Savor the magnificence of those crisp, delicate meringue nests, often known as vacherins. Every nest is crammed with ethereal diplomat cream (crème diplomat in French), a pleasant mix of pastry cream (crème pâtissière) and unsweetened whipped cream. This charming dessert provides a visually beautiful presentation, as every stuffed nest is topped with contemporary fruit in the identical colours of the Olympic rings.
Olympic Ring Meringue Nests
Makes about 8 meringues
Meringue:
- 4 giant egg whites (120 grams), room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon (2 grams) vanilla extract
Filling:
- 1¼ cups (300 grams) entire milk
- ¼ cup (50 grams) plus 2 tablespoons (24 grams) granulated sugar, divided
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 giant egg yolks (56 grams), room temperature
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (19 grams) cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 grams) chilly heavy whipping cream
- Assorted contemporary fruit, to serve
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Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C). Utilizing a everlasting marker, draw 5 (4-inch) circles 2 inches aside onto 2 sheets of parchment paper. Place parchment, marker facet down, on 2 rimmed baking sheets.
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For meringue: Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar at medium velocity till foamy. Enhance mixer velocity to excessive, and add sugar, 1 tablespoon (12 grams) at a time, beating till stiff, shiny peaks kind, 5 to 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
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Spoon meringue right into a pastry bag fitted with a medium open star piping tip. Following template on parchment, pipe meringue into spirals to kind stable circles. Pipe 1 or 2 rings of meringue round edges of circles to create nests.
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Bake till set and dry, about 2 hours. Flip oven off, and let meringues stand in oven with door closed in a single day.
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For filling: In a medium saucepan, warmth milk, ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar, and salt over medium warmth, stirring often, till sugar and salt dissolve and combination is steaming. (Don’t boil.)
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In a medium bowl, whisk collectively egg yolks, cornstarch, and remaining 2 tablespoons (24 grams) sugar. Regularly add scorching milk combination to egg yolk combination, whisking always. Return combination to saucepan, and produce to a boil over medium-low warmth, whisking always. Cook dinner, whisking always, till thickened and bubbly, 2 to three minutes.
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Take away from warmth, and pressure by a fine-mesh sieve right into a medium heatproof bowl. Stir in butter and vanilla till butter is melted and combination is clean. Cowl with plastic wrap, urgent wrap immediately onto floor of pastry cream to stop a pores and skin from forming. Refrigerate till thick and chilly, at the least 4 hours, or as much as in a single day.
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In a big bowl, whisk chilly cream till stiff peaks kind.
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Whisk chilly pastry cream till clean. Fold in whipped cream in three additions. Spoon filling into meringue nests. Prime every with fruit as desired. Serve instantly.
