving each meringue cup.
• Let the meringues cool completely, then carefully peel away the paper towels.
• Place each meringue cup on a serving plate and top each with about 1/2 cup of the macerated berries and a scoop of lemon sorbet. Drizzle with some of the juices from the fruit and serve immediately.

BERRIES & CREAM IN MERINGUE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with the cream of tarter until they are foamy.
• Begin to add the granulated sugar, a spoonful at a time.
• Add the cinnamon.
• Continue to beat until the meringue is very glossy and forms stiff peaks.
• Make individual meringue, spread about 1/2-cup of the meringue into a 3-inch circle on the parchment paper.
• Adding a little more of the egg white mixture, shape a rim around the edges.
• Continue to make more of the meringue shells, spacing evenly across the baking sheet.
• Bake for about 1-1/2 hours or until firm to the touch.
• Turn off the oven, but leave the meringue shells in the warm oven for another hour.
• Cool completely.
• Berries: Mix the berries with vinegar/ sugar and let sit for at least 2 hours.
• Prepare the cream by whipping with the sugar until firm peaks form.
• Fold in pure vanilla, and refrigerate.
• To assemble, place an individual meringue on each plate, top with some of the berry mixture, and add a dollop of whipped cream.
• Sprinkle w/ cinnamon.

COCOA-SPICE MERINGUES WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM

Steps:

• FOR MERINGUES:
• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 200°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with foil. Cut out one 4x2-inch cardboard or paper rectangle. Using toothpick or wooden skewer, gently outline 11 rectangles on each sheet of foil, spacing 1 inch apart (do not pierce foil).
• Sift first 7 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat whites until firm and glossy. Beat in remaining 9 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue to beat until very thick and stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Fold in spice mixture in 3 additions.
• Working in batches, transfer meringue to pastry bag fitted with 1/4-inch-diameter plain tip. Starting at 1 short end of each outlined rectangle, pipe meringue in crosswise lines to fill rectangles completely. Bake until dry and crisp, reversing baking sheets after 1 hour, about 2 hours.
• Remove baking sheets from oven. Transfer foil with meringues to racks; cool. Peel foil from meringues. (Can be made up to 4 days ahead. Layer meringues between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container. Store at room temperature.)
• FOR CHOCOLATE CREAM:
• Bring 1/2 cup cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cool completely, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Fold in chocolate mixture in 4 additions.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Spread 2 tablespoons chocolate cream atop 1 meringue, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Top with second meringue. Repeat layering with 2 tablespoons chocolate cream and third meringue. Place meringue stack on prepared baking sheet. Repeat layering with 2 tablespoons chocolate cream and third meringue. Place meringue stack on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with 15 more meringues and chocolate cream to make 6 meringue stacks total.
• Place remaining 4 meringues in plastic bag and close tightly. Using rolling pin, finely crush meringues. Place meringue crumbs in shallow dish.
• Spread enough remaining chocolate cream around sides (not tops) of meringue stacks to cover. (Reserve any remaining chocolate cream for another use.) Coat sides with meringue crumbs. Refrigerate pastries at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)
• Sift cocoa powder and powdered sugar evenly over pastries and serve.

MERINGUES WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla., Drop meringue into two mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into 3-1/2-in. cups with the back of a spoon. , Bake at 225° until set and dry, 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1 hour. Remove to wire racks to cool. , In a small bowl, combine berries and, if desired, sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Combine sour cream and extract; spoon into meringue shells. Top with berries. ,