Vanilla Bean Buttercream, Vanilla Bean White Chocolate Mousse and Vanilla Syrup for Wedding Cake

• 500 grams (2 1/2 cups) granulated sugar
• 250 grams egg whites (from about 8 large eggs)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Pinch of salt
• 750 grams (3 1/3 cups) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 95 grams egg yolks (from about 5 large eggs)
• 95 grams (a scant 1/2 cup) granulated sugar
• 4 vanilla beans, split and scraped
• 25 grams (5 teaspoons) water
• 450 grams whipped cream (a scant 2 cups heavy cream before whipping)
• 400 grams (about 1 1/4 cups) white chocolate couverture pistoles or callets
• 4 vanilla beans, split and scraped
• 400 grams (2 cups) granulated sugar
• 400 grams (1 2/3 cups) water
• Two 9-inch rounds vanilla cake, such as Basic Vanilla Cake

1. Special equipment: 2 pastry bags fitted with round tips
2. For the buttercream: Combine the sugar and egg whites in a double boiler and heat to 120 degrees F.
3. Transfer the egg white mixture to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
4. Add the lemon juice and salt and beat on high speed until completely cooled, about 15 minutes.
5. Add the butter piece by piece and whip until light fluffy, about 10 minutes.
6. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and reserve the rest.
7. For the vanilla bean white chocolate mousse: Whip the egg yolks on high speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until light and foamy, 3 to 4 minutes.
8. Heat the sugar, vanilla bean paste and water to 120 degrees C in a small pot over medium-high heat.
9. Add the sugar syrup to the whipping yolks and beat until cool, about 15 minutes.
10. Once cooled, fold in the whipped cream.
11. Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until 110 degrees F., about 10 minutes.
12. Add the melted chocolate to the egg and cream mixture and fold to combine.
13. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and reserve the rest.
14. For the vanilla syrup: Combine the vanilla bean paste, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved.
15. Cool completely.
16. To assemble the cake: Split the cake rounds in half to make 4 layers.
17. Brush the top of each with 3 tablespoons of the vanilla syrup.
18. Place 1 round on desired platter and pipe the buttercream around the top edge of the cake to create a dam.
19. Fill the dam with a layer of the white chocolate mousse.
20. Top with a second cake round and repeat piping and filling with the remaining layers, leaving the top undecorated.
21. Place the stack in the freezer until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
22. Remove from the freezer and lightly frost the whole cake with some of the buttercream.
23. Place the cake back in the freezer to firm up, another 30 minutes to 1 hour.
24. Frost and decorate the cake as desired with the remaining buttercream and mousse.

egg whites, lemon juice, salt, unsalted butter, vanilla, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla beans, water, whipped cream, white chocolate couverture pistoles, vanilla beans, sugar, water, rounds vanilla cake

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/vanilla-bean-buttercream-vanilla-bean-white-chocolate-mousse-and-vanilla-syrup-for-wedding-cake.html (may not work)