Grand Marnier Meringue Torte

This grown-up birthday cake blends delicately crisp meringues, orange-scented cream, a hint of chocolate, and fresh fruit. Superfine sugar dissolves quickly into the beaten egg whites; if you can't find superfine sugar in your grocery store, make your own by processing granulated sugar in a food processor for about a minute. If you can't find clear vanilla extract, use regular vanilla extract; your meringue will be a little darker but just as delicious. Prepare the meringues up to three days ahead, and store at room temperature in an airtight container. Top with filling and fruit shortly before serving.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients

• Meringues:
• 2  teaspoons  clear vanilla extract
• 1/2  teaspoon  cream of tartar
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 6  large egg whites
• 3/4  cup  superfine sugar
• 
  Filling:
• 3  cups  frozen extracreamy whipped topping, thawed
• 2  tablespoons  Grand Marnier (orange-flavored liqueur)
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  finely grated orange rind
• 2  tablespoons  grated semisweet chocolate, divided
• 1/2  cup  halved strawberries
• 1/2  cup  blueberries
• 1/2  cup  blackberries
• 1/2  cup  raspberries
• Fresh mint sprigs (optional)
• Orange rind strips (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 200°.

To prepare the meringues, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw 3 (8-inch) circles on paper. Turn paper over, and secure with masking tape.

Place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Divide egg mixture among 3 drawn circles on baking sheet. Spread mixture onto circles using the back of a spoon. Bake at 200° for 2 hours or until dry. Turn oven off; cool meringues in closed oven at least 1 hour. Carefully remove meringues from paper.

To prepare filling, combine whipped topping, liqueur, and 1 1/2 teaspoons rind. Place 1 meringue on a serving platter; top with 1 cup whipped topping mixture and 2 teaspoons chocolate. Repeat layers twice with remaining meringues, whipped topping mixture, and chocolate. Combine berries; arrange over torte. Garnish with mint and rind strips, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

206 (31% from fat)

Fat:

7g (sat 6.5g,mono 0.3g,poly 0.1g)

Protein:

3.2g

Carbohydrate:

32.4g

Fiber:

1.1g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

0.3mg

Sodium:

95mg

Calcium:

7mg