Meringue Mushrooms For Birch De Noel Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Test each of the three eyes at stem end of coconut to find softest one. Use an ice pick and a hammer to pierce it, then drain the juice into a glass through a fine sieve and reserve for another use. Tap coconut with hammer until a palm-size piece of shell breaks off. Continue tapping around broken edge until shell begins to break apart. Place broken shell on a baking sheet; bake about 10 min- utes to loosen flesh. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Pry out flesh with a paring knife. With a potato peeler, remove any remaining brown skin from flesh.
• Reduce oven temperature to 250°. Using a vegetable peeler, shave largest pieces of coconut into long curls, place on baking sheet, and bake until just dry but no color has developed, 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, grate smaller coconut pieces on the small holes of a box grater. (You will need about 1/2 cup grated coconut for the filling.)
• Increase oven temperature to 400°. Coat a 12 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Dust with cocoa; tap out excess. Whisk together cocoa powder, flour, and salt in a bowl. In a heat-proof mixer bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water, whisk together eggs, yolks, and granulated sugar until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium-high speed 2 minutes. Raise speed to high; beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 4 minutes more.
• Sift cocoa mixture over egg mixture; carefully fold in with a large rubber spatula. When almost incorporated, pour melted butter down side of bowl; gently fold to combine. Pour batter into prepared sheet, and smooth top with an offset spatula.
• Bake until cake springs back when touched, 9 to 10 minutes. Place a clean kitchen towel on a work surface; dust generously with cocoa. Remove pan from oven and immediately turn cake out onto a wire rack lined with parchment. Invert onto prepared towel; remove parchment.
• While cake is still warm, gently roll, starting from one short side, into a log, incorporating towel. Let rolled cake cool completely. (This will give it a "shape memory," so it will be easier to roll again with filling.)
• Unroll cooled cake and transfer to parchment. Using a pastry brush, coat cake with rum. Using offset spatula, spread mousse over cake. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup reserved grated coconut.
• With a short end of cake facing you, roll carefully into a roulade. Wrap in a kitchen towel; secure with clothespins or large metal binder clips to hold roll in a tight round shape. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Remove from refrigerator and unwrap. Use a serrated knife to trim ends of roll, cutting on the bias (starting 1 inch in from end on shorter side, and finishing 2 inches in, to create a wedge). Choose the more presentable trimmed end and place, cut-side up, on log, forming a branch. If desired, use other trimmed end for a second branch.
• Transfer log to a serving platter. Slide strips of parchment under perimeter of log (to keep platter clean). Use offset spatula to coat log with frosting, then attach one or both trimmed ends; coat with frosting. Remove parchment pieces. Decorate with meringue mushrooms, coconut shavings, and rosemary sprigs.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 225 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, heat sugar and 1/2 cup water over low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid reaches 248 degrees (hard-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric beater fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high, and add hot syrup in a steady stream, beating constantly. Continue beating until cool and stiff, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Fold in cocoa powder.
• Spoon meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a coupler and large plain tip. Pipe meringue onto prepared baking sheet to form 2-inch domes. Pipe a separate stem shape for each dome.
• Sprinkle cocoa powder lightly over meringues. Bake until dry, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• To assemble mushrooms, melt chocolate in a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Trim off points from tops of stems. With a small offset spatula, spread chocolate on underside of a cap and place trimmed end of stem into center of cap. Place mushroom, stem side up, in an egg carton to harden. Repeat with remaining mushrooms; refrigerate until set.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Place Swiss meringue in an 18-inch pastry bag fitted with a large 3/4-inch round tip. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Pipe meringue, forming domes 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Pipe a stem shape for each dome. Bake for 1 hour; reduce heat to 175 degrees, and continue baking until meringues are completely dry to the touch but not browned, 45 to 60 minutes more.
• Fill a medium saucepan one-quarter full with water. Set over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Place bittersweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, and set over simmering water. Turn off heat; stir chocolate occasionally until completely melted. Using an offset spatula, spread bottoms of domed meringues with chocolate; let sit at room temperature.
• Place white chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, and set over simmering water. Turn off heat; stir chocolate occasionally until completely melted. Allow to cool slightly. To create mushroom gills, spread white chocolate over dark chocolate; use a toothpick to create lines from the center of the cap's underside to the edges. Let set in a cool, dry place.
• Poke a small hole in the center of each mushroom cap using a paring knife. Dip the pointed end of each of the mushroom stems in melted white chocolate, and insert into hole in center of cap. Allow to set. Meringue mushrooms should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• In a large glass or metal bowl, use an electric mixer to whip egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla. Continue whipping until the whites hold soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar so that it does not sink to the bottom, and continue whipping until the mixture holds stiff shiny peaks.
• Place a round tip into a pastry bag, and fill the bag half way with the meringue. To pipe the mushroom caps, squeeze out round mounds of meringue onto one of the prepared cookie sheets. Pull the bag off to the side to avoid making peaks on the top. For the stems, press out a tiny bit of meringue onto the other sheet, then pull the bag straight up. They should resemble candy kisses. Do not worry about making all of the pieces exactly the same. The mushrooms will look more natural if the pieces are different sizes. Dust the mushroom caps lightly with cocoa using a small sifter or strainer.
• Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the caps are dry enough to easily remove from the cookie sheets. Set aside to cool completely. Melt the coating chocolate in a metal bowl over simmering water, or in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth.
• Poke a small hole in the bottom of a mushroom cap. Spread chocolate over the bottom of the cap. Dip the tip of a stem in chocolate, and press lightly into the hole. When the chocolate sets, they will hold together. Repeat with remaining pieces. Store at room temperature in a dry place or tin.

Steps:

• Mushrooms and buttercream:
• Preheat oven to 225°F. Whisk egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in a large heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water (bowl should not touch water) until egg whites are very liquid (mixture will be warm to the touch) and sugar is dissolved (rub between your fingers to check), about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and beat with an electric mixer until stiff, glossy peaks form (bowl will feel cool), about 5 minutes.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and dust very lightly with cocoa powder. Scoop out 1 cup meringue. Dollop heaping teaspoonfuls of meringue onto prepared baking sheet, spacing at least 1 1/2" apart.
• Lightly dust meringue with more cocoa powder and place a sheet of parchment over top. Use an offset spatula or your hands to flatten meringue into irregularly shaped disks about 1/8" thick. Bake until lightly browned and parchment peels away easily, 75-90 minutes (meringue will be soft when it first comes out of the oven but will dry and crisp as it cools).
• Meanwhile, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter into remaining meringue, adding a piece at a time and waiting until incorporated before adding more. Beat until mixture is very smooth. (If it looks very loose or curdled, just keep beating; buttercream will come back together.) Add vanilla extract and scrape in vanilla seeds; beat to combine.
• Do Ahead
• Mushrooms and buttercream can be made 2 days ahead. Store mushrooms airtight at room temperature. Cover and chill buttercream; bring to room temperature, then beat until smooth before using.
• Sponge Cake:
• Increase oven to 400°F. Coat a 26x18" rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on long sides. Spray parchment. Whisk flour, cornstarch, and ⅓ cup cocoa powder in a small bowl.
• Bring milk, butter, oil, vanilla, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Keep warm over low heat.
• Meanwhile, beat eggs and egg yolks with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Increase speed to high; beat until doubled in volume. With motor running, gradually add sugar; beat until very light and fluffy and mixture falls back on itself in a slowly dissolving ribbon (it should be at least quadrupled in volume), about 5 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium and gradually stream in milk mixture. Sift one-third of dry ingredients over top; gently fold in until only a few streaks remain. Working in 2 additions, repeat with remaining dry ingredients, scraping bottom of bowl and using as few strokes as possible to keep eggs from deflating (a few streaks are fine). Scrape batter into prepared baking sheet and gently spread to edges of pan. Tap sheet lightly on counter to pop any large air bubbles.
• Bake cake until surface is puffed and springy to the touch, 10-12 minutes.
• Let cake cool in pan 2 minutes, then run a knife along short edges to loosen. Invert onto a wire rack and carefully peel away parchment. Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust cake with cocoa powder. Cover with a large kitchen towel. Place another wire rack on top and flip cake over so towel side is underneath. Remove top rack; dust exposed side with cocoa powder. Starting at one of the long sides, gently roll up warm cake inside towel. Let cake cool, seam side down, 30-35 minutes.
• Do Ahead
• Cake can be baked 1 day ahead. Store tightly wrapped in plastic at room temperature.
• Assembly:
• Carefully unroll towel and cake on a flat surface (cake will curl at the ends and may have a few small cracks but should stay in 1 piece). Position cake so the end that was in innermost part of spiral is closest to you; brush off any excess cocoa.
• Using a pastry brush, gently dab cocoa syrup over entire surface of cake; you may not use it all. Dollop bittersweet ganache over top and smooth with an offset spatula to create an even layer.
• Dollop mascarpone filling over ganache; carefully spread over surface, trying not to blend with ganache and avoiding last inch of cake along long side farthest from you.
• Using towel to lift edge nearest you, reroll cake, keeping towel on exterior. Chill, seam side down, until filling is set, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer filled cake to a baking sheet. Set aside 1/2 cup buttercream for attaching branches. Evenly spread remaining buttercream over cake with an offset spatula.
• Using a long serrated knife, trim 1/2" of cake from each end to create clean edges; discard (or eat!). Slice off a 4" piece of cake. Starting 1" from end, divide 4" piece in half, cutting at a 45° angle, leaving 1" at opposite end. Transfer log to a platter.
• Place angled side of each small piece of cake against roll to create branches, positioning one on top and the other on the side using a large dab of buttercream to secure. Cover any exposed cake on sides with more buttercream but leave cut ends exposed.
• Use spatula to create textured lines in buttercream to look like birch bark.
• Knead together marzipan and cocoa powder on a surface until smooth. Roll out on a sheet of parchment paper to less than 1/8" thick, then cut out wavy strips to look like tree knots; drape over buttercream and press gently to adhere.
• Using either a pastry bag fitted with a very small round tip or a disposable plastic bag with one corner snipped off, drizzle melted chocolate over log to mimic birch bark striations. Chill Bûche de Noël, uncovered, until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, press mushrooms perpendicularly into log in groups of 2 or 3.
• Do Ahead
• Bûche de Noël (without meringue mushrooms) can be assembled 1 day ahead. Wrap in plastic and chill. Attach mushrooms just before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Place Swiss Meringue in an 18-inch pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (Wilton #1A). Line two baking sheets with parchment. Pipe meringue, forming domes 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Pipe a stem shape for each dome. Place baking sheets in oven for 1 hour, reduce heat to 175 degrees, and continue baking until meringues are completely dry to the touch but not browned, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Fill a medium saucepan one quarter full with water. Set over medium heat, and bring water to a simmer. Place bittersweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, and set over simmering water. Turn off heat; stir occasionally until completely melted. Using an offset spatula, spread bottoms of domed meringues with chocolate; let set at room temperature.
• Place white chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, and set over simmering water. Turn off heat; stir occasionally until completely melted. Allow to cool slightly. Spread white chocolate over dark chocolate; use a toothpick to create lines from the center of the cap to the edges. Let set in a cool, dry place.
• Poke a small hole in the center of each mushroom cap using a paring knife. Dip the pointed end of each of the mushroom stems in melted white chocolate, and insert into hole in center of cap. Allow to set. Meringue mushrooms should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.