The Best Sans Rival Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line 4 - 8x12 inch pans with parchment paper.
• In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Sprinkle with cream of tartar. Gradually add 2 cups white sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in 2 cups chopped nuts. Divide meringue between the 4 pans, and spread evenly to edges.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown. Remove the meringue from the baking pans while still hot; allow to cool. When cool, trim edges so that all 4 meringue layers are uniformly shaped. Set aside.
• To make buttercream filling: In a large bowl, Beat butter until light and fluffy. In a separate large bowl, whip egg yolks until thick and lemon colored.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, and heat to 270 to 290 degrees F (132 to 143 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard but pliable threads. Add the hot syrup in a thin stream to the beaten egg yolks, while beating at high speed. Beat in the whipped butter until smooth. Beat in rum.
• On one layer of meringue, spread approximately 1/4 of the buttercream evenly to edges. Repeat layers until all is used. Smooth sides with spatula. Sprinkle top with 2 cups chopped cashews. Freeze until solid. To serve, cut 1 inch slices from the frozen dessert.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line four 9x9-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Butter and flour the sides of the pans thoroughly.
• Beat egg whites in a large glass mixing bowl until foamy, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with cream of tartar. Gradually add sugar, a few tablespoons at a time. Continue mixing until stiff, shiny peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Fold in almonds and cocoa. Divide meringue evenly into the four pans and spread to touch the edges.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove meringue from the pans and peel of parchment paper while still hot.
• Beat egg yolks on high speed until they double in size and are lemon yellow.
• Combine sugar and water in a heavy pan and cook over medium heat, stirring the sides down only, until all the sugar is dissolved and the syrup reaches 235 degrees F/112 degrees C (or thread stage).
• With the mixer on high speed, very slowly pour the syrup down the sides of the bowl, until all has been added. Be careful as the very hot syrup could burn you if it splashes from the beaters. Continue beating on high until the mixture is at room temperature, about 15 minutes. Beat in the soft, room temperature butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high speed. Add melted chocolate and almond extract.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Whip smooth before use.
• Assembly: Set bottom meringue on cake board with a dab of butter cream to hold it in place. Spread a thin layer of buttercream and then place another meringue on top. Repeat with a thin layer of buttercream, meringue, thin layer of buttercream, meringue, and finally buttercream the top and sides.