“Scenes of strawberries, across crisp farmland.”
Michael Easton
Michael Easton
Here’s a bake I made to bid strawberries adieu, calling an end to the strawberry season in our part of the world. I wanted it to be a special farewell, something different. It’s a dessert I made out of a little baking book I have on my shelf, with the last batch of strawberries of the season. 
The original recipe was ‘Chocolate Meringue Cream Slice’, from a Sue Ross authored cookbook, ‘Cream Cakes & Gateaux’. The book is a tiny, little, unassuming one, but has a clutch of some pretty fabulous recipes. I adapted this intriguing recipe to accommodate my last batch of luscious strawberries. 
The recipe has appealed to me every time I’ve turned the pages of this book. Though a little fiddly to make, it’s an interesting departure from regular cakes. The original one, sans strawberries, leaves plenty of room to get creative, & can be paired with an array of seasonal fruits. I think it can well be made into a tiramisu of sorts also, with mascarpone & some coffee flavouring! 
It’s turned out to be an unusual dessert … unusual for me, at least, because it’s a first for me with a meringue topped cake. It’s a bit delicate to handle; needed TLC while transferring it to the platter, & some more care while topping the ‘cream & strawberries layer’ with the top layer. Otherwise a pretty, light & delicate bake! We loved it!
The original recipe was ‘Chocolate Meringue Cream Slice’, from a Sue Ross authored cookbook, ‘Cream Cakes & Gateaux’. The book is a tiny, little, unassuming one, but has a clutch of some pretty fabulous recipes. I adapted this intriguing recipe to accommodate my last batch of luscious strawberries. The recipe has appealed to me every time I’ve turned the pages of this book. Though a little fiddly to make, it’s an interesting departure from regular cakes. The original one, sans strawberries, leaves plenty of room to get creative, & can be paired with an array of seasonal fruits. I think it can well be made into a tiramisu of sorts also, with mascarpone & some coffee flavouring! It’s turned out to be an unusual dessert … unusual for me, at least, because it’s a first for me with a meringue topped cake. It’s a bit delicate to handle; needed TLC while transferring it to the platter, & some more care while topping the ‘cream & strawberries layer’ with the top layer. Otherwise a pretty, light & delicate bake! We loved it!CHOCOLATE MERINGUE STRAWBERRY CREAM SLICE
as adapted from ‘Cream Cakes & Gateaux’ by Sue Ross, pg 36
Ingredients:
100gms butter
250gms Castor sugar, divide into 2
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
75gms plain flour
2 tsps baking powder (yes it is 2)
pinch of salt
2 1/2 tbsps cocoa
90ml milk
100gms flaked almonds
200ml light cream (I used 25% fat Amul cream)
3-4 tbsps powdered sugar
250gms strawberries, save 6 for garnishing & chop rest
Method:
- Grease & line a 20 X 30cm Swiss roll tin.
- Sift flour, baking powder, salt & cocoa together & keep aside.
-
Beat the butter & 1/2 cup sugar till light & fluffy. Add egg yolks & vanilla extract & beat again.
-
Add the flour mix to the above with the milk & stir together well. Spread out thinly in prepared pan.
-
With clean beaters, beat the whites till stiff. Gradually add the other 1/2 cup sugar & whisk till blended in. Spread on top of the chocolate mixture, sprinkle with slivered almonds, & bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely in pan.
-
Handle with care, GENTLY, as it is fragile. Turn out very carefully onto a wire rack, & peel off paper. (I marked it into 2 with a knife before doing this).
-
Slide one half onto a serving platter, chocolate side up.
-
Whip the cream with sugar till firm & holds peaks. Spread the cake with whipped cream & chopped strawberries. Top with the remaining cake layer, chocolate side down.
-
Garnish with whipped cream, halved strawberries & sprigs of mint. (or melt dark chocolate in a baggie, & drizzle in zig-zags over the top, as in the original recipe).
-
Chill until served.
Chocolate, strawberry and meringue – you little devil! Save a slice for me, I’m coming over!!!
What an interesting slice you did – it seems like an upside down meringue chocolate cake – I just love the decoration you did. Beautiful pictures you did so many all of them are so professional looking. The whole post is so delish looking and sounding. Cheers from Audax in Australia
Absolutely a work of art, let alone the wonderful flavors & textures all in one cake!! Awesome!!!
There it is ending and here it is in full swing , strawberry season.
Love the slices they looks so so yumm.
Ooh, look at those berries– red all the way through! Looks fab!
This is gorgeous. I’m always so impressed with your artistic creations!
Very pretty and I want to sink my teeth into a piece!
oh my gosh…looking great….absolutely fabulous…
OMG …how tempting are these meringues !
There is nothing that I don’t like in this recipe. I like meringue, I like the chocolate, and I like the strawberry. Perfect Dee!
Deeba,Deeba, this is one of the most beautiful you have made, the pictures are amazing!!!awesome!!!Love them, love the strawberries and the almonds, and the mint!!! Master!!!!!!! Love ya!!!! GloriaXOXO
Your desserts are always so beautiful!
Deeba, This is such a lovely presentation. Strawberry season in my area is in late June! I can’t wait because our local strawberries are so sweet and luscious.
Cake with chocolate, strawberries and meringa is best.
It compliments six very good one
Use the translator I hope you understand to me.
An absolute stunner!!!!
Too good!!
Why are you tempting me like this? I am not much into baking, and you always have these desserts I want to try so bad… I am tempted to eat them, but not to make them
So could you just send some over ?
I love meringues! I made a birthday cake last night with butter cream frosting. I wish I had thought of the meringue frosting! Butter was way too buttery!
Any suggestions for a nice but so buttery frosting for birthday cakes?
FSK
sorry typo.. NOT so buttery frosting..
Oh no, end of strawberry season. Our season is only at the end of June. You baked a wonderful dessert. I love the crunchiness of meringue. Have a good day
It’s beautiful.
It looks gorgeous!
Deeba I post a recipe that I think maybe you like so!!! I mentioned you dear because you inspiring me alot!!!! hugggs!!! Gloria
Oh..that is mouth watering dessert..gorgeous pictures..
What a beautiful and delicious way to usher out the strawberry season!
Deeba it is truely wonderful! I’ve never made anything with meringue,but this is so lovely I want try it!
you have a wonderful blog
This looks amazing!!! Thanks for posting the recipe. I’ll have to make this recipe as soon as the strawberries in my garden come out
)
Is this what you were unhapy with? You are kidding me, right?
YUM, this sounds amazing! I definitely have to try it…sounds absolutely delicious!!
Awesome is a small word….. for U……..
I love meringue desserts and this one sounds so good. Your pictures are beautiful as ever.
I completely agree with Nachiketa.Awesome and amazing and perfect farewell till next year.
D! I have an award for you at my blog, please collect it!
Oh this looks just lovely! Who’d have thought that Strawberries grow in India? we get them here, but in the highlands so I suppose, thinking about it now, that it would be no different in India… Silly me!
What a grand farewell. Such a beautiful creation Deeba. I wish i did live near you!
This meringue-topped cake is so gorgeous! I love how it crackles and cracks when cut – it adds so much visual texture to an already beautiful treat.
This is some serious dessert, wow, it’s so beautiful. I love how it looks when cut up.
These are so beautiful! We have a lot of strawberries right now. I’d love to give them a try.
Wow, these slices look seriously beautiful and elegant! Very tasty too!
Stunning photos, stunning recipes, stunning presentation!!!
GAH! I’m drooling like a mad dog! ooh lala!
Oh boy, does that look good. I think you might enjoy the frozen lemon meringue bombe on my site….Thanks for stopping by and please do come back soon.
looks super sexy!! fitting farewell.
Mmmm I can just imagine sinking my teeth into that and tasting the orchestra of flavours and textures!
You make such sophisticated looking desserts. This one is no different. Great job.
Oh my….Deeba. You are a star. This looks absolutely amazing. The flavour combination would be just sublime. I wish I lived close by and could be a taste tester!
Gorgeous and unique strawberry dessert creation! I can’t wait to try it – just the beginning of strawberry season here
Just pretty! Beautiful presentation!
Absolutely stunning!
Oh my heavens, this item is to die-for!!!! We are just beginning to enjoy the bounty of this season’s harvest. I am printing this recipe and plastering it to the front of the fridge.
Thanks, Deeba.
very pretty! I can still find cheap strawberries in our supermarkets, I better grab a few more punnets before the season ends.
wow this looks awesome!!!!!!Would have tasted heavenly!!
This looks absolutely heavenly! I am sure it must taste devine! Strawberry season is fast approaching here – this is one dessert I am definitely making.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Those looks so amazing!! I just want to snatch some up!
I’m new to your blog. Found it through the Lunch Box Project. I think I will be stopping by more often!
If you get a chance, please check out my blog at http://www.ajourneytoshare.blogspot.com
I can use all the encouragement I can get!
What a great tribute to strawberries!
Hi Deeba
What temperature did you bake this at? Also is there a way of knowing if the cake in done?
Thanks
Anjali
looks amazing…going to have to bookmark this page so i can try it! thanks.
let alone the wonderful flavors & textures all in one cake!!
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