Recipe:
Yields: 20 small butterflies/6 large (butterflies are just an example)
Preparation time batter 10 minutes, waiting time 30 minutes, baking time: 5-10 minutes per batch
65 grams / ¼ cup / 2.3 ounces softened butter (not melted but soft)
60 grams / ½ cup / 2.1 ounces sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar (7 grams or substitute with a dash of vanilla extract)
2 large egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
65 grams / 1/2 cup / 2.3 ounces sifted all purpose flour
1 table spoon cocoa powder/or food coloring of choice
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet
Using a hand whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (low speed) and cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste. Keep stirring while you gradually add the egg whites. Continue to add the flour in small batches and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not overmix.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it).
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I had frozen collected egg whites & forgot how many there were in the box. 1 egg white = 1 tbsp may not have been the perfect beginning.
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Got the dough ready, piped out, butterflies stencilled & coloured, baking sheet popped in, 2 minutes later the electricity went…went as in WENT AWAY/zilch/black-out ! Ooooh did I tell you I have a black tongue? Elder sis called from Dallas the other day telling me how she was so excited that she finally had a week off from school. She had a casserole in the oven, & decided to throw in an orange marmalade cake as well…blah, blah,blah. Me, the ultimate black tongue, had barely uttered the words, ‘Oh, you are so lucky, at least your electricity doesn’t go half-way through, I wouldn’t dare such a long baking session a go…blah, blah, blah”, when suddenly, & very uncannily, the phone line went dead!
She called back after 5 minutes, horrified, to say that they had a FULL POWER BLACK-OUT in the community! First time in 8 years, fire engines zipping across town, sirens ringing, & the full drama! She eventually lit ALL the candles at home, chucked the half-cooked dishes, fed the family almost cooked casserole, & sent the poor mites to bed! So I try & keep my silly, over-the-top comments very reserved…coz this ain’t the first time it’s happened!! -
OK, then again, back to the tuiles. Tried & resurrected the half baked tuiles aka butterflies, but didn’t manage too well. For the later batches, was a bit luckier with electricity, but stuck to circles, some of which I made into cups in the muffin tray, some rolled into cigars, & 1 cornetto.
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I had the most fun with the filling. Had bought a huge bunch of physalis which are in season these days & was dying to use them in a dessert. Had seen them dipped in caramel in a book I have. So, I thought up a mousse…which I made with hung yogurt (hung for 24 hours) + cream + Castor sugar + physalis.
Blended everything together with the hand blender, strained it though a not-so-fine mesh strainer (just to get rid of peels & not the little seeds), folded in whipped cream, & piped it into the cups. Garnished the mousse with some chopped physalis & then with 1 single physalis each, drizzled generously with caramel syrup. Was the most amazing & refreshing dessert.
Read at Kelleypea’s than her old Daring Baker friend Jenny of All Things Edible has a new house and is celebrating with a Housewarming. I’m joining in the celebration by sending this off to Jenny for the party at her gorgeous new house!
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