Chocolate Chestnut Meringues Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Make the torte:
• Line the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan with wax paper, grease the paper, and dust the pan with flour, knocking out the excess. In a food processor purée the chestnuts with the butter and the rum, scraping down the sides, until the mixture is smooth. Add the chocolate and blend the mixture until it is combined well. With the motor running, add the yolks, 1 at a time, and transfer the mixture to a large bowl. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the whites with the salt until they hold soft peaks, add the sugar, a little at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks. Whisk about one fourth of the meringue into the chocolate mixture to lighten it and fold in the remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake the torte in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it and the top is cracked. Let the torte cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, remove the side of the pan, and invert the torte onto another rack. Remove the bottom of the pan, reinvert the torte onto a rack, and let it cool completely. (The torte will fall as it cools.)
• Make the glaze and garnish:
• Put the chocolate in a small bowl, in a saucepan bring the cream to a boil, and pour it over the chocolate. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth and stir in the rum. Dip each candied chestnut halfway into the glaze to coat it partially, transfer the chestnuts to a foil-covered tray, and let them set.
• Invert the torte onto a rack set on wax paper, pour the glaze over it, smoothing the glaze with a spatula and letting the excess drip down the side, and let the torte stand for 2 hours, or until the glaze is set. Transfer the torte carefully to a serving plate and garnish it with the coated chestnuts.
• Make the whipped cream just before serving the torte:
• In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters beat the cream until it holds soft peaks, beat in the sugar and the rum, and beat the mixture until it holds stiff peaks. Fold in the chopped candied chestnuts.
• Serve the torte with the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and shiny and the sugar granules cannot be felt in the whites. Beat in the vanilla, reduce speed to low and add cocoa until combined. With a spatula put the egg white mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch meringue "kisses" on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the middle of oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave the meringues in it for at least 2 more hours or until meringues are completely dry.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a food processor, pulse to combine chestnut flour, walnuts, 1/3 cup sugar, and the cinnamon until nuts are ground to a fine powder. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Whisk egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Continue to whisk, gradually adding remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a slow stream, until whites are very stiff and glossy, 11 to 13 minutes. Gently fold egg whites into chestnut-flour mixture with a flexible spatula just until combined.
• Transfer one-third of mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip, and pipe 1-inch circles, 1 1/2 inches apart, on parchment-lined baking sheets, holding pastry bag vertically, then pulling up to create a peak. Bake until completely dry and crisp, about 2 hours. Let meringues cool completely on sheets on a wire rack.
• Temper chocolate: Melt chocolate in a small bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of barely simmering water. Using a chocolate or candy thermometer, melt until temperature registers 115 degrees. Remove bowl, wiping away moisture from bottom of bowl. Leave water at a simmer. Stir chocolate, cooling it until temperature reads 83 to 85 degrees. Replace bowl over simmering water in 30-second intervals until thermometer reaches 88 to 89 degrees. Transfer to another bowl to cool. Use immediately.
• Holding a cookie by one side, dip in tempered chocolate until half is submerged. Gently shake off excess chocolate. Place dipped meringues on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let set completely without disturbing. Meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl using an electric mixer on low speed until foamy. Add sugar slowly, continuing to beat until meringue is smooth, shiny, and satiny, about 10 minutes. Let stand while coating 2 baking sheets with butter and flour.
• Add cocoa powder to egg white mixture slowly, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Beat on medium power until very smooth and evenly colored.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until each cookie comes off the baking sheet cleanly, 1 to 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE NUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• beat egg whites until stiff peaks form in a glass or aluminum bowl.
• fold in sugar and cocoa, mixing well.
• fold in nuts (if using them).
• using a spoon and a spatula place ~2 T lumps of the batter on an un-greased baking sheet. This is key--there must be no fat that touches the batter or else the meringues will collapse.
• bake at 200F for several hours (welcome suggestions on temp and time). I usually bake them for 2+ hours and then let them sit in the oven for several more hours until the insides are not gooey.