Chocolate Ganache Meringues Recipes

CHOCOLATE GANACHE MERINGUES

Steps:

• In 1-quart heavy saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat just until cream comes to a simmer. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate until melted. Stir in butter pieces, a few at a time, until melted. Refrigerate until thickened.
• Heat oven to 200°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. In medium bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup granulated sugar, beating on high speed just until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1/3 cup powdered sugar.
• In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup powdered sugar and the cocoa. Fold cocoa mixture, 1/3 at a time, into beaten egg whites. Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with star tip. Pipe into 24 (1 1/2-inch) rounds, about 1 inch apart, on parchment paper.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until crisp. Slide parchment paper with cookies onto cooling rack. Cool completely, about 5 minutes.
• For each sandwich cookie, spread chilled ganache on flat side of 1 meringue; top with second meringue. Meringue becomes tough if it absorbs moisture; store in a loosely covered container at room temperature. If the humidity is high, transfer to a tightly covered container.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE TART WITH MERINGUE KISSES

Steps:

• For the pastry: Add the flour, butter, sugar and salt to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs and the butter pieces are in small chunks. Add the egg yolk and mix until just combined and beginning to stick together, 15 seconds maximum.
• Remove the dough from the mixer and shape it into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out 2 round discs about 5 inches each and lay them over two 4 1/2-inch mini fluted tart tins. Press the dough into the edges, trim off the excess, prick the bottoms in several places with a fork and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C/350 degrees F. Line the pastry with parchment and fill with dried beans. Bake until the pastry edges are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans, brush the pastry with the egg yolk and bake until the base of the pastry is golden brown, about 5 minutes more. Let cool.
• For the meringue kisses: Preheat the oven to 100 degrees C/210 degrees F.
• Add the egg whites, vinegar and cream of tartar to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until they begin to get frothy, 1 to 2 minutes. As soon as they are frothy, increase the speed to high and slowly add the sugar a teaspoon a time. Keep whisking until you have added all the sugar and the meringue is stiff and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Add some food coloring to the end of a toothpick and run it along the inside of a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
• Place the meringue in the piping bag and pipe small dollops roughly 1/2 inch in diameter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake the meringues until they are no longer glossy, have a matte finish and feel light and airy, about 40 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow the meringues to cool inside with the door closed for 20 minutes. (Makes 30 to 40 meringues.)
• For the chocolate filling: Add the chocolate, butter, cream and sugar to a heat-proof bowl and place it over (but not in) a saucepan pan of simmer water. Gently stir together until melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into the cooked pastry shells and chill in the fridge for 40 minutes.
• For the assembly: Place 8 to 10 meringues on top of each chocolate tart. Reserve the remaining for another use. Decorate with some sliced raspberries and basil leaves.
• If left to chill in the fridge overnight, allow the tarts to sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.