Hot Chocolate Meringue Cake

From Country Living

Ingredients

• Parchment paper
• 6 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon(s) cream of tartar
• 1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
• 3 tablespoon(s) sifted cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper
• 4 cup(s) whipped cream

Directions

1. To make the cake: Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Line two baking pans with parchment paper and set aside. Draw two 9-inch circles in the center of the paper and set aside.
2. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Stream in 1 1/4 cups sugar and continue to beat on high speed. Just as the whites reach their peaks, sprinkle in sifted cocoa and cayenne pepper and continue beating to stiff peaks.
3. Spread the meringue within the circles. Bake for 3 hours, turn off oven, and let sit for 1 hour.
4. Cool on the pan on a wire rack. Store in a very dry, cool place.
5. Fill the layers with whipped cream and serve within 2 hours.

Tips & Techniques

Two large spoons — one to cut and the other to scoop — make serving this cake simple.