First Lady Fingers Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 baking sheets with 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons of flour. Mark parallel lines in the flour across the width of the tray about 4 inches apart. Put the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and with an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is pale yellow, thick, and has tripled in volume, about 8 minutes, using the mixer. Add the egg whites, remaining 3/4 cup flour, salt and vanilla, fold to mix thoroughly so the mixture is smooth. Fill a large pastry bag with a 3/4-inch plain tube with the mixture. Pipe fingers about 4 1/2-inches in length on to the baking sheet, using the lines as a guide. Dust the ladyfingers with powdered sugar. Bake until for 15 to 18 minutes, or until just firm on the outside and soft in the center.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line two 17 x 12 inch baking sheets with baking parchment. Fit large pastry bag with a plain 1/2 inch round tube.
• Place egg whites in bowl and beat on high until soft peaks start to form. Slowly add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and continue beating until stiff and glossy. In another bowl beat egg yolks and remaining sugar. Whip until thick and very pale in color.
• Sift flour and baking powder together on a sheet of wax paper. Fold half the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Fold in flour, and then add the remaining egg whites. Transfer mixture to pastry bag and pipe out onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sift together the flour, half of the sugar and the salt, three times.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff and gradually beat in the remaining sugar. Beat the egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored and fold, with the vanilla, into the egg-white mixture. Sift the flour mixture, a third at a time, over the eggs and fold in carefully.
• Line ungreased baking sheets with unglazed paper. Press the batter through a pastry bag onto the paper, or shape with a spoon into strips about four inches by three-quarter inches.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the paper with a spatula and cool on a rack.

Steps:

• Draw two 13-by-4-inch rectangular templates on each of two pieces of parchment paper; place on rimmed baking sheets; set aside. Prepare a large pastry bag with a 1/2-inch tip, and set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk yolks, 10 tablespoons granulated sugar, and vanilla using high speed on an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, until mixture is thick and pale, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add flour, folding in gently; set aside. Using electric mixer, whisk egg whites until frothy. While whisking, gradually add remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; beat until stiff, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold 1/3 of whites into reserved yolk mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites until just incorporated.
• Fill pastry bag with batter, and pipe ladyfingers, 1/2 inch thick, between the short lines drawn on parchment paper. Using a fine mesh sieve, generously dust ladyfingers with confectioners' sugar, and allow the sugar to soak in, about 3 minutes. Place in oven and bake, rotating trays once, until light golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool and dry out slightly, at least 2 hours. Remove from parchment paper.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes; set aside. , In another bowl, beat egg yolks with remaining sugar for 3 minutes or until thick and lemon colored; add water and extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into yolk mixture. Fold in egg white mixture., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip #12. Spoon batter into bag. Pipe 3-1/2-in.-long lines 2 in. apart onto a greased and floured baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack; cool completely. Cover and freeze for up to 1 month., To use frozen ladyfingers: Thaw in the refrigerator; dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve as a cookie or use in desserts.