Meringue Disks Recipes

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large clean dry bowl with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 more minute. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff shiny peaks form, about 5 more minutes.
• Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe eight 3-inch disks on the baking sheets, then pipe around the edge of the disks to create 2-inch-high sides. Bake at 250 degrees F until dry and crisp, about 3 hours. Let cool completely on the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container in a dry place for up to 1 week.
• For the filling, whisk the mascarpone with the confectioners' sugar, then whisk in the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Spoon into the meringue nests; top with sugar pearls.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
• Butter and lightly flour two baking sheets. Trace two eight-inch circles on each sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix the ground almonds, two cups of the sugar and the cornstarch. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they are frothy. Gradually add the remaining sugar, beating constantly until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
• Sprinkle some of the almond mixture on the egg whites and fold in. Repeat until all the almond mixture is incorporated.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round No. 4 tip with the meringue. On the baking sheets, squeeze the meringue around the rim of a traced circle. Work toward the center in a circular motion until the entire circle is filled in. Repeat with the remaining circles.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until the meringue is golden and crisp.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 110C/fan 90C/gas ¼. Tip the egg whites and lemon juice into the clean bowl of a food mixer. Whisk until the whites double in volume and hold a peak when the whisk is drawn through them. Keep the whisk running and add the sugar a tbsp at a time, incorporating completely before adding the next. Whisk until all the sugar has been added and the whites are glossy.
• Place a square of baking parchment on a large baking sheet. Pencil nine circles, about 7cm each, onto the parchment. Spoon the meringue into a large piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle and pipe concentric rounds to fit each drawn circle, piping two or more rings around the edge to form a nest. Bake for 2 hrs until they are crisp and lift off the paper easily. Leave to cool completely.
• Whisk the crème fraîche until stiff, then fold in the yogurt. Set 2 strawberries and 9 raspberries aside and roughly chop the rest. Tip the chopped berries, mint and ginger into a bowl. Sprinkle with a little icing sugar and use a wooden spoon to mash to a rough purée. Gently fold the berries into the yogurt mix, adding icing sugar to taste.
• To assemble, cut the remaining strawberries into 9 slices and place a slice inside each meringue case. Generously share the rippled cream between the cases, then top with a raspberry and a mint sprig. Dust with a little icing sugar just before serving. ( Meringues keep in an airtight container for 2 days.)

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture forms stiff peaks.

Steps:

• Lay one meringue disk on a serving dish and spread four cups of ganache over it.
• Lay a second meringue disk over the ganache and spread it with half of the coffee butter cream, reserving enough to cover the top and sides of the finished cake.
• Lay a third meringue disk over the coffee butter cream and spread with the creme Chantilly. Top with the last meringue disk.
• Spread the top and sides of the dessert with the remaining butter cream. Coat the cake with the toasted almonds. Refrigerate until well chilled.