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Brazo de Mercedes is a meringue cake with custard filling baked like a jelly roll. It was very popular back in my childhood days. The filling is so yummy- it taste just like leche flan, my fave dessert on earth- actually, it was the only reason why I eat it, I didn’t like the white part or the meringue because it’s not sweet enough for me and it was too ”egg-y” for my taste. But that was in the past, I love meringue now :)
I actually haven’t tried making Brazo de Mercedes, I’ve always been intimidated by making a meringue before and I have only tried making cake roll once or twice and both didn’t turn out well, I’m planning on giving it a try again someday. In the meantime, I’ve tried this easier and yummier frozen version first.
The recipe is adapted from True Confections as originally published here. I didn’t change anything… except that I use a 9″ square pan for the meringue and assembled it in an 8-inch square plastic box plus I unintentionally made the slightest change to the filling as you can see below..
ruined custard. I was busy preparing the meringue and taking pictures that I forgot to stir the yolk into the milk, I left it on low heat and the next thing I know I got poached egg yolks in milk. I tried to stir it but it was too late..so I just strained it and added more condensed milk and 1 yolk ( I ran out of eggs)..it was very good too but it’s more like yema instead of creamy soft custard…*sigh* …so much for multi-tasking, I’m glad I was able to saved it..I hope I won’t make the same mistake next time ( fingers crossed)
at least my meringue was just as it should be..stiff but not dry ( a first for me, my meringues were usually over-beaten)
I used a cake comb here but a fork will do too
my yema filling
softened vanilla ice cream
finish the layer with the meringue, cover and freeze for at least 4 hours
Frozen Brazo plus hot coffee..yummy combination! :)
This frozen brazo didn’t disappear as quickly as the other desserts I’ve made so far..not because it’s not as yummy but probably because since it’s in the freezer, my kids forgot that we have it.. that and because there’s a sinfully rich chocolate ( will post it very soon) on the counter plus some macapuno tarts..it was sem-break and I had a lot of time to bake :)
FROZEN BRAZO de MERCEDES
recipe adapted from True Confections and Wmn.ph
Ingredients
Meringue
4 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugarCrust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon sugarCustard Filling
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon lemon, rind
1/4 cup butter, cubed1 pint vanilla ice cream
8-inch square container
Directions:
MERINGUE
Preheat oven to 250 F. Grease and line the bottom of a 9- inch square pan. Grease and flour the paper again then spread the meringue on the pan.Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar in a bowl of an electric mixer on high until fine bubbles form. Then gradually add the sugar. Whip to stiff peaks but not dry. Using an offset spatula, spread the meringue over the prepared pan making sure to fill even the edges. Use a cake comb to create texture on the meringue.
Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and allow to cool until ready to use.
CRUST
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl. Mix well. Place the graham cracker crumbs in an 8-inch square (freezer-safe) container and evenly spread on the bottom of the pan.CUSTARD FILLING
In a double broiler or heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix the eggs, condensed milk and lemon rind. Stir for about 30 minutes or until thick but still pour-able in consistency. Add butter a little at a time until melted and blended in. Cook longer to make it thicker. Pour over the graham crust and allow to cool to room temp.FROZEN LAYER: Leave ice cream at room temperature for about 15 minutes or until softened. Mix until consistency of soft serve ice cream. Place over the custard layer.
Finish the layer by putting the meringue on top of the ice cream layer. My meringue shrunk a little after I took it out of the pan so it just fit right in the container. Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours before serving.
♥ Thanks for reading…have a nice day!! :) ♥
Frozen Brazo De Mercedes
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thanks !! very helpful post!
I like this version, I have seen other versions that incorporate ice cream. Yours look great.
this sounds great. can’t wait to try it…
les photos sont trop tentantes et bien alléchantes
difficile d’y résister
bonne journée
I fell in love with this dessert from my first glance at your photo….. Love the combination of different sweet layers, and we have the freedom to tweak the overall taste by picking the right ice cream flavor :-)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Custard filling? Sign me up! This looks fabulous.
Make some for me:D this looks lovely!
Oops! I have so many of those first photos…but the meringue turned out wonderfully! This looks so sweet and bouncy.
This dessert sounds yummy. It´s pretty too…
Awww looks good! I came across this frozen version when googling for the original version but I think I much prefer the original =D Was damn tricky attempting it the first time but I am daring to try it again, when the occasion calls for it of course. I am terrible at multi tasking too! But this does sound like a great dessert for the warmer months ahead.
Looks so sinful!!! Another filipino treat that I haven’t cooked yet…Mr.H loves brazo de mercedes…got so many lined up to cook..saw ur egg pie too..looks delicious and crema de fruita…so many things to try=)
Hi Althea! Thanks, thanks..it’s not that obvious that I love Filipino foods di ba ;)
It’s my first time to make this too..I’ll be making it again to give to some friends as gifts for the Holidays :)