For this months Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned to the blog eggs, cream, and honey. After looking around, I found this White Chocolate Brownies with Raspberries recipe. Seriously, how could I pick something else? White chocolate, brownies, and raspberries seem like ingredients that can't go wrong...and I was not disappointed. You'll see in a minute, why I decided to change the name of this recipe.
After reading through the post, I discovered that Heather had been part of a group called Tuesdays with Dorie. I've seen other bloggers that were part of this group, so I knew the recipe would be terrific. I believe the perfect party cake is a Dorie recipe, and it's one of my favorites! Then, I found that several people who had posted this recipe had some trouble with the meringue preventing the "brownies" from getting done. I followed their advice and baked my bars then added the meringue at the end, which solved that problem.
As I mentioned above, I decided to change the name of these brownies to meringue bars because it seemed more fitting. Sorry, Dorie. While they do include chocolate, which is essential to a brownie, these were a little more cake-like and the meringue topping should not go unmentioned. It was so good. Seriously, I ate almost the whole pan by myself. These were not the kind of bars that you can throw together quickly (like brownies). These took a little more time and patience...I had to make the meringue twice (stupid yolk sneaking in!) They were well worth the effort, and they are sure to impress any guests who may be helping you eat them. If you wish to forgo the meringue and just make the bars naked, that would be great too. I know because I tasted a little corner before adding the meringue! I just couldn't wait.
I made a few changes to the original recipe. First, I used frozen mixed berries instead of fresh raspberries. There are no berries in season in Indiana right now, so even if I could afford to buy them they wouldn't taste very good. I sprinkled them with flour so they wouldn't sink into the batter. Next, as I mentioned above, I baked the bars before adding the meringue so the middle wouldn't be gooey. Finally, I lined the whole pan with parchment paper, so I wouldn't damage the delicate meringue topping by flipping onto a platter. The parchment paper allowed me to just lift the bars from the pan and place on a platter.
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup ground almonds (I used a coffee grinder)
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter
4oz white chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 tsp grated orange zest
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup frozen mixed berries (sprinkled with flour)
Meringue
3 egg whites, room temp
pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar
After reading through the post, I discovered that Heather had been part of a group called Tuesdays with Dorie. I've seen other bloggers that were part of this group, so I knew the recipe would be terrific. I believe the perfect party cake is a Dorie recipe, and it's one of my favorites! Then, I found that several people who had posted this recipe had some trouble with the meringue preventing the "brownies" from getting done. I followed their advice and baked my bars then added the meringue at the end, which solved that problem.
As I mentioned above, I decided to change the name of these brownies to meringue bars because it seemed more fitting. Sorry, Dorie. While they do include chocolate, which is essential to a brownie, these were a little more cake-like and the meringue topping should not go unmentioned. It was so good. Seriously, I ate almost the whole pan by myself. These were not the kind of bars that you can throw together quickly (like brownies). These took a little more time and patience...I had to make the meringue twice (stupid yolk sneaking in!) They were well worth the effort, and they are sure to impress any guests who may be helping you eat them. If you wish to forgo the meringue and just make the bars naked, that would be great too. I know because I tasted a little corner before adding the meringue! I just couldn't wait.
I made a few changes to the original recipe. First, I used frozen mixed berries instead of fresh raspberries. There are no berries in season in Indiana right now, so even if I could afford to buy them they wouldn't taste very good. I sprinkled them with flour so they wouldn't sink into the batter. Next, as I mentioned above, I baked the bars before adding the meringue so the middle wouldn't be gooey. Finally, I lined the whole pan with parchment paper, so I wouldn't damage the delicate meringue topping by flipping onto a platter. The parchment paper allowed me to just lift the bars from the pan and place on a platter.
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup ground almonds (I used a coffee grinder)
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter
4oz white chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 tsp grated orange zest
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup frozen mixed berries (sprinkled with flour)
Meringue
3 egg whites, room temp
pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar
- Center a rack in the oven, and preheat to 325*
- Line a 9x3 pan with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper.
- Whisk the flour, ground almonds, and salt together. Set aside.
- Set a heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water (or use double boiler). Add the butter and chocolate and melt, stirring frequently.
- Rub the sugar and orange zest together. Add eggs and beat at Medium-high speed for about 3 minutes until foamy and pale. Beat in vanilla
- Reduce speed to low and blend in chocolate mixture. Add in the dry ingredients and mix until barely combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Sprinkle the berries on top of the batter.
- Bake about 25-30 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.
- Cool for about 20 minutes
- Whisk egg whites and salt on medium speed until foamy and opaque. Increase spead and add sugar slowly. Whip until the whites form firm but still glossy peaks.
- Gently spread the meringue over the slightly cooled bars and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until browned and crackly.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar
- Once cooled, you can wrap in plastic and put in an airtight container to keep overnight. If you make them without the meringue you can store them for up to three days.
Submitted to Crazy Sweet Tuesdays, Sweet Treats Thursdays, Showcase your Talent Thursday,Sweet Tooth Friday, Sweets for Saturday