Rhubarb Schaum Torte
This rhubarb schaum torte is a lovely northern spring dessert. Moreover, it makes a great gluten-free dessert. Kids love helping make this lighter-than-air dessert.
  • CourseDessert
  • CuisineVegetarian
Ingredients
Ingredients for sauce
  • 1lb red rhubarb
  • 1-2pinches white granulated sugar, to taste
  • 1pinch sea salt
  • 1tsp butter, unsalted
Ingredients for the meringue
  • 3large eggs
  • 1pinch cream of tartar
  • 2cups sugar, super fine(you can use regular granulated, you’ll just need to beat it longer)
  • 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 1tsp vinegar
  • 1/2cup sliced almonds
Ingredients for whipped cream
  • 1cup heavy cream
  • 2Tbsp granulated white sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
Instructions
For sauce
  1. Slice the rhubarb crosswise into 1/2-inch slices; place in a mixing bowl and sprinkle sugar over it to lightly coat all of the pieces. Add a pinch of sea salt and allow the rhubarb and sugar to sit for about 1 hour.
  2. When the fruit has given up a lot of its liquid, taste to see if it is sweet enough—don’t oversweeten, because tart rhubarb makes a nice contrast to the sweet meringue.
  3. Put the fruit mixture into a heavy saucepan with 1 Tbsp. water and cook at a very low temperature until you can run a sharp knife easily through a piece of rhubarb. Add about 1 tsp. of unsalted butter at the end. Set aside to cool. The mixture should be thick.
For meringue
  1. Preheat oven to 225° F.
  2. Beat egg whites with a mixer until they become frothy; add cream of tartar, and then beat on high until soft peaks form. Add sugar gradually, beating until egg whites no longer feel granular.
  3. Beat in vanilla and vinegar. Continue beating until egg whites are stiff and glossy.
  4. Form the two meringue layers needed for the schaum torte by placing a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and spooning the meringue onto the sheet in two 9-inch circles (you can trace these onto the parchment by turning over a plate and tracing the outline with a ballpoint—children love to take care of preparing the meringues). Use a wetted knife to smooth out the meringues.
  5. Bake the meringue for 1–1 1/2 hours, then turn off heat, open the door a crack, and leave meringues in oven to cool.
  6. In a small, heavy, dry skillet, heat sliced almonds, watching them constantly: you want them to become golden but not to become brown and/or burnt. When they have turned golden, pour them off onto a plate to stop them from cooking further.
For the whipping cream
  1. Beat cream with sugar with a balloon whisk; when it starts to thicken, add vanilla and almond extract. Be careful not to overbeat—your aim is to produce a soft, silky cream—not butter!
Rhubarb Schaum Torte
Print Recipe
This rhubarb schaum torte is a lovely northern spring dessert. Moreover, it makes a great gluten-free dessert. Kids love helping make this lighter-than-air dessert.
  • CourseDessert
  • CuisineVegetarian
Ingredients
Ingredients for sauce
  • 1 lb red rhubarb
  • 1-2 pinches white granulated sugar, to taste
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 1 tsp butter, unsalted
Ingredients for the meringue
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 pinch cream of tartar
  • 2 cups sugar, super fine (you can use regular granulated, you'll just need to beat it longer)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Ingredients for whipped cream
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp granulated white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
Servings:
Units:
Instructions
For sauce
  1. Slice the rhubarb crosswise into 1/2-inch slices; place in a mixing bowl and sprinkle sugar over it to lightly coat all of the pieces. Add a pinch of sea salt and allow the rhubarb and sugar to sit for about 1 hour.
  2. When the fruit has given up a lot of its liquid, taste to see if it is sweet enough—don't oversweeten, because tart rhubarb makes a nice contrast to the sweet meringue.
  3. Put the fruit mixture into a heavy saucepan with 1 Tbsp. water and cook at a very low temperature until you can run a sharp knife easily through a piece of rhubarb. Add about 1 tsp. of unsalted butter at the end. Set aside to cool. The mixture should be thick.
For meringue
  1. Preheat oven to 225° F.
  2. Beat egg whites with a mixer until they become frothy; add cream of tartar, and then beat on high until soft peaks form. Add sugar gradually, beating until egg whites no longer feel granular.
  3. Beat in vanilla and vinegar. Continue beating until egg whites are stiff and glossy.
  4. Form the two meringue layers needed for the schaum torte by placing a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and spooning the meringue onto the sheet in two 9-inch circles (you can trace these onto the parchment by turning over a plate and tracing the outline with a ballpoint—children love to take care of preparing the meringues). Use a wetted knife to smooth out the meringues.
  5. Bake the meringue for 1–1 1/2 hours, then turn off heat, open the door a crack, and leave meringues in oven to cool.
  6. In a small, heavy, dry skillet, heat sliced almonds, watching them constantly: you want them to become golden but not to become brown and/or burnt. When they have turned golden, pour them off onto a plate to stop them from cooking further.
For the whipping cream
  1. Beat cream with sugar with a balloon whisk; when it starts to thicken, add vanilla and almond extract. Be careful not to overbeat—your aim is to produce a soft, silky cream—not butter!
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