Gingercrunch Meringue Bombes Recipes

MERINGUE CLOUDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange two oven racks evenly in the oven.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the sugar in an even layer on the paper. (Leave a small border of paper around the sugar so the sugar doesn't spill onto the pan.) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the sugar is hot (an edge will begin to brown). Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. When the sugar is almost ready, whisk the egg whites on high speed for 1 minute, until the whites are frothy. With the mixer still on high, slowly add the hot sugar to the egg whites. (I use a large spoon to start and 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 meringue is at room temperature. It will be very thick and glossy.
• Using two large serving spoons, scoop 12 very large oval dollops of meringue onto two sheet pans lined with parchment paper. You should be able to get 6 meringues on each pan; space them well because they will expand while they bake. Place 3 candied rose petals on top of each meringue. Bake for 2 hours, until the outsides of the meringues are crisp and the centers are still soft. Set aside to cool on baking racks. Allow to sit uncovered and serve at room temperature. (Don't refrigerate or store covered or they will lose their crispness.)

GINGERCRUNCH & MERINGUE BOMBES

Steps:

• Line 6 small ramekins or teacups with cling film, or use a silicone muffin mould, if you have one.
• Whip the cream in a large bowl until it just holds its shape. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add them to the cream with the sugar, orange zest and meringues. Gently stir, then add the gingernut crumbs. Divide among the prepared moulds or teacups and freeze for at least 2 hrs.
• To make the sauce, put the orange juice in a pan with the sugar and vanilla pod. Bring to the boil, then simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Put the cornflour into a small bowl with 2 tbsp orange juice mixture. Stir until smooth, then add to the pan. Simmer and stir until the liquid has thickened, discard the pod, then leave to cool. The sauce can be made 2 days in advance.
• To serve, take the bombes out of the freezer and place in the fridge for 10 mins. Turn them onto a plate, drizzle with sauce, then place a small spoonful of Orange sorbet (see 'Goes well with') next to them.

VANILLA AND RASPBERRY BOMBE GLACEE

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, fill three-quarter full with the ice cream, cover, and freeze until firm.
• When hard, use a sharp knife and a soup spoon to dig a trench down the center of the ice cream, reserving the ice cream from the trench to make a top later. The trench should leave an inch of vanilla ice cream along with long ends of the pan and go 3/4 of the way down the pan. Refreeze.
• Choose a large metal or glass bowl that will neatly sit on a pot on the stovetop. Put 1 to 2-inches water in the pot and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, beat the yolks and sugar together in the bowl (still on the countertop) with electric beaters until very thick and ribbony. Add the puree, and liqueur. Set the bowl over the pot of simmering water, and continue beating until very thick and much increased in volume, about 10 minutes. It should have the consistency of firmly whipped cream. Remove the bowl from the heat, and set it over a large bowl full of ice cubes. Continue beating until cool.
• Whip the cream to soft peaks and fold it in. Remove the bombe mould from the freezer and pour the raspberry mixture into the well of vanilla ice cream. Cover and return to the freezer for several hours, or until completely set. Soften the reserved "trench" ice cream and spread it over the top to fill the pan to the brim. Freeze again.
• To serve, uncover the loaf mold. Wrap a towel dampened in hot water around the base and hold it upside down. Shake out. Slice with a knife, dipped first in hot water. Refreeze in slice form until ready to serve. Raspberry coulis is the right accompaniment.
• Serving suggestion: Raspberry coulis, for serving .

GHASTLY MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Beat in the sugar; increase the mixer speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe 8 to 10 swirls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until dry, 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack and let cool completely.
• Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on 50 percent power until melted, about 1 minute, stirring halfway. Transfer the melted chocolate to a zip-top bag and snip a corner. Pipe the chocolate on the meringues to look like eyes.

GINGERBREAD MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and molasses until blended. Add egg yolks and egg, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla., In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, allspice and salt. Gradually add to the molasses mixture. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows, pecans and chocolate chips. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in brown sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved., Remove gingerbread from oven; spread with meringue. Bake until meringue is lightly browned, 9-11 minutes longer. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

MERINGUE BONES AND GHOSTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.
• Whisk eggs whites and lemon juice together in a bowl until thick, white, and foamy. Add sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking constantly, until meringue is shiny, thick, and holds its shape.
• Transfer meringue to a piping bag. Pipe 12 bone shapes onto a prepared baking sheet. Pipe 12 puffs to resemble ghosts onto the remaining baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dried and firm, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven, close the door, and cool until completely dried, about 1 hour more.
• Dip the tip of a toothpick into melted chocolate and dot chocolate "eyes" on each of the ghosts.