4 lg Egg whites 1 1/2 ts Unflavored gelatin
1/4 ts Cream of tartar 3 tb Cold water
1 1/2 c Sugar 1 1/2 c Sour cream
2 3/4 c Heavy cream 1 ts Vanilla
6 oz Fine quality bittersweet 3 pt Fresh raspberries
-chocolate (not unsweetened)
1. Preheat oven to 250F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchement paper
and trace 3 8-inch circles onto the paper.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with cream of
tartar and add a pinch of salt until they just hold soft peaks. Add 1
cup sugar gradually, beating, and beat meringue until it holds stiff
peaks. Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fited with a 3/4 inch plain
tip and pipe onto circles, filling them in. Smooth meringues with a
long metal spatula or knife. Alternatively, if pastry bag isn’t used,
circles may be made by spreading meringues freehanded with spatula.
3. Bake meringues 30 minutes and switch positions of baking sheets in
oven. Bake meringues 30 minutes more, or until pale golden and crisp.
(If the weather is humid, cooking time may be longer.) Cool meringues
completely and peel off paper. Meringues may be made 1 day ahead and
kept in turned-off oven.
4. In a saucepan, bring 1/4 cup heavy cream just to a boil and remove
from heat. Add chocolate and stir mixture until chocolate is melted
completely. Divide ganache between 2 meringue layers and gently
spread evenly, leaving 1/2 inch borders. Chill ganache until
hardened, about 10 minutes.
5. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over water and soften 1 min.
Heat mixture over low heat, stirring until gelatin is dissolved, and
keep warm. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat remaining 2 1/2
cups heavy cream with remaining 1/2 cup sugar until it just holds
stiff peaks and then beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add gelatin
mixture in a stream, beating, and beat until mixture holds stiff
peaks.
6. Arrange 1 ganache-topped meringue on a plate and spread it with 1
1/2 cups cream mixture, mounding it at the edge. Arrange 1 pint of
raspberries over the cream mixture and top with the second ganache-
topped meringue. Repeat procedure with about 1 1/2 cups more cream
mixture and another pint of raspberries and top with the third
meringue.
7. Transfer about 1 cup more cream mixture to a pastry bag fitted
with the star tip and reserve for decoration. Frost top and side of
cake with remaining cream mixture and decorate with reserved mixture.
Chill cake for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. Remove wax paper
carefully and scatter remaining pint of raspberries around and on
the cake. Cut into 12 wedges with a serrated or electric knife.
Yields
12 servings