Mont Blanc

Prep time: 45 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Total time: ~2 hours

Servings: 4

Country of Origin

France / Italy border inspiration

Description

Named after Europe's highest snow-capped mountain peak, this architectural dessert features a crispy baked meringue base piled high with lightly sweetened whipped cream, entirely covered in decorative vermicelli strands of rich chestnut purée paste.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Built vertically to look like a mini mountain peak, dusted over the top with powdered sugar to mimic fallen mountain snow.

Ingredients

For the Meringue Base:

• 2 large egg whites

• 100g granulated sugar

For the Chestnut Mount:

• 250g sweetened chestnut purée

• 2 tbsp dark rum or vanilla extract

• 30g unsalted butter (softened)

For the Cream & Topping:

• 200ml heavy whipping cream

• 1 tbsp powdered sugar (plus extra for snowing)

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Bake Meringues: Whip egg whites to stiff peaks, gradually adding the granulated sugar. Pipe four 3-inch circles onto parchment. Bake at 100°C (200°F) for 1 hour 15 minutes until completely dry. Cool.

2. Make Chestnut Paste: Beat the sweetened chestnut purée, rum, and softened butter together until perfectly smooth.

3. Whip Cream: Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.

4. Build Core: Place a meringue disc on each plate. Pipe or dollop a tall mound of whipped cream onto the center of each disc to create a mountain shape.

5. Pipe Chestnuts: Fit a pastry bag with a multi-opening grass tip or small round tip. Pipe the chestnut paste in circular spaghetti-like strands all over the whipped cream mound until it is completely enclosed.

6. Snow: Dust the tips generously with powdered sugar before serving.

Optional

• Marron Glacé: Crown the very top of each mountain peak with a single candied chestnut (marron glacé).

Cooking Tips

• Smooth Purée: Pass your chestnut paste through a fine sieve before putting it into your piping bag. The tiny holes in the vermicelli tip clog instantly if there are any tiny unblended nut lumps.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving)

• Calories: ~460 kcal

• Total Fat: 22g

• Saturated Fat: 14g

• Cholesterol: 65mg

• Sodium: ~40mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 58g

• Dietary Fiber: 3g

• Sugars: 42g

• Protein: 4g