Beehives Recipes

LEMON MERINGUE BEEHIVES

Steps:

• Pastry Bases: Mix the butter, flour, and salt until sandy in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. In a separate bowl, blend the yolk and creme fraiche. Add to the flour mixture and mix until barely combined. Form into a disk, wrap, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• Lemon Curd: Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a saucepan. Whip the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the lemon zest and juice and place the bowl over the simmering water (without letting the bowl touch the water; pour some out if needed). Cook until thickened, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Let cool to room temperature, cover, and freeze overnight or up to 3 days.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Flour a work surface and roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick. Prick all over with a fork then cut out 2-inch rounds. Transfer to the cookie sheet. Bake until light golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes and let cool. (The whole recipe can be made up to this point up to 3 days in advance.)
• Up to 6 hours before serving, assemble the dessert. Arrange the pastry rounds in a pan that will fit in your freezer (use two, if needed). Use a small ice cream scoop to place a ball or scoop of frozen lemon curd (it won't be frozen solid) onto each round. Place back in the freezer while you make the meringue.
• Meringue: Whip the egg whites until foamy, then add the sugar and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Transfer to your pastry bag. Pipe meringue around the base of each pastry round, spiraling around and up the lemon curd ball and gradually enclosing the top to create a beehive. Fire up your kitchen torch and brown until lightly browned all over. Return to the freezer until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.

BEEHIVES

Steps:

• Set oven to moderate 180°C (350°F).
• Grease a baking (cookie) sheet.
• Break egg into a small mixing bowl and beat until it is thick and pale lemon coloured and the beaters leave a 'trail' through the mixture.
• Gradually add the sugar, beating well after each addition.
• Fold in the coconut.
• Now, spoon some of the mixture into an egg cup (or a glass of a similar shape and size).
• DO *NOT* PRESS DOWN FIRMLY - merely tap very lightly with one finger just to smooth it off.
• Then, turn the egg cup upside down over the baking sheet and, holding it very slightly above the surface, tap the side sharply with a knife to release the mixture onto the sheet.
• Repeat.
• Bake on the centre shelf of a pre-heated 180°C (350°F) oven for 15-20 minutes or until beehives are golden brown.
• Remove from oven when cooked and gently use a knife to loosen the beehives from the baking sheet.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• When cool, store in an airtight biscuit (cookie) tin.