Praline Meringue Torte

I’ve had my first date.

With Tiablo, the Brazilian.

Served with some fresh figs

Served with some fresh figs


I was running a couple of minutes late and he even sent me a text message making sure he wasn’t being stood-up.

Resting

Resting

After the initial greeting we spent an hour in the downstairs part of the gym with all the bulky-blokes with rugby league sized thighs.  As Tiablo led me to the leg-press I did advise I’m not looking to put on bulk and that I don’t want rugby-league-thighs and that just a bit of toning will do.

Praline

Praline

After pushing out 36 leg presses with a weight of 50kg (110lbs) Tiablo discouraged me by saying a lot of women leg press 80kgs (176lbs).  A first date faux pas on his part as up until then, I’d been feeling like a bit of a champion.

Almond meringue

Almond meringue

We then went to do some chest presses where you lie down on a bench and pick the bar up and hope you don’t neck yourself with it.  I tried to sound knowledgeable and said, ‘Do I need someone to spot me?’ because I’m sure I’ve seen and heard that in movies.  But Tiablo showed me that in this day and age, the machines are modern so spotters aren’t required – especially if you’re not lifting huge weights.

Cover in cream

Cover in cream

Speaking of weights, he didn’t put any on the bar and said he wanted to see if I had enough strength to lift the bar.  I thought he was joking.  Who couldn’t lift a bar?  Well…me!  It’s actually 20kgs and was wobbling all over the place and Tiablo had to come to my rescue before I impaled myself.  Plenty to work on there.

Use your fairy fingers

Use your fairy fingers

We finished with a two-minute plank.  And when I was sprawled out on the mat in a collapsed state, Tiablo told me the record for planking is held by a Chinaman who maintained the position for more than four hours.  I didn’t need to know.

We said our goodbyes and will meet at the same place at the same time next week.

Gently press the praline onto the sides of the cake

Gently press the praline onto the sides of the cake

Sunday nights are family dinner nights at our residence.  But last Sunday Archie and Arabella chose not to be present so I replaced them with outsiders.  I wondered what to cook for dessert (wondered what I could photograph and send to Archie and Arabella to make them wish they had bothered to attend the family dinner), and realised I had frozen egg whites in the freezer next to a bag of almond meal.

Ready for a rest in the fridge

Ready for a rest in the fridge

I pulled them both out and made a meringue torte that I covered in whipped cream flavoured with vanilla and coated in a praline made with nuts that were also in the freezer and leftover from Christmas baking.

This is a dessert that doesn’t take long to make nor does it require a lot of skill.  It’s light and fluffy and not too sweet and it’s a great way to finish off a family dinner even if family members haven’t bothered to attend.

Gluten-free

Gluten-free

5.0 from 10 reviews
Praline Meringue Torte
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Australian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Two layers of almond meringue sandwiched together and covered with vanilla whipped cream and hazelnut and almond praline.
Ingredients
  • For the cakes:
  • 6 egg whites
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 1 cup ground almonds
  • 2 tbspns cornflour
  • For the Praline:
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • ¼ cup hazelnuts
  • ¼ cup blanched almonds
  • For the Cream:
  • 600ml (20 fl oz) thickened cream
  • 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
  • 1 tbspn icing sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 175C (375F).
  2. Grease and dust with cornfour 2 x 22cm (8.5 inches) cake tins.
  3. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat whites until they hold soft peaks.
  4. Gradually add sugar, beating until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks.
  5. Fold in almond meal and cornflour.
  6. Divide meringue between cake pans, smoothing it evenly.
  7. Bake layers in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until pale golden and firm to the touch. Invert layers onto racks and cool.
  8. For the Praline:
  9. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and scatter with nuts.
  10. In a dry heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderate heat, swirling until melted and cook until a golden caramel.
  11. Remove pan from heat and pour caramel over nuts.
  12. Allow to cool completely.
  13. Break praline into pieces and transfer to a food processor. Blitz into small pieces.
  14. For the Cream:
  15. Beat cream with vanilla beans and sugar until soft peaks form.
  16. To Assemble:
  17. Place one cake upside down on a platter. Spread with cream and sprinkle with praline. Top with remaining cake. Cover cake completely with cream then sprinkle top with praline. Hold praline in your hand and gently press onto sides of cake.
  18. Allow cake to rest in fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
Served with some fresh figs

Served with some fresh figs

Comments

  1. Sounds like you had ‘fun’ on your first training session. 🙂

    The torte looks lovely. Sort of homely but also elegant.

  2. Wow, gorgeous torte Charlie… I am now scratching my head over the Brazilian!

  3. What can I say charlie? This looks sooo delish. Silly children missing out!:))

  4. Danielle says:

    This dessert would definitely have me showing up! On the bright side it’s great that Arabella’s injuries aren’t holding her back from socialising 😉

  5. I still make your hazelnut and cream torte when I’m asked to take dessert – it’s just so easy and pretty too. I’ll make this praline next time and jazz it up a bit more – I think every one I know here has had a slice so hopefully I’ll get away with it for a bit longer!!

  6. Wow, great recipe Charlie. Good luck at the gym.

  7. i would never miss your family dinner especially if there’s a dessert as beautiful as that torte!

  8. I hope I am not alone in thinking that the torte sounds like so much more fun than the gym – but good on you for doing it – you probably enjoyed the torte all the more for it

  9. Ermahgerd this meringue torte is exactly what I need right now. And I reckon you’ll be bench pressing the Brazilian in no time either 🙂

  10. I don’t know if I’d go on a second date…but love how you’re finding humor in this.

  11. I’m not sure that Brazilian has a very good “bedside manner” Charlie. I would think encouraging words would be a whole lot sweeter but, that’s just me. I give you lots of credit for attempting the gym thing. I wish I were as brave:)

    Your Praline Meringue Torte looks exceptional, Charlie. I bet Archie and Arabella were sure sad about missing it. Thanks for sharing, Charlie…

  12. I hate planks! Gotta do them, though. And pushups — since we don’t have the weight equipment at home, and if I had to go to the gym, I’d never get to the gym — just not my thing. So pushups it is. And planks. And a couple of other things. Ugh. Anyway, this torte would be a wonderful “recovery” dish! Really good stuff — thanks.

  13. Sunday is our family dinner night, too. Tom will come up from his house and join us. Ugh, I’m sure I’d be wobbling that bar, too. And the mere idea of holding plank pose more than a minute is exhausting!

  14. I think I need to get me a trainer…I’ve been looking at myself in the mirror 🙁
    What I could definitely scarf down id this beautiful torte…looks delicious! I laughed so hard when I read your replacement family. Kids…we’re going on holiday this week and I had to beg my girls not to make plans with friends that coincided with family events…ugh, its been awful trying to convince them they need to be there!!

  15. I always have left over egg whites. I didn’t know that you could freeze them! Thank you! And this dessert was definitely the perfect picture to text! Yum!

  16. Torte looks fab – Charlie!

  17. I remember I was at the gym once in California and this man came to visit with me while I was working out on the leg machine. I told him the same thing you told your bloke, I’m just looking to tone not bulk up and he said, “No! Thunder thighs are GREAT on women!” 🙂

  18. G’day What a beautiful torte indeed and great way of using up egg whites Charlie!
    Good on ya for continuing to pursue the gym and look forward to next week’s date! 🙂
    Cheers! Joanne

  19. What a divine cake Charlie-Arabella and Archie definitely missed a beauty! And good to hear that you’re on your way with the weights. Bench pressing 80 kilos sounds excessive though!

  20. 2 minute plank – you are my hero Charlie! I can only get passed 1 minute at a push! Here’s hoping I am just doing it wrong.
    Love your pud! Could do with an extra big portion after doing a plank.
    Have a beautiful day.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  21. I’m tired just thinking about Tiablo and his freakin plank.

    Could I have a piece of this meringue thingo and maybe one for the road?

  22. I remember The Boy saying things like that to push us too, it worked. After one of his workouts I could barely get out of the car and that went in for two days! I’ve started my morning power walks again (6km to start hoping to get to 8 or 10 in a week or so)
    This cake looks wonderful, I’m sure the kids wished they hadn’t skipped it. I must say that skipping the family dinners is one if my regrets.

  23. Serves those naughty two right. hope the extra chair fillers liked the torte. It looks just right.

  24. Marvelous indeed!

  25. Sounds like a fun ‘date’ Charlie 😀 And you are funny. I am sure the two absentees will not miss the next one.

  26. I made a comment and it disappeared…so I will try again!

    Sounds like Tiablo’s approach is “reverse psychology”. Your torte looks delicious and was probably just what you needed after the mental abuse. 😉

  27. Good for you Charlie, Tiablo sounds like a tough coach. Your torte looks amazing, I bet your kids won’t miss another family night.

  28. Four hour plank!?!?! I’m impressed with you 2 minutes! If you were to put this torte in front of me I wouldn’t wouldn’t be able to wait for it to be cut. Yummy!

  29. I am bias in regards to gymn…somehow I am allergic to it…but after all this workout, I think I would devour the whole torte…sounds and looks delicious, light and crunchy…very elegant Charlie.
    Hope you are having a nice week 🙂

  30. Good on you at the gym…I have started going to TRX classes where you have to lift your own body weight, great inspiration to make sure you don’t have to lift too many kilos because it is a HARD workout!!!! Although willing to sacrifice in the name of this gorgeous dessert….x

  31. I’m sure they were hoping you saved them a couple of slices of this delicious looking cake right?

  32. Oh-my-goodness, Charlie. Your torte looks deee-vine! Your declaration of easiness is appreciated. I think anyone would miss being at a table where your torte was served…I would like to give it a go!….Not quite sure about lifting weights tho’ even with a hot trainer =) Of course, I may eat my words when you show up on the cover of More or Vogue! =)

  33. Next time Archie and Arabella make the decision not to show up for family dinner, you just give me a call! I’ll see if I can work it out. This praline meringue torte is worth some travel. 🙂 I admire your hard work with the trainer, and it reminds me of about 12 years ago when I did a version of the same training. The trainer was a young woman easily twenty years younger than self, and as soon as we did some balance things and she made the excuse that women lost their ability to stay balanced as they aged, and clearly meant “I was old” and to give myself a break, I immediately started yoga classes. I was irate at the time, but she did me a favor. My yoga practice is important to me. And I have excellent balance. 🙂 Stay motivated and you show HIM! 🙂

  34. Not my idea of a great date – not exactly encouraging, but then again maybe he is inspiring you to greater heights.
    Now that cake instead is my idea of a great dessert.

  35. I’d like to be an outsider who replaces your kids at the dinner table, that and all your food looks fantastic.
    Carolyn
    PS well done with the weights

  36. exquisite.
    your fairy fingers work over-time!! xx

  37. Looks delicious, but will have to wait until after my root canal next week.

    You said you keep the nuts in the freezer. Does this make their shelf life longer?

  38. I am trembling after reading your gym story – I am off to cardio and fitness class for the first time in 4 weeks tonight and I am not looking forward to it. This cake, on the other hand, is delightful. A large slice please.

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