| Vacherin is a milk-white cake composed of layers | | | | large plain tip and pipe a spiral of meringue to fill |
| or meringue and whipped cream. It is named for | | | | each sketched circle on the parchment. Fill in the |
| vacherin cheese, which it resembles. There are | | | | circles completely. Bake for 2 hours, until the |
| many variations — ice cream is sometimes | | | | meringue discs are completely dried and crisp. |
| used as a filling, and various fruits are used to | | | | Remove from the oven and let cool completely. |
| decorate the cakes. The trickiest part is slicing the | | | | Put the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer |
| cake without crushing it. As suggested, use a | | | | and beat on medium speed until foamy. With the |
| serrated knife, sawing gently through the | | | | machine running, slowly add the sugar and vanilla |
| meringue layers. Rinse and dry the knife between | | | | to the cream, then increase the speed to high |
| each cut. | | | | and beat until it stands in firm peaks. |
| Serves 6 to 8 | | | | Place a cooled meringue disc on a cake board |
| 8 egg whites | | | | (foil-covered corrugated cardboard will work). |
| 2-1/4 cup sugar | | | | Spread whipped cream over the disc, then turn |
| 1 quart heavy (whipping) cream | | | | the remaining disc upside down and place on top |
| 3 ounces confectioner’s sugar | | | | of the cream, pressing slightly to seat it firmly. |
| 1 teaspoon vanilla extract | | | | Spread the cream around the sides and top, |
| 5 large fresh strawberries | | | | smoothing it with a serrated spatula in a wavy |
| Preheat the oven to 200 F. Line a baking sheet | | | | pattern. Put the remaining cream into a pastry |
| with parchment paper and lightly draw two 10-inch | | | | bag fitted with a fluted tip and make rosettes |
| circles with a pencil. | | | | around the rim of the cake. Put a rosette in the |
| Put the egg whites in the bowl of an electric | | | | center. Draw spiral or curved designs on the sides |
| mixer and beat on medium speed until foamy. | | | | of the cake. Pipe rosettes around the base of the |
| With the machine running, slowly add half of the | | | | cake. Put a whole strawberry in the center |
| sugar to the egg whites, then increase the speed | | | | rosette. Slice the remaining strawberries in half |
| to high and beat until they stand in soft peaks. | | | | and place around the rim of the cake. Chill until |
| With the machine still running, slowly add the | | | | ready to serve. |
| remaining sugar and beat about 1 more minute, | | | | To serve: Slice into individual wedges using a |
| until the meringue stands in stiff peaks. | | | | serrated knife; rinse the knife with warm water |
| Put the meringue in a pastry bag fitted with a | | | | and dry completely between each slice. |