The sweetest Christmas: Chocolate hazelnut meringue cake

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The sweetest Christmas: Chocolate hazelnut meringue cake

By Annie Bell

Published: | Updated:


This deep moussey meringue cake with its crisp top is endlessly adaptable: you can use almost any combination of dried fruits and nuts you fancy.

SERVES 6

FOR THE CAKE

vegetable oil, for greasing

4 large egg whites

225g golden or white caster sugar

100g roasted chopped hazelnuts

75g dried cranberries

150g dark chocolate (about 70% cocoa solids), coarsely chopped, plus 1 tbsp shaved to decorate

FOR THE TOPPING

150g crème fraîche

150g 0% fat greek yogurt

  • Preheat the oven to 190C/ 170C fan/gas 5 and grease a 20cm springform cake tin that is at least 7cm deep.
  • For the cake, whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until they rise into a foam using an electric whisk. Gradually whisk in the sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time, whisking well with each addition until you have a stiff, glossy meringue.
  • Fold in the hazelnuts, cranberries and chocolate. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 35 minutes or until risen and crusty. Carefully run a knife around the collar and leave the cake to cool. Ideally this should be eaten on the day it is made.
  • Blend the crème fraîche and yogurt together in a medium bowl (you can do this in advance, cover and chill it).
  • Just before serving, spread the cream in the middle of the meringue, pile the chocolate shavings in the centre.