Friday, January 30, 2009

The Lightness of Berries and Tuiles

This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.


This was a fun, new, exciting recipe to try.
I had to defer from my original plan because I was under the weather and once again, I procrastinated. Luckily, I had planned to use a stencil that I made out of cardboard. This was basically just two circles cut out in the card board that fit nicely on the baking sheet. My first plan included a chocolate Tuiles with cranberry/orange granita. I will make this some day. But, I did go with the recipe provided and the stencil worked out nicely. I made a berry salsa to put inside. This salsa included chopped strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries that I soaked in a few tablespoons of lime juice and sugar while the Tuiles baked.
Once the time was up for the Tuiles (I made two at a time), I shaped them around the bottom of a juice cup and filled them with the berry salsa once cooled. I did add a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt when I sat down to enjoy my new creation.


Recipe:
Preparation time batter 10 minutes, waiting time 30 minutes, baking time: 5-10 minutes per batch

65 grams / ¼ cup / 2.3 ounces softened butter (not melted but soft)
60 grams / ½ cup / 2.1 ounces sifted confectioner's sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar (7 grams or substitute with a dash of vanilla extract)
2 large egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
65 grams / 1/2 cup / 2.3 ounces sifted all purpose flour
1 table spoon cocoa powder/or food coloring of choice
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet

Oven: 180C / 350F

Using a hand whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (low speed) and cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste. Keep stirring while you gradually add the egg whites. Continue to add the flour in small batches and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not overmix.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with either butter/spray and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This will help spread the batter more easily if using a stencil/cardboard template such as the butterfly. Press the stencil on the bakingsheet and use an off sided spatula to spread batter. Leave some room in between your shapes.

Bake in a preheated oven (180C/350F) for about 5-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Immediately release from bakingsheet and proceed to shape/bend the cookies in the desired shape. These cookies have to be shaped when still warm, you might want to bake a small amount at a time or maybe put them in the oven to warm them up again. (Haven't tried that). Or: place a bakingsheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable.

- Abby

1 comment:

Karen Baking Soda said...

Great job with the salsa to accompany! Flavour burst!