Dacquoise Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For Meringue Japonais:.
• In food processor fitted with steel blade, combine 3/4 cup nuts and 3 tablespoons sugar (reserve remaining sugar). Process by "pulsing" on-and-off just until nuts are finely ground. Place in a small bowl. Add cornstarch and mix in thoroughly with fingers. Cover and set aside.
• Adjust racks to divide oven into thirds; preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Line two large (17" by 12") baking sheets with parchment paper. On each piece of parchment, trace a 10" diameter circle. Set aside.
• Make sure that large bowl of electric mixer is absolutely clean and grease-free; place room-temperature egg whites into this bowl. Fit mixer with whisk beater, if available. Sift cream of tartar into egg whites. Start beating whites at low speed, then gradually increase speed to high. Beat until whites are increased in volume and very foamy.
• Gradually, add 1 cup sugar about 2 tablespoons at a time, reducing mixer speed to low while adding and sprinkling in each addition. Increase speed to high in between additions, and beat for about 15 seconds. When all sugar has been added, increase speed to high, and beat meringue just until stiff peaks form. It will be very thick. Remove from mixer. By hand, with large spatula, fold in ground nut mixture only until combined.
• Now, working quickly, place small dabs of this meringue under the parchment paper at two opposite corners on each baking sheet, then replace parchment paper on sheet (the meringue will keep the parchment from sliding around). Place about half the meringue in the center of each traced circle. With a flat knife or large offset spatula, spread meringue out so that it just touches the traced circle on each piece of parchment. Make meringue surface as even as possible for each circle, but don't fuss with either for too long. As soon as one circle is done, place in preheated oven, then go back and form second circle, working quickly. Once second meringue circle is in oven, start timing. Bake the meringue disks for 2 hours, switching baking sheets back-to-front and rack-to-rack only after 90 minutes (do not open oven door before that time, or meringues may crack). TURN OVEN OFF, but allow meringues to dry out further in turned-off oven for at least 2 hours (overnight is is ok). At any time while meringues are baking or drying out, finely chop reserved 1/2 cup toasted, cooled nuts; set aside, covered.
• When meringues have dried out for at least 2 hours, remove from oven. Very gently peel parchment paper from baking sheet; place parchment paper, with meringue still on it, on cooling rack. Cool completely. Now, place 10" diameter corrugated cardboard cake circle on top of one meringue. With large, very sharp, thin-bladed serrated knife, trim meringue circle, if necessary. To do so, work with a small section at a time, and saw overhanging edge of meringue very gently back-and-forth. Do not press knife down into meringue, and do not press down on cardboard cake circle. After trimming, loosen meringue from parchment with a long, thin, stiff-bladed spatula. If assembling dacquoise immediately, leave meringue circle on cooling rack. Otherwise, wrap airtight for storage. Repeat with other meringue disk.
• To assemble dacquoise, have ready finely chopped nuts and a flat-bottomed serving plate or foil-lined corrugated cardboard circle at least 10" in diameter. For ganache: Combine finely chopped chocolates and salt in medium heatproof bowl. Place over hot water on low heat (water should not touch bottom of bowl); stir frequently until almost melted. Remove from heat and hot water; stir until smooth. All at once, add sour cream. With hand-held electric mixer at a low speed, beat in sour cream. If sour cream is at all cold, ganache will lump. If this happens, replace bowl over hot water and beat at a low speed almost constantly just until ganache is smooth. Remove from heat and hot water. Beat in vanilla. If ganache is too thin, allow to stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until of good spreading consistency. Otherwise, use immediately. Place a small dab of ganache in center of serving plate or foil-covered cardboard circle. Place the worse-looking of the two meringue circles, right side up, on the serving plate. By large spoonfuls, place about 3/4 of the ganache on top of the meringue circle; spread quickly to form an even layer. Place other meringue circle on top, right side up; press GENTLY to compact very slightly. Frost sides of dacquoise smoothly with remaining ganache (the top of this pastry is not frosted). Quickly, before ganache sets, coat sides with the finely chopped nuts, pressing them into the ganache lightly. Place in refrigerator. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.
• To cut, use a large, sharp, straight-edged knife. Rinse the blade under hot water and dry it after every other cut or so. Allow the cut dacquoise to stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes, loosely covered, before serving. Just before serving, sift unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process) very lightly over the top of each slice. Store any leftovers in refrigerator, tightly covered.

Steps:

• This is how the original was posted!
• Cream all ingredients together for meringue shell and fill with filling.
• Bake at 400 for 10 min until set.
• Serve cooled.
• THIS is how I believe it should read:.
• Preheat oven to 375'F.
• Prepare 3 9" circles of baking paper on baking trays.
• Mix together the ground almonds & cornstarch.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peak stage with an electric mixer.
• Very slowly add the sugar while continuing to beat until stiff.
• Fold in the cornstarch & almond mix.
• Spread evenly on the three circles and bake for 20mins until golden brown.
• Cool and when ready to assemble remove from paper.
• For Filling:.
• Stir together the egg yolks, vanilla and coffee and let stand for 5mins.
• Add the cocoa and sugar and beat for about 4mins until fluffy.
• Beat in the butter 1Tbsp at a time until all added and beat until fluffy.
• Chill for about 30mins.
• Whip cream, sugar & vanilla together for topping and covering sides.
• To assemble:.
• Place a circle of meringue on a flat plate.
• Spread over half of the butter cream.
• Place second circle on top and spread over remaining butter cream.
• Place third circle on top and spread top and sides of the Dacquoise with the whipped cream, reserving some for piping rosettes around the top edge.
• You can also place an almond or a chocolate leaf on each rosette if liked.

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool completely. Combine 1 cup each hazelnuts and sugar and the potato starch in a blender or food processor and pulse until very finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a bowl as a guide, draw three 7-inch circles on the parchment with a pencil (2 circles on 1 piece and 1 circle on the other); flip the parchment so the markings face down.
• Put the egg whites, 1/2 cup sugar and the salt in a large heatproof bowl. Set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm, 2 to 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff and shiny but not dry, about 2 minutes.
• Fold the milk and one-quarter of the egg white mixture into the nut mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth, then fold in the remaining egg whites until just combined. Divide the batter among the 3 circles on the parchment and spread evenly with an offset spatula to fill the circles. Bake 1 hour, 30 minutes, then switch the position of the pans and continue baking until firm, dry and golden, 1 to 2 more hours. (The layers are done when they easily peel off the parchment.) Let cool slightly on the baking sheets; peel off the parchment and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache: Put 1 cup cream in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave until very hot, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the chocolate and espresso powder until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, thick and spreadable, at least 30 minutes. Make the whipped cream: Combine the remaining 4 cups cream and 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until it barely holds soft peaks, 1 to 2 minutes. Finish beating the cream by hand with a whisk until soft peaks form; do not overbeat.
• Put 2 meringue layers on a baking sheet; spread half of the ganache on each, to the edge. Refrigerate until set, 15 minutes. (If the ganache is too firm to spread, microwave in 20-second intervals to soften.) Place one of the ganache-topped meringues on a platter. Spread with 1 cup whipped cream. Stack the other ganache-topped meringue on top; spread with another layer of whipped cream. Top with the last meringue, then cover the top and side of the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Chop the remaining 1/3 cup hazelnuts and sprinkle on top of the cake along with the shaved chocolate. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.

Steps:

• FOR THE MERINGUE: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Using ruler and pencil, draw 13 by 10 1/2-inch rectangle on piece of parchment paper. Grease baking sheet and place parchment on it, ink side down.
• Process almonds, hazelnuts, cornstarch, and salt in food processor until nuts are finely ground, 15 to 20 seconds. Add 1/2 cup sugar and pulse to combine, 1 to 2 pulses.
• Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip egg whites and cream of tartar on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds, about 1 minute. With mixer running at medium-high speed, slowly add remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue to whip until glossy, stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold nut mixture into egg whites in 2 batches. With offset spatula, spread meringue evenly into 13 by 10 1/2-inch rectangle on parchment, using lines on parchment as guide. Using spray bottle, evenly mist surface of meringue with water until glistening. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off oven and allow meringue to cool in oven for 1 1/2 hours. (Do not open oven during baking and cooling.) Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. (Cooled meringue can be kept at room temperature, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days.).
• FOR THE BUTTERCREAM: Heat milk in small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. Meanwhile, whisk yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in bowl until smooth. Remove milk from heat and, whisking constantly, add half of milk to yolk mixture to temper. Whisking constantly, return tempered yolk mixture to remaining milk in saucepan. Return saucepan to medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is bubbling and thickens to consistency of warm pudding, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer pastry cream to bowl. Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Before using, warm gently to room temperature in microwave at 50 percent power, stirring every 10 seconds.
• Stir together amaretto and espresso powder; set aside. Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat butter at medium speed until smooth and light, 3 to 4 minutes. Add pastry cream in 3 batches, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. Add amaretto mixture and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes longer, scraping down bowl thoroughly halfway through mixing.
• FOR THE GANACHE: Place chocolate in heatproof bowl. Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Pour cream mixture over chocolate and let stand for 1 minute. Stir mixture until smooth. Set aside to cool until chocolate mounds slightly when dripped from spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Carefully invert meringue and peel off parchment. Reinvert meringue and place on cutting board. Using serrated knife and gentle, repeated scoring motion, trim edges of meringue to form 12 by 10-inch rectangle. Discard trimmings. With long side of rectangle parallel to counter, use ruler to mark both long edges of meringue at 3-inch intervals. Using serrated knife, score surface of meringue by drawing knife toward you from mark on top edge to corresponding mark on bottom edge. Repeat scoring until meringue is fully cut through. Repeat until you have four 10 by 3-inch rectangles. (If any meringues break during cutting, use them as middle layers.).
• Place 3 rectangles on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Using offset spatula, spread 1/4 cup ganache evenly over surface of each meringue. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 15 minutes. Set aside remaining ganache.
• Using offset spatula, spread top of remaining rectangle with 1/2 cup buttercream; place on wire rack with ganache-coated meringues. Invert 1 ganache-coated meringue, place on top of buttercream, and press gently to level. Repeat, spreading meringue with 1/2 cup buttercream and topping with inverted ganache-coated meringue. Spread top with buttercream. Invert final ganache-coated strip on top of cake. Use 1 hand to steady top of cake and spread half of remaining buttercream to lightly coat sides of cake, then use remaining buttercream to coat top of cake. Smooth until cake resembles box. Refrigerate until buttercream is firm, about 2 hours. (Once buttercream is firm, assembled cake may be wrapped tightly in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.).
• Warm remaining ganache in heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until mixture is very fluid but not hot. Keeping assembled cake on wire rack, pour ganache over top of cake. Using offset spatula, spread ganache in thin, even layer over top of cake, letting excess flow down sides. Spread ganache over sides in thin layer (top must be completely covered, but some small gaps on sides are OK).
• Garnish top of cake with hazelnuts. Holding bottom of cake with 1 hand, gently press almonds onto sides with other hand. Chill on wire rack, uncovered, for at least 3 hours or up to 12 hours. Transfer to platter. Cut into slices with sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry before each slice. Serve.

Steps:

• Prepare the cocoa meringue: Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a marker, trace three 8-inch circles total on parchment (2 on one sheet, 1 on another); turn paper marked side down on baking sheets; set aside. In a large bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and a tablespoon of the granulated sugar; beat until soft peaks form. With mixer running, gradually add the remaining 11 tablespoons granulated sugar, beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the confectioners' sugar and cocoa mixture, then fold in remaining whites.
• Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip. Starting just within the marked circles, pipe meringue, working inward in a spiral pattern. Bake for 2 hours. Turn off oven allowing meringues to dry out until oven is completely cool, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Prepare ganache: Place chocolate in a medium bowl. In a saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate, and let stand for 3 minutes. Whisk to combine. Refrigerate, covered, until thick enough to spread, 1 to 2 hours.
• Prepare halvah cream: Bring milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Meanwhile, in a large heatproof bowl, whisk together tahini, honey, cornstarch, and egg yolks. Whisk a little of the hot milk into the tahini mixture. Continue to whisk while adding remaining milk. Return to saucepan, and bring to a boil while whisking. Boil, whisking constantly, until very thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in half of the crumbled halvah. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Whip heavy cream just until soft peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream and the remaining crumbled halvah into the chilled tahini mixture.
• To assemble: Set aside nicest meringue disc for top layer. Place one meringue layer on an 8-inch cardboard cake round or a plate. Spread 1/3 of the halvah cream over meringue. Top with second meringue disc. Spread evenly with ganache. Top with another 1/3 of the halvah cream, spreading evenly. Top with last meringue disc. Ice outside of cake with remaining 1/3 halvah cream. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours.
• Before serving, dust top with confectioners' sugar. To slice, use a serrated knife dipped in hot water. Wipe dry between slices.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet; toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Transfer nuts to a kitchen towel; rub off loosened papery skins. Let stand until cool. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, pulse nuts until they are the texture of coarse cornmeal; set aside.
• Place a layer of chocolate meringue on a 10-inch cardboard cake round, and coat with a 1/2-inch-thick layer (1 cup) ganache. Top with second layer and spread 1 1/2 cups buttercream in an even layer over meringue. Top with third layer and coat with the remaining cup of ganache. Top with final layer, placing it upside-down so the flat side is on top, and coat with about 2 cups buttercream. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Coat the top and sides of cake with about 3 cups buttercream in an even layer. Cover top and sides of cake with hazelnuts. Use remaining buttercream to decorate, as desired. Reserve any remaining buttercream for another use.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Mark out a 13x10-inch rectangle on parchment paper; place it on a baking sheet.
• Combine ground almonds, ground hazelnuts, 1/2 cup of caster sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl.
• Whip egg whites and cream of tartar together in another bowl until foamy, then mix in the remaining 1/2 cup caster sugar until glossy and stiff. Fold in the nut-sugar mixture in two batches. Spread the meringue onto the parchment paper and mist the surface with water.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the meringue inside for another 90 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
• Whisk egg yolks, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt for buttercream together in a bowl.
• Heat milk to a simmer. Pour milk into the yolk mixture, whisking until smooth. Return mixture to the heat and continue whisking until thickened and stiff. Transfer custard to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Before using, bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Dissolve instant coffee in hot water.
• Whip butter in a bowl until light. Beat in the custard in 3 batches until just combined. Add coffee mixture and beat until light and fluffy.
• Place chocolate for ganache in a heat-proof bowl. Heat cream and corn syrup to a simmer in a small saucepan; then pour over the chocolate to soften. Stir until smooth and cool for 5 minutes.
• Peel off paper from meringue and transfer to a cutting board. Use a serrated knife to trim the edges and cut into 4 equal rectangles. Spread 3 rectangles each with about 1/4 cup ganache. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Spread remaining rectangle with about 1/2 cup buttercream; place on a wire rack. Place one ganache-coated meringue, chocolate-side down on top and press gently. Spread on 1/2 cup buttercream and repeat with the remaining meringue. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining buttercream. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour more.
• Microwave remaining ganache in a microwave-safe bowl in 15-second intervals, until warm and runny. Pour over cake and garnish with whole hazelnuts.

Steps:

• Easier to make than conventional cakes, these are always immensely popular with guests. For 3 layers, 4 by 16 inches and 3/8 inch thick. Preheat oven to 250°F, and place racks in upper- and lower-third levels. Butter the surfaces of 2 baking sheets, dust with flour, and shake off excess, then mark on them three 4-by-16-inch rectangles. Pulverize 1 1/2 cups toasted almonds or hazelnuts (be sure they are fresh!) with 1 1/2 cups sugar and reserve. Beat 3/4 cup (5 to 6) egg whites with a big pinch of salt and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar to soft peaks (see page 100), and continue beating as you add 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and sprinkle in 3 tablespoons sugar. Beat to stiff, shining peaks. (This is now a Swiss meringue, which you could also turn into individual baked meringues.). By big sprinkles, rapidly fold in the pulverized nuts and sugar. Using a pastry bag, fill the 3 rectangles on the baking sheets. Immediately set in the oven and bake about an hour, switching levels every 20 minutes. They should barely color, and are done when you can push them loose. If not used within a few hours, wrap airtight and store in the freezer
• Serving Suggestion: chocolate hazelnut dacquoise
• Trim and even the edges of the layers with a serrated knife, and paint tops of each with apricot glaze (see page 103). Layer with chocolate-ganache (page 102) or chocolate-meringue filling (page 102), bringing it up and around the cake. Brush chopped nuts around the sides of the cake, and strew a decorative layer of shaved or grated chocolate on top. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, to soften the meringue and set the filling, but bring back almost to room temperature before serving.
• to whip cream
• For about 2 cups of softly whipped cream-crème Chantilly. Pour 1 cup of chilled heavy cream into a metal bowl set over a larger bowl of ice and water. To incorporate as much air as possible, either sweep a large balloon whip down and around and up and into the bowl with rapid strokes, or circulate a hand-held electric mixer with vigorous movements. The cream will not begin to thicken for several minutes. It is done when the beater leaves light traces on the surface and the cream holds softly when lifted.
• imbibing syrup-flavoring and moistening for layer cakes
• Makes about 1 cup, enough for 3 cake layers. Stir 1/3 cup hot water into 1/4 cup sugar; when dissolved, stir in 1/2 cup cold water and 3 to 4 tablespoons white rum, orange liqueur, or cognac or 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract. Sprinkle over each cake layer before spreading on the filling.
• sugar boiling for syrups and caramel
• Proportions are always 1/3 cup water for every 1 cup of sugar.
• Simple Syrup. For imbibing cake layers, for instance. Stir over heat until sugar has completely dissolved.
• The Thread Stage. Used for butter creams and Italian meringue. When the sugar has dissolved completely, cover the pan tightly and boil over high heat-never stirring-until when you rapidly take up a little in a metal spoon the last drops to fall from its tip into a cup of cold water form threads.
• Caramel. Continue boiling until bubbles are thick, then uncover the pan, swirl it slowly by its handle, and boil until the syrup has darkened into caramel. Pour at once into a separate pan to stop the cooking.
• To Clean Pans and Spoons. Fill pan with water, add tools, and simmer a few minutes to melt the syrup.

Steps:

• Make the meringue: Pulse flours and confectioners' sugar in a food processor until combined. Sift 3 times.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment, and draw two 7-inch circles on each. Flip parchment over. Whisk whites, cream of tartar, and superfine sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined. Gradually increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla. Fold in flour mixture in 3 batches, adding each batch before previous batch is fully incorporated. Spoon batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip. Starting in center of each circle, pipe a tight spiral to edges. Bake until dry and crisp but not browned, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on sheets.
• Make the pineapple: Puree 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, and reserve for buttercream. Mix juice, granulated sugar, and salt in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Add the remaining pineapple slices to skillet. Bring to a simmer, and cook until pineapple is light golden brown and liquid is syrupy, 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Add more pineapple juice if liquid evaporates too quickly.) Let cool in skillet.
• With a slotted spoon, remove pineapple slices from syrup, and coarsely chop. Puree 1/2 cup caramelized pineapple with 2 tablespoons syrup, and reserve for buttercream. Transfer remaining caramelized pineapple to a bowl and syrup to another bowl.
• Make the pineapple buttercream: Bring sugar, corn syrup, and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Boil, undisturbed, until mixture registers 245 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, whisk yolks with a mixer on high speed until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then pour hot syrup in a slow, steady stream down side of bowl. Increase speed to high, and whisk until mixture is pale, thick, and warm, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition. Increase speed to high, and whisk until smooth.
• Reduce speed to low, then add caramelized pineapple and fresh pineapple purees. (Buttercream will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature, then beat on low speed before using.)
• Make the praline: Line a baking sheet with parchment, then coat with spray. Bring sugar and pineapple juice to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, undisturbed, until mixture turns amber and registers 320 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove pan from heat, wait until bubbles subside, then stir in almonds. Immediately pour mixture onto prepared parchment. Using an oiled offset spatula, spread to a 1/4-inch thickness. Let cool, then finely chop.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 meringue layer on a platter. Gently brush layer with 2 tablespoons reserved caramelized pineapple syrup. Spread 1/3 cup chopped caramelized pineapple on top. Spread 3/4 cup buttercream on top, then sprinkle with 3 tablespoons chopped praline. Repeat twice, then top with remaining meringue circle. Refrigerate until buttercream is firm, about 1 hour.