Eggnog Semifreddo Genoise Cake With Meringue Frosting Recipes

EGGNOG SEMIFREDDO GENOISE CAKE WITH MERINGUE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray two 12 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. Line with parchment; spray parchment, then dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Dust 2 kitchen towels with cocoa.
• Whisk together cocoa, flour, and salt. Combine eggs, yolks, and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, then set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed 2 minutes. Increase speed to high and beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 3 minutes more.
• In two additions, sift cocoa mixture over top of egg mixture, then fold in. When almost incorporated, pour melted butter down side of bowl; gently fold to combine, scraping bottom of bowl to make sure dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Divide between prepared sheets, using an offset spatula to spread evenly and smooth tops. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 5 to 7 minutes. One sheet will bake quicker than other, depending on which is closer to heat source; remove that sheet and run a small sharp knife around edges of cake. Invert onto a prepared towel; remove parchment. Immediately, starting at one short side, roll into a log, incorporating towel. Repeat with second cake. Let cool while preparing filling.
• Filling: Sprinkle gelatin over rum; let stand until softened, 5 minutes. Combine egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in gelatin mixture. Set bowl over pot of simmering water again and whisk until gelatin has dissolved. Transfer mixture to another bowl.
• Whisk cream with nutmeg and vanilla to medium peaks. Fold one-third of whipped cream into gelatin mixture, then fold gelatin mixture into remaining cream. In a clean mixing bowl, whisk egg whites and remaining 1/2 cup sugar on medium-high speed to stiff peaks, about 6 minutes. Fold into cream mixture.
• Unroll cooled cakes, remove towels, and transfer each to a separate rimmed baking sheet. Set aside 1 cup filling; immediately divide remaining filling among cakes, spreading it evenly over each. Freeze cakes until filling is starting to firm up but is still pliable, 20 minutes.
• Slice each cake in half length-wise to create 4 cake strips. Starting at a short end of one strip, roll up cake and place vertically in the center of a cake stand. Starting where rolled strip ends, wrap next strip around cake. Continue to wrap with remaining strips. Use reserved filling to fill in top of cake. For added stability, wrap a parchment collar around base of cake, keeping bottom of paper flush with cake stand. Freeze until firm, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Once frozen, trim top of cake with a serrated knife to level. Keep frozen until ready to frost.
• Frosting: Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in mixer bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar has dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, about 3 minutes (test by rubbing between your fingers).
• Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, to stiff, glossy peaks, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
• Spread frosting evenly over top and sides of cake; apply with offset spatula, using an S motion to create a textured appearance. Freeze cake at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Use a kitchen torch to brown meringue; serve immediately.

SWEET BONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture feels warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.
• Return bowl to mixer, and fit mixer with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, such as a Wilton #1A. Pipe bone shapes, each 5 to 6 inches long, onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Make meringue bones using one continuous motion: Begin by piping a horizontal S shape at top. Continue piping meringue downward in a straight line to form the middle of the bone. Finish by making another horizontal S shape at the bottom. Repeat until all of the meringue is used up.
• Bake until crisp throughout, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

GENOISE WITH PASSION FRUIT SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack set in the lower third. Spray a 9-by-3-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; line pan with a parchment paper round and spray again. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat until nut-brown in color, about 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat and pour butter into a large bowl, leaving any burned sediment behind; stir in vanilla and keep warm (110 to 120 degrees).
• Lightly whisk together eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer; set mixer over (but not touching) simmering water and heat, whisking constantly, until lukewarm to the touch. Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until light, airy, and quadruple in volume, at least 5 minutes. Whisk 1 cup egg mixture into warm melted butter mixture; set aside.
• Sift together flour and cornstarch. Gently and quickly fold half the flour mixture into remaining egg mixture until all the flour is absorbed. Repeat process with remaining flour mixture. Fold in butter mixture to combine and transfer to prepared baking pan.
• Transfer pan to oven and bake until golden brown and starts to shrink slightly from the sides of the pan, 20 to 30 minutes. If possible, avoid opening the oven door until cake has baked at least 30 minutes, as cake is fragile and may fall. Remove cake from oven and unmold immediately onto a wire rack to cool. Let cool completely before cutting into layers and frosting with buttercream.