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Italian Meringue

Try this luscious topping on the cake above instead of the whipped cream. Finish by toasting the meringue waves with a kitchen torch.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
5 egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the sugar and water in a small pan and cover and cook over low-medium heat. Once you can hear it boiling, remove the lid (the steam will help avoid crystallization). Continue cooking, without stirring until you reach the soft-ball stage (see page 13).

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, in a large heatproof bowl, whip together the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt to medium peaks. Add the syrup in a stream and continue to whip until the bowl feels cool to the touch.

My Sweet Mexico by Fany Gerson Cookbook Cover
Reprinted with permission from My Sweet Mexico: Recipes for Authentic Pastries, Breads, Candies, Beverages, and Frozen Treats © 2010 by Fany Gerson. Photographs by Ed Anderson. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Buy the full book from Penguin Random House, Amazon, or Bookshop.
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