Cranberry Meringue Cake Recipes

MERINGUE CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• The night before serving, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Line a lipped cookie sheet (approximately 12 by 18 inches) with parchment paper. Trace two side-by-side rectangles - about 5 inches by 12 or 13 inches - on the paper. Crumple the paper, then smooth it out again and line the bottom of the pan.
• Whisk together confectioner's sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and cornstarch. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until they turn from foamy to white and beaters just start to leave a trail. On low speed, add sugar mixture, a heaping tablespoon at a time. Increase speed to medium-high and beat to the consistency of marshmallow cream, 2 to 3 minutes longer.
• Just before forming meringues, flick water onto parchment with fingertips. Divide meringue in half, spooning two or three mounds down each traced rectangle. Use a rubber spatula, or a cake decorator's metal offset spatula, to fill in and even out rectangles.
• Set meringues in oven, close door and turn oven off (but leave oven light on). Let meringues dry overnight. Remove, then carefully set a wire rack or cookie sheet over meringues. Invert; peel off parchment and turn right side up. (It's OK if edges chip.) Wrap in foil and set aside until ready to proceed.
• No more than two hours before serving, whip cream to soft peaks, beating in remaining sugar and the vanilla. Set one meringue on a platter. Spread with half the cream and sprinkle on half the berries. Repeat with remaining meringue, cream and berries. Refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to serve.

CRANBERRY MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment paper; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla., In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Transfer to prepared pans., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Add remaining vanilla; continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Spread over batter in pans; sprinkle with pecans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned., Meanwhile, for filling, combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest and orange juice in a small saucepan. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 7-10 minutes or until berries pop, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until cranberries are coarsely chopped. Cool completely., In a bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in cranberry mixture., Loosen sides of cakes from pans with a knife. Carefully invert each cake onto a plate (meringue will crack); remove paper. Invert again onto a wire rack; cool completely., Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Gently spread with filling. Top with remaining cake layer, meringue side up. Refrigerate leftovers.

LEMON-CRANBERRY MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to an approximately 13-inch round. Transfer to a 9-by-2-inch fluted tart pan, or a 9-inch deep-dish pie dish. Trim dough to be flush with edges of pan.
• Line with parchment and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set and dry, about 25 minutes. Remove beans and parchment; continue baking until crust is golden on bottom, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Lemon Filling: Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Whisk in egg yolks, lemon zest, and 1 1/3 cups water until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently; boil 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; whisk in lemon juice and butter until smooth. Pour mixture into crust. Refrigerate until filling is cool and set, about 30 minutes.
• Cranberry Gelée: Combine cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and 3/4 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally; boil 1 minute. Press through a fine-mesh sieve (discarding solids), then pour over chilled and set lemon pudding in crust, gently spreading to edges with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until cold and set, at least 30 minutes or, loosely covered, up to 1 day. If using tart pan, remove pie from pan and transfer to a serving plate or cake stand.
• Meringue: In the bowl of a mixer set over (but not in) a bowl of simmering water, beat egg whites and sugar until sugar has dissolved and mixture is hot. Transfer to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and vanilla, increase speed to medium-high and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 8 minutes.
• Spoon meringue onto center of pie, spreading slightly and leaving a 1-inch border between meringue and crust. Wave a kitchen torch over meringue until browned in places. Cut pie into wedges; serve. (Pie is best eaten the same day.)

MILE-HIGH CRANBERRY MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Let egg whites stand 30 minutes at room temperature., On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes. , Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack 15-20 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove foil and weights; bake 3-6 minutes longer or until bottom is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325°., In a large saucepan, combine cranberries, 1-1/2 cups sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, 4-6 minutes or until berries stop popping, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, flour and salt until blended. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot cranberry liquid; return all to saucepan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla., For meringue, beat egg whites with cream of tartar and remaining vanilla on medium speed until foamy. Add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Transfer hot filling to pastry. Spread meringue evenly over hot filling, sealing to edge of pastry. Bake 25-30 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

CRANBERRY MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch nonstick springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the granulated sugar slowly, then the vanilla, baking powder and salt while beating, about 2 more minutes. Fold in the ginger snaps and walnuts.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes, then remove the springform.
• For the frosting: In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form and the mixture is smooth. Make sure the mixture has no lumps.
• To assemble: Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting all over the cake. Garnish with the Sparkling Cranberries and serve.
• Cook the agave nectar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium-low heat, 1 to 2 minutes. (Make sure not to let the syrup get too hot because the cranberries will pop.) Remove from the heat; stir in the cranberries. Cover and chill for 3 to 5 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Drain the cranberries in a colander. Add 5 cranberries at a time to the sugar, gently tossing to coat. Place the cranberries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and let dry completely.

STRAWBERRY MERINGUE CAKE (MOSTACHON)

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch nonstick springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the sugar slowly, then the vanilla, baking powder, and salt while beating, about 2 more minutes. Turn the power off and fold in the walnuts and Maria crackers. Transfer to the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
• For the frosting: In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form and the mixture is smooth.
• To assemble: Remove the cake from the oven. Let cool for 15 minutes. Remove the springform. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting all over the cake. Garnish with the strawberries and serve.

CRANBERRY-MERINGUE TART

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Combine both flours and salt in processor. Add butter; cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons water; process until moist clumps form, using on/off turns. If dough is dry, add more water by teaspoonfuls to moisten. Gather dough into ball. Flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill 1 hour. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature to soften slightly before rolling.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 14-inch round. Transfer to 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim to fit. Line crust with foil. Fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on rack. Maintain oven temperature.
• Make filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt in large bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in 3/4 cup sugar and lemon. Beat until stiff but not dry. Mix cranberries, almonds, cornstarch and cinnamon in medium bowl; gently fold into whites in 3 additions. Transfer filling to crust. Smooth top.
• Bake tart until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)
• Sift powdered sugar over tart. Cut into wedges and serve.