CHOCOLATE MERINGUE STRAWBERRY CREAM

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE STRAWBERRY CREAM SLICE

adapted from Passionate about Baking

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

3-4 tbsps powdered sugar

250gms strawberries chopped

Grease & line a round tin. I baked 2 cake slices instead of slicing 1 chocolate cake into two halves.
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.

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 another cake slice ( make another cake mix and follow same procedure above) . 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.