White ChocolateVanilla Cake
- 6 1/2 ounces (184g) white chocolate (preferably Valrhona), chopped
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- Cream of tartar
- 7 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons (91g) sugar
- Generous 1 tablespoon (10g) all-purpose flour
- 6 large egg yolks
- 9 tablespoons (5 g) unsalted butter, melted
- Mandarin Carpaccio (page 259)
- Confectioners sugar
- Micro shiso (or thinly sliced fresh shiso; optional)
- Heat the oven to 275F or 250F on convection.
- Set six 6-ounce ramekins or twelve 2 1/2-inch square molds on a baking sheet and spray them with cooking spray, rotating the tray so you can spray all sides of the ramekins.
- Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in 30-second spurts in the microwave, or melt in a double boiler.
- After each spurt, let the chocolate sit for a minute or so, then stir it with a heatproof rubber scraper.
- Let the chocolate cool to 115F.
- Meanwhile, combine the egg whites, vanilla seeds (rinse, dry, and save the pod for another use), and cream of tartar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk.
- Turn it on to low, and beat the whites gently for 2 minutes, to start establishing a structure.
- The whites will look frothy but still a bit wet.
- Turn the speed up to medium and add 3 tablespoons of the sugar.
- Continue to beat at medium speed until the whites have body and are just shy of having soft peaks.
- Add 3 more tablespoons of the sugar and continue beating until the whites have formed firm peaks.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and beat until the whites are glossy and smooth and almost stiff.
- Keep your eye on the whites, so you dont overbeat them.
- While you whip the whites, sift the flour and the 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar together onto a piece of waxed paper.
- Beat the yolks with a whisk in a medium bowl until they are satiny smooth, then whisk in the flour and sugar.
- Youre not trying to aerate here; just get the yolks smooth again.
- Scrape the chocolate into a large mixing bowl and check to make sure its at temperature.
- If it has cooled below 115F, heat up the melted butter, using that to play with the chocolate temperature.
- Whisk the chocolate and butter together.
- Right after you add the remaining tablespoon of sugar to the whites, whisk the egg yolks into the chocolate.
- Chances are, this will look a little grainy, and the butter may separate.
- It will come together with the whites.
- Scoop out a little less than one-quarter of the whites with a big rubber scraper and fold them into the chocolate to lighten it.
- Add the rest of the egg whites and fold in quickly and thoroughly.
- Transfer the batter to a pastry bag and pipe into the ramekins, filling them just more than halfway.
- Slide the sheet into the oven and bake for 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
- The cakes are done when they are doubled in size and feel just set when you touch them.
- Any air bubbles that have risen to the top will have burst.
- Let cool, still on the baking sheet, on a rack.
- The cakes will fall, and quickly.
- When the cakes have cooled, cover them all with plastic wrap and keep them at room temperature until youre ready to serve.
- Heat the oven to 350F or 325F on convection.
- Uncover the cakes and slip them into the oven for about 5 minutes, just until warmed through and rerisen slightly.
- The cakes should also take on a little bit of color.
- Invert the cakes onto dessert plates.
- Unwrap the carpaccio and push it partway out of the tube.
- Cut thin slices and set one slice next to each cake.
- Shower the cake with confectioners sugar and garnish with some micro shiso if you want.
- You can replace the carpaccio with a simple citrus salad.
- Segment a variety of oranges (see page 115), such as navels, clementines, tangelos, and Cara Cara, and collect the resulting juice in a cup.
- Warm a couple of tablespoons of honey and stir it into the juice.
- Pour over the segments and refrigerate until very cold.
white chocolate, egg whites, vanilla bean, cream of tartar, sugar, generous, egg yolks, unsalted butter, confectioners sugar, shiso
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/white-chocolate-vanilla-cake-376816 (may not work)