Cranberry Meringue Cake Recipes

FRESH CRANBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat 1 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons melted butter with a whisk until well mixed. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Stir flour mixture and milk into egg mixture until batter is well blended. Fold cranberries into batter until just mixed and pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• For sauce, heat 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir cream sauce until sugar is dissolved, about 10 minutes. Pour hot sauce over hot cake. Allow cake to cool in the baking dish for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

BROWN SUGAR LAYER CAKE WITH CRANBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 8-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Flour the pans and paper.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, butter, oil and salt. Beat on medium-high until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stop the mixer occasionally and scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add egg whites one at a time, mixing for about 20 seconds between each egg.
• Set mixer to low and alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients in three additions. Mix until a few spots of flour remain. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Using a rubber spatula, finish folding in the dry ingredients: Make sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure the batter is evenly mixed.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans (about 2 2/3 cups per pan), smooth the tops and tap the pans on a countertop to release any large air bubbles. Bake cakes until golden and puffed, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes, then use the tip of a knife to loosen the edges and carefully place them parchment-side down onto the rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the cranberry jam: Combine cranberries, sugar, 1/2 cup water, orange juice and zest, ginger and vanilla in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, and cook until the cranberries have burst and juices are thick and jammy, about 5 minutes. Cool mixture to room temperature, then use an immersion blender or food processor to purée the mixture until smooth. Set aside. (You should have about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Make the buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites and sugar. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk continuously until the sugar has dissolved and mixture is hot to the touch, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Return the bowl to the stand mixer, and using the whisk attachment, beat the egg white mixture until stiff, glossy peaks form and both mixture and bowl are cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.
• Switch to the paddle attachment, and reduce the speed to medium. With the mixer running, add the butter a couple of tablespoons at a time and beat the buttercream until smooth and fluffy. During this step, the buttercream will likely break and look curdled: Turn up the speed on the mixer for a few seconds, and it will come back together. Continue until all the butter is incorporated, then add the vanilla and salt. Slowly add 1/2 cup cooled cranberry jam, and mix until well combined. If the buttercream is extremely soft or runny, refrigerate for about 10 minutes, then whip until smooth.
• Assemble the cake: If necessary, use a serrated knife to trim the cake layers so they are flat and even. Add a small spoonful of buttercream onto a cardboard cake round or serving plate, and place the first layer of cake, cut side up, on top.
• Spread about 3/4 cup buttercream on top of the cake. Spread about 1/4 cup cranberry jam over the buttercream. Be careful not to spread the jam all of the way to the edge so it doesn't spill out the sides. Place the second cake layer on top, and repeat with buttercream and jam. Place the final layer on top, cut side down, and spread the top and sides of the cake with a thin, even layer of buttercream. (Store leftover jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator.)
• Refrigerate the cake until the buttercream is firm, about 30 minutes. Then spread the remaining buttercream in an even layer over the cake. Serve at room temperature.

MERINGUE CRANBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Transfer to a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate; flute edge. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, flour and salt. Remove cranberry mixture from the heat; stir a small amount into egg mixture. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and extract. Pour into crust., For meringue, in a large bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Spread over hot filling, sealing edges to crust., Bake at 350° until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour; refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.

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.)

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.

CRANBERRY CURD PIE WITH MERINGUE TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven according to the pie-dough package instructions for "Baked Shell." Unroll the pie dough, fit it into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp or decorate the edges as desired. Prick the bottom and sides of the dough with a fork and bake as directed. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Separate 4 of the eggs, reserving the egg whites for the meringue. Add the egg yolks, remaining 2 whole eggs, orange zest and juice, salt, 1/3 cup of the sugar and the jellied cranberry sauce to a medium pot. Add the butter, set the pot over medium heat and cook, whisking continuously, until the butter is melted and the curd has thickened and reached a temperature of 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture into a large bowl, then pour into the cooled pie crust. Bake until the curd is just starting to set but still jiggly in the center, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Let the pie cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, then refrigerate until the curd is chilled and completely set, at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, make the meringue. Beat the reserved 4 egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the cream of tartar and then gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, a spoonful at a time. Whisk on medium-high speed until the meringue is glossy and holds a stiff peak when the whisk is lifted, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Dollop the meringue over the pie in an even layer. Use a kitchen torch if desired to brulee the top.

CRANBERRY & ORANGE MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the pastry, put the butter and flour in a food processor and whizz to fine crumbs, then pulse in the sugar. Mix the egg yolks with 2 tsp cold water and, with the blade running, pour in the liquid to bring the pastry together. If it doesn't come together, add 1-2 tsp more water until it does.
• Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface and bring together to make a flat disc, then roll out to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Leave the pastry overhanging the tin and prick the bottom of the pastry case with a fork. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the pastry case with some crumpled baking parchment, fill with baking beans, then blind-bake for 15 mins. Carefully remove the parchment and beans, and bake for a further 10 mins or until the pastry looks golden and biscuity. Remove the case from the oven and trim the edges of the pastry with a sharp knife. Can be done the day before. Lower oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• While the case is baking, make the filling. Cook the cranberries in a shallow pan over a medium heat with 2 tbsp water for 15 mins until pulpy. Push the fruit through a sieve over a bowl; discard the seeds and skins.
• Put the cornflour in a clean pan and whisk in the lemon and orange juice until smooth. Add the sugar and cranberry purée, and heat until the mixture has bubbled and thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, add the butter and beat until melted. Add the egg yolks and whole egg to the pan, beat well and return to a medium heat. Keep stirring vigorously for 5 mins until the mixture thickens and drops off the spoon. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the meringue. Put the egg whites in a large clean bowl and whisk to stiff peaks. Add half the sugar, a spoonful at a time, whisking between each addition until stiff again. Whisk in the cornflour and remaining sugar until shiny and thick.
• Pour the filling into the pastry case. Put spoonfuls of meringue around the edge of the filling so it just touches the pastry and pile the rest into the centre, spreading so that it covers the filling. Bake for 18-20 mins until the meringue is crisp and slightly coloured. Let the pie sit in the tin for 30 mins, then remove and leave for at least another 30 mins before slicing. Can be made several hours ahead.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE SNACKING CAKE

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line a 13x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 long sides.
• Cook butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it foams, then browns, 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat (it will continue to darken). Set aside to cool slightly.
• Add cranberry sauce to a separate saucepan and smush and stir to break apart. Add orange and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently (or whisking well if using jellied), until smooth, 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, combine sugar and orange zest; use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant and the sugar is tinted orange. Add flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cardamom to the bowl; whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, and vanilla until smooth. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir to just combine; the mixture will be quite thick, like cobbler batter. Add browned butter, scraping in any browned bits from the bottom of the pot; stir to combine.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread into a fairly even layer to fill the dish from corner to corner. The batter will be very stiff and not look like enough-this is ok, it will rise big time! Dollop cranberry mixture over the top in big spoonfuls and use a knife to swirl it into the batter. Even if it looks like cranberry is covering most of the top of the cake, it will rise to reveal space between the swirls.
• Bake until risen and golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool before using parchment overhang to remove from the pan.

CRANBERRY MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together the crumbs, butter and sugar. Scrape into a 9-inch glass pie plate and press evenly across the bottom and sides. Bake until the crust just begins to brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the curd, put the cranberries and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Heat until the cranberries pop, about 5 minutes. Purée in a food processor and strain through a sieve. Return to the pan, add the butter and sugar and heat until the butter melts and sugar dissolves.
• Whisk the yolks until smooth. Very slowly whisk in the hot cranberry mixture. Return mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens a bit, about 5 minutes. (Do not allow to boil, or the eggs will scramble.) Set aside.
• To make the filling, place the cranberries, sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Boil just until the sugar melts. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Position a rack in the top third of the oven. Have the curd and filling very hot. (Reheat the curd gently, stirring, to avoid scrambling the eggs.)
• To make the meringue, put the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small saucepan. Stir in 1/3 cup water. Place over medium heat and stir until the mixture boils and becomes translucent. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites and salt until fluffy. Slowly add remaining sugar. Reduce speed to medium and add cornstarch mixture a tablespoon at a time. Beat just until meringue is glossy and holds stiff peaks. (Do not overbeat.) Fold in the dried cranberries.
• Pour off any liquid from the filling and spread it in the pie shell. Top it with the cranberry curd. Add the meringue, covering the filling completely and making little decorative peaks. Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips and bake until meringue peaks are nicely browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool before serving or refrigerating.

MINI CRANBERRY MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out 4 1/8-inch fluted rounds, and fit into cups of a standard 12-cup muffin tin (not nonstick). Pierce bottoms with tines of a fork. Freeze 15 minutes.
• Line each shell with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment. Return to oven; bake until bottoms are just turning golden, 5 minutes more. Transfer to wire racks; let cool 5 minutes. Remove shells from tin; let cool completely.
• Bring 2 cups cranberries, 1 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst, about 5 minutes. Pour through a coarse sieve, then a fine sieve; discard solids. (You should have about 1 3/4 cups; if you have less, add water).
• Bring strained cranberry juice, 1/4 cup sugar, the zests, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and remaining 1 1/4 cups cranberries to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries are soft but have not burst, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir cornstarch, blood orange juice, and 1/4 cup water in a bowl; whisk into cranberry mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring, until translucent, about 1 minute. Divide among prepared shells. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour (up to overnight).
• Preheat broiler. Put egg whites and remaining 1/4 cup sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water; whisk until sugar has dissolved and mixture is hot to the touch. Attach to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium speed until foamy. Raise speed to high. Add cream of tartar; beat until medium, glossy peaks form. Divide the meringue evenly among pies.
• Set pies under broiler until tops are browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

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.