Meringue Mushrooms Recipe
🕒 Cook Time: 2 hours
🕒 Prep Time: 30 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Description:
Indulge in Martha Stewart’s delightful recipe for crafting charming meringue mushrooms, perfect for adorning a buche de noel or simply for their aesthetic appeal. These dainty treats are a whimsical addition to any dessert table. Just ensure to avoid making them on rainy or damp days to maintain their delicate texture and shape.
Recipe Category:
Dessert
Keywords:
For Large Groups, < 4 Hours
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 65.4
- Fat Content: 1.4g
- Saturated Fat Content: 0.8g
- Cholesterol Content: 0.6mg
- Sodium Content: 14.8mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 12.6g
- Fiber Content: 0g
- Sugar Content: 12.6g
- Protein Content: 1g
Ingredients:
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 3 ounces white chocolate
Instructions:
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fill a medium saucepan with water, filling it 1/4 full. Place over medium heat and bring the water to a simmer. |
| 2 | In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar. Place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk continuously until the sugar is dissolved, and the whites are warm to the touch, approximately 3 minutes. Test by rubbing the mixture between your fingers. |
| 3 | Transfer the bowl to the mixer stand and whip the meringue mixture, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, until the meringue forms stiff, glossy peaks and is cool, about 10 minutes. |
| 4 | Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined. |
| 5 | Immediately transfer the meringue mixture to an 18-inch pastry bag fitted with a large 3/4 inch round tip. |
| 6 | Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pipe the meringue onto the prepared baking sheets, forming domes about 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and pipe a stem shape for each dome. |
| 7 | Place the baking sheets in the oven for 1 hour. Then, reduce the heat to 175°F (80°C) and continue baking until the meringues are completely dry to the touch but not browned, for an additional 45 to 60 minutes. |
| 8 | While the meringues are baking, prepare the chocolate coatings. Fill a medium saucepan with water, filling it 1/4 full, and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. |
| 9 | Place the bittersweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set it over the simmering water. Turn off the heat and stir occasionally until the chocolate is completely melted. |
| 10 | Using an offset spatula, spread the bottoms of the domed meringues with the melted bittersweet chocolate, then allow them to sit at room temperature. |
| 11 | In another heatproof bowl, place the white chocolate over the simmering water. Turn off the heat and stir occasionally until completely melted. Allow the white chocolate to cool slightly. |
| 12 | Spread the melted white chocolate over the dark chocolate-coated meringues. Use a toothpick to create lines from the center of the cap to the edges, resembling mushroom gills. Let the coated meringues set in a cool, dry place. |
| 13 | Using a paring knife, poke a small hole in the center of each mushroom cap. |
| 14 | Dip the pointed end of each mushroom stem into the melted white chocolate and insert it into the hole in the center of the cap. Allow the assembled mushrooms to set. |
| 15 | Store the meringue mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until ready to serve. Enjoy these whimsical delights as a charming addition to your dessert table! |
Tips:
- Ensure that the egg whites are at room temperature before whipping for best results.
- Use a clean, grease-free bowl and beaters for whipping the egg whites to achieve maximum volume.
- Be careful not to overbake the meringues, as they should remain crisp on the outside while remaining slightly chewy on the inside.
- Customize the size and shape of the meringue mushrooms to suit your preference, but ensure uniformity for a visually appealing presentation.
- Experiment with different chocolate coatings or dust the mushrooms with cocoa powder for added flavor and visual contrast.
