Recipe for a magnificent layered meringue cake, inspired by the Great British Bake Off and their Windtorte. This indulgent dessert is perfect for entertaining in the summertime.
Recipe inspiration
Last week was Desserts week on Great British Bake Off, did you catch it? I remember making a self-saucing pudding when I was baking along with the Desserts episode of the show last year.
The puddings this year were all rather daunting – crème brûlée which can either turn out as scrambled egg if overcooked or soup if undercooked, the spanische Windtorte with its French meringue shell, Swiss meringue decoration, and handmade violets, and three tiers of baked cheesecake.
When trying to decide what to make for the Great Bloggers Bake Off, I did toy with the idea of crème brûlée, but then realised I am the only one in the family who likes it.
I also pondered a baked cheesecake, but having made a vanilla baked cheesecake not too long ago I then settled on taking inspiration from the Windtorte.
Spanische Windtorte
Now all the dessert I ended up making has in common with the Windtorte is that it has layers of meringue, piped meringue decoration on the top, whipped cream and fruit. In other words, yes, a very posh pavlova!
For my layered meringue cake I made three layers of meringue, each slightly smaller than the next, piped meringue decorations on and around the top layer in a nod to the GBBO dessert, then layered them up with piped whipped cream and raspberries.
My meringues cracked in places so I need to work on that for next time. They were also only chewy in the very centre so perhaps needed a little less time in the oven.
Again, something to look out fo the next time I make large meringues. This was delicious for dessert and is disappearing very quickly.
More meringue recipes
For more meringue ideas, take a look at these other tasty recipes:
- Strawberry Meringues
- Mini Cherry Lime Meringue Pies
- Christmas Pavlova
- Kiwiberry and Lemon Mini Meringues
Layered Meringue Cake
Ingredients
- 6 egg whites I used the cartons of egg whites you can buy in the supermarket
- Pinch of salt
- 350 g caster sugar
- 2 tsp cornflour
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
Filling and topping:
- 400 ml double cream whipped until thick and holds its shape
- 150 g fresh raspberries
- Icing sugar to serve
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.
- Whisk the egg whites with the pinch of salt added to the bowl using a stand mixer, to the soft peak stage.
- Add the sugar spoonful by spoonful (I used a dessert spoon) and ensure each spoon of sugar has been fully mixed in before adding the next. Keep whisking until your meringue is smooth (not grainy from the sugar) and glossy.
- Add the cornflour and white wine vinegar and whisk again until combined.
- On two lined baking trays, draw three circles of 7 inch diameter onto the baking paper, by drawing around a cake tin or similar. Turn the baking paper over so the pencil lines are on the bottom of the paper.
- For the bottom meringue layer, spoon one third of the meringue onto one of the circles, covering it fully. Use a palette knife to smooth the top and level the meringue.
- For the second layer, spoon another third of the meringue onto the next circle, leaving a border of one centimetre around the edge, so this layer is slightly smaller than the previous one. Smooth and level once more.
- For the top layer, use half of the remaining meringue to create the last round meringue, leaving a border of two centimetres around the edge of the circle. Smooth and level again.
- Put the remaining meringue into a piping bag topped with a star nozzle and pipe decoration on the outside edge and in the centre of the smallest meringue.
- Turn your oven down to 140 degrees and place the baking trays in the oven. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, until the meringues are just crisp.
- Turn the oven off, open the door and leave them to cool in the oven completely.
- Whip the double cream just before assembly. Pipe the cream onto the bottom layer, place raspberries into the gaps between the cream, then place the next layer on top. Pipe the cream onto that layer, add raspberries, then place the top layer on top. Pipe cream onto the top layer where not decorated, and add raspberries. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
Notes
I’m linking up with the Great Bloggers Bake Off, organised by Jenny from Mummy Mishaps, this week hosted by Michelle from Utterly Scrummy Food for Families.
Stacey Guilliatt (Nobody Said It Was Easy) says
This looks stunning! I think I could eat that in one sitting lol #gbbobloggers2015
hijackedbytwins says
Oh wow this looks so good and so pretty! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare and #GBBOBloggers2015 x
Anca says
It looks great! Well done.
Emily says
Beautiful! I don’t think it matters your meringue cracked – looks to me like it tasted delicious xx
Winnie says
OMG – what a gorgeous and mouth-watering cake!!
It looks so elegant (and tempting!) with this light cream color and then the red raspberries 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks so much Winnie 🙂
choclette says
Meringue, raspberries and cream is one of the best things ever and your looks very stylish Lucy. Thanks for linking to my rose meringues 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
Thank you, I was going all out on the decoration front for once!
knattster says
That looks spectacular. I love meringue but I am the only one who eats it and as much as I’d like to eat the whole thing myself … I can’t do it! I am greedy, but not that greedy 😉
bakingqueen74 says
Thank you, I must admit I may well be rather greedy too. Luckily my seven year old enjoys it as well, the others are heathens!
Kavey says
That looks glorious, a great centrepiece for a celebration!
bakingqueen74 says
Yes that would be perfect Kavey!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh Yum! Your meringue cake looks divine, and very inviting!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Angela, it was tasty
Hannah says
Ah looks so tasty! Great take on the theme 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Hannah!
Sarah says
You did a great job – it looks lush!
bakingqueen74 says
Cheers Sarah
Jenny Paulin says
yummy Lucy this ticks all the right boxes for me 🙂 thank you for linking up xx
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Jenny, glad you liked it
nazima says
a gorgeous layered meringue here Lucy – love the pretty piping. Meringue, cream and fruit is one of my favourites. Delicious!
bakingqueen74 says
Ah thanks Nazima, I tried to pretty it up a bit for once!