Krembo: A Passover Dessert from Breads Bakery Recipe & Photo

Credit: http://bobbyflay.com/recipes/recipes/164/krembo-a-passover-dessert-from-breads-bakery

Coconut Macaroons (for the base)
120g egg whites (from 4 medium eggs)
230g granulated sugar (1 cup + 2 tablespoons)
210g finely shredded unsweetened coconut (2½ cups, packed)
30g apricot jam (2 tablespoons)

1. Whisk the sugar and egg whites together in a medium-sized bowl. Set the bowl on top of a pot of water over medium heat to create a Bain Marie. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove bowl from heat.

2. Fold the coconut and apricot jam into the egg white mixture until fully combined. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. Using your hands, roll the coconut batter into 50 small balls, approximately 1 heaping teaspoon (about 12 grams) in size, and arrange them on a sheet pan 2 inches apart. Wet your fingers slightly and flatten each ball to create a disk approximately 1¾” in diameter and ¼”thick.

4. Bake the macaroons at 380 degrees F for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown.

5. Allow the macaroons to cool. Freeze for 30 minutes. The macaroon bases can be made up to three days in advance.

Italian Meringue (for the filling)
150g egg whites (from 5 medium eggs)
1 pinch of salt
260g granulated sugar (1 1/3 cups)
80mL water
120g glucose (¼ cup + 1 tablespoon)

1. Combine the sugar, water and glucose in a very clean pot and place over medium heat. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer.

2. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and set aside.

3. When the syrup reaches 220 degrees F, start to whip the egg whites and salt on medium speed until they form stiff peaks.

4. When the syrup reaches 243 degrees F, keep the mixer on medium speed and slowly pour the hot syrup down the side of the mixing bowl into the egg whites, being careful not to hit the whisk.Turn the mixer to high speed and whisk until the bowl no longer feels warm to the touch.

5. Divide the meringue evenly into 3 bowls, one for each flavor. Follow the recipes below to make each flavor meringue. Fold the additions into the meringue just enough that they are evenly incorporated. Don’t overmix.

8. Spoon the meringues into a piping bag fitted with a 1” round tip.

Flavors:
Raspberry White Chocolate Pistachio
Fold into Meringue:
15 grams freeze-dried raspberries, crumbled
Glaze:
250g white chocolate
20g sunflower/grapeseed oil
Garnish:
Freeze-dried raspberries and ground pistachios

Vanilla

Fold into Meringue:
Seeds from half of a vanilla bean (cut bean lengthwise and scrape seeds out with knife)
Glaze:
250g dark chocolate
15g sunflower/grapeseed oil
Garnish:
Gold leaf

Mocha

Fold into Meringue:
2g (20 pieces) coffee beans, roasted and ground finely
10g dark chocolate (bittersweet), chopped
Glaze:
250g milk chocolate
10g sunflower/grapeseed oil
Garnish:
Chopped roasted coffee beans and chocolate

Assembly

For the Glazes:
1. Put the chocolate in a high, narrow microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 20 seconds. Take out and stir; microwave for 10 more seconds.
2. Repeat 4-5 times until the chocolate is melted (do not overheat).
3. Add the oil and mix until combined.

To Assemble:
1. Pipe the meringue on top of the macaroons in three mounds, descending in size. The bottom (and largest) mound should be even with the sides of the macaroon (see first image below). Place the macaroons in the freezer for five minutes so that the meringue sets.

2. Holding the cookie from the macaroon base, dip the meringue into its corresponding flavor of chocolate, making sure the chocolate covers the meringue completely (see second image below).

3. Before the chocolate sets, garnish with the above items.