Cocoa Meringue Baskets With Nectarines Berries And Cream Recipes

MERINGUES WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla., Drop meringue into two mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into 3-1/2-in. cups with the back of a spoon. , Bake at 225° until set and dry, 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1 hour. Remove to wire racks to cool. , In a small bowl, combine berries and, if desired, sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Combine sour cream and extract; spoon into meringue shells. Top with berries. ,

HOT COCOA MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275°F. Place oven racks in upper and lower third of oven. Line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form and sugar is almost dissolved, 5 to 6 minutes, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Do not underbeat.
• In small bowl, place 2 cups of the meringue. Sprinkle cocoa through fine mesh strainer over top; fold cocoa into mixture. Place large piping bag fitted with large star piping tip on its side. Using large icing spatula, spoon half of white meringue so it covers one half of the length of inside of piping bag. Carefully spoon half of the cocoa meringue on top of the white in bag. On cookie sheet, pipe into 2-inch circles. Repeat filling piping bag and piping with remaining meringues.
• Place both cookie sheets in oven. Bake 30 minutes. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven with door closed 1 hour. Remove from oven, and place pans on cooling racks; continue to cool at room temperature, about 2 hours. Remove from parchment paper; place on cooling racks.
• Place waxed paper or cooking parchment paper under cooling racks. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring halfway through, until chips can be stirred smooth. Spoon into resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut small tip from corner of bag; drizzle chocolate over tops of cookies. Sprinkle mallow bits on tops of cookies. Let stand 1 hour 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store covered in airtight container in single layer.

COCOA MERINGUE BASKETS WITH NECTARINES, BERRIES, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 3 1/4- to 3 1/2-inch-diameter biscuit cutter or bowl as guide, heavily trace 9 circles on each of 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. On third parchment-lined baking sheet and using same guide, trace 10 semicircles. Turn parchment paper over so that marked side is down (circles and semicircles will show through).
• Whisk 1 1/2 cups sugar and cocoa powder in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes. Gradually add sugar-cocoa mixture and beat until very stiff and glossy, about 4 minutes.
• Cut off 1/3 to 1/2 inch from 1 corner of 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Scoop enough meringue into bag to fill 3/4 full. Twist bag shut above meringue and hold firmly closed while piping. Pipe small dot of meringue under parchment in each corner of baking sheets. Press parchment onto dots to anchor. To form basket bottoms: Starting in center of each marked circle on 1 baking sheet, pipe meringue in continuous spiral to fill circles completely. Pipe 12 marble-size balls atop edge of each circle. To form basket sides: On second baking sheet, pipe meringue atop edge of traced circles to form rings. Pipe 12 marble-size meringue balls atop each ring, spacing about 1/3 to 1/2 inch apart. To form basket handles: On third sheet, pipe meringue atop outline of semicircles.
• Bake meringues until firm and dry to touch, about 2 hours. Turn off oven; let meringues stand in closed oven overnight to dry completely. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight in single layer at room temperature.)
• Toss nectarine slices with crème de cassis in medium bowl. Beat whipping cream, remaining 6 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in large bowl until peaks form.
• Place 1 meringue bottom on each of 8 plates. Place 1 meringue side atop each bottom. Spoon dollop of whipped cream into center of each basket. Top with spoonful of nectarine slices, then a few raspberries and blackberries. Repeat with another layer of cream, nectarines, and berries. Dip ends of 1 meringue handle into whipped cream and attach to 1 basket; repeat with remaining handles. Sift powdered sugar over baskets. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.