Fruit Clouds Recipes

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE CLOUDS

Steps:

• Bake the frozen pastry shells as instructed on the box. Each box contains six pastry shells. Using two boxes, all twelve will fit on a large baking sheet. After they are done, remove top and hollow out the inside of pastries. Set tops aside to use later as garnish.
• Slice strawberries lengthwise into medium-thin pieces. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and set aside to chill in a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until smooth. In a separate large mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form (about 3 minutes). Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Set aside and chill.
• Fill each pastry with cream cheese until it just reaches the top. Spoon strawberries over top. Use the pastry tops as a garnish with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture and a strawberry slice on top.

FRUIT IN A CLOUD

Steps:

• Spoon whipped topping evenly into 8 dessert dishes. Using back of spoon, spread whipped topping onto bottom and up side of each dish.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Spoon fruit into center of whipped topping just before serving.

STRAWBERRY CLOUDS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 190°F.
• Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl using an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add 3/4 cup sugar, a little at a time, beating, then continue to beat until whites hold stiff glossy peaks.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spoon a small dollop of meringue on each corner of parchment, then invert parchment to secure to baking sheet. Using a serving spoon, form meringue into 6 mounds about 2 inches apart on parchment. Using a soupspoon, lightly press down and swirl center of each meringue to spread out slightly, into a 3 1/2- to 4-inch round, and create a 1 1/2- to 2-inch-wide indentation in center.
• Bake meringues until dry but still white, about 2 hours, then cool meringues in turned-off oven (with door closed) 1 hour. (Meringues will be crisp on outside and slightly soft in center.) Cool meringues completely on baking sheet on a rack.
• While meringues cool, bring 5 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour cardamom syrup over strawberries in a heatproof bowl and stir gently to combine.
• Just before serving, beat cream with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom in a clean bowl using clean beaters until it just holds stiff peaks.
• Peel meringues from parchment and put on 6 plates, then spoon about 1/4 cup berries with syrup into each indentation. Spoon whipped cream over berries and top with another 1/4 cup berries with syrup. Serve strawberry clouds immediately.

FRUIT CLOUDS

Steps:

• Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
• Mix until well blended.
• Fold in whipped cream.
• Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.
• Spoon mixture to form 10 shells; freeze until firm.
• Fill shells with fruit just before serving.

SALTED PISTACHIO MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the sugar so it's a perfectly even thickness on the paper right to the edge of the sugar, leaving a border on the paper so the sugar doesn't spill onto the pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges start to brown lightly. Watch carefully! Lower the oven to 250˚ F.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Just before the sugar is ready, whisk the egg whites on high speed for 1 minute, until frothy. With the mixer on low, slowly add the hot sugar to the egg whites. (I use a large spoon at first, then pick up the paper and pour the sugar in slowly.) Add the vanilla and continue to whisk on high for 10 minutes, until the egg whites are room temperature. (The bowl may still be warm.) The meringue will be very thick and glossy.
• Using two large serving spoons, scoop 6 very large, messy oval dollops of meringue onto each of two sheet pans lined with parchment paper, spacing them out because they will expand while they bake. Sprinkle the pistachios on top and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours (make sure your oven isn't above 250˚ F!), until the outsides of the meringues are crisp but not browned and the centers are still soft. Sprinkle with the fleur de sel and set aside to cool.

MERINGUE CLOUDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange two oven racks evenly in the oven.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the sugar in an even layer on the paper. (Leave a small border of paper around the sugar so the sugar doesn't spill onto the pan.) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the sugar is hot (an edge will begin to brown). Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. When the sugar is almost ready, whisk the egg whites on high speed for 1 minute, until the whites are frothy. With the mixer still on high, slowly add the hot sugar to the egg whites. (I use a large spoon to start and then pick up the paper and pour the sugar in slowly.) Add the vanilla and continue to whisk on high for 10 minutes, until the meringue is at room temperature. It will be very thick and glossy.
• Using two large serving spoons, scoop 12 very large oval dollops of meringue onto two sheet pans lined with parchment paper. You should be able to get 6 meringues on each pan; space them well because they will expand while they bake. Place 3 candied rose petals on top of each meringue. Bake for 2 hours, until the outsides of the meringues are crisp and the centers are still soft. Set aside to cool on baking racks. Allow to sit uncovered and serve at room temperature. (Don't refrigerate or store covered or they will lose their crispness.)

PINK PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOW CLOUDS

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper letting the paper overhang on two sides. Dust the paper and pan liberally with the confectioners' sugar.
• Put 1/2 cup cool water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and sprinkle the gelatin over the water.
• Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer, 12 to 15 minutes.
• With the mixer on medium-low speed, very slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the gelatin mixture. Continue to beat until foamy, about 1 minute, then increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks and the bottom of the bowl is just slightly warm to the touch, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the peppermint extract and the pink food coloring and mix again to combine. Spread the marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle the top with the crushed candy. Let sit, uncovered, overnight.
• Lift the marshmallow out of the pan using the overhanging parchment as handles and place on a cutting board. Use a sharp, heavy knife sprayed with cooking spray to trim the edges. Cut the marshmallow into 12 pieces, spraying the knife between cuts as needed.
• To store the marshmallows, dust the bottom of an airtight container with confectioners' sugar. Remove the marshmallows from the parchment, place in the container and keep at room temperature for up to a week.

COCONUT CLOUDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Reserve 1 1/3 cup coconut in a bowl and set aside.
• Combine cake mix, egg, oil, eater and almond extract.
• Beat at low speed until well mixed.
• Stir in remaining 1 1/3 cup coconut.
• Drop by rounded teaspoons into reserved coconut and roll the cookie.
• Place on a ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake at 35o degrees for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Cool in pan 1 minute and then transfer to cooling racks.

COCONUT SNOW CLOUDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a rimless baking sheet. Draw four 5-inch circles in pencil on the sheet. This will be your guide for forming the meringues.
• Place the egg whites in a large bowl and whisk on high speed with a handheld electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar, scrape down sides of the bowl, and beat until thickened and the sugar has dissolved, 8 minutes.
• Place the cornstarch, vinegar and salt in a small bowl and mix to combine. Add the cornstarch mixture to the meringue and continue beating for 2 minutes. Fold in the coconut. The mixture should be very stiff. Spoon the meringue into each of the circles on the parchment paper, about 2 inches high, and smooth the tops as flat as you can get them.
• Bake the circles until the tops are dry to the touch and barely golden brown at the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before assembling, about 20 minutes.
• For the rum coconut cream: Beat the cream in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue beating until it holds stiff peaks.
• Open the can of chilled coconut and scoop the white solid coconut fat out into a separate large bowl, leaving the clear coconut water in the can; set the coconut water aside. Add the rum and vanilla scrapings to the bowl with the coconut fat and whip until smooth and stiff. Add coconut water 1 tablespoon at a time until you get a smooth texture.
• Fold the whipped cream and coconut cream together with a rubber spatula. Whip the two again for 1 minute if it needs to be stiffer.
• No more than an hour before serving, assemble the cakes: Place 2 meringue circle on a cake stand, platter or 2 plates. Spoon 1/3 cup of the coconut cream over each the meringue. Sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes. Top each with the remaining meringue circles and coconut cream, spreading the coconut cream over the sides of the cakes. Sprinkle all over with toasted coconut flakes. Serve immediately or keep well chilled for up to an hour.