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    Home > Cakes

    Published: Feb 20, 2014 · Modified: Nov 29, 2024 by Helen S Fletcher · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Marjolaine - A Classic Flourless Pastry

    Finished Photo (1 of 1)Ahhh, Marjolaine (pronounced  mar zjoh lenn).  This naturally flourless cake is perfect to celebrate graduations, wedding rehearsals or showers and is a knock out for birthdays.

    Fernand Point, was a French restaurateur and is considered to be the father of modern French cuisine according to Wikipedia and other sources.  At his three Michelin star restaurant, La Pyramide, he trained many of Frances most influential chefs including Paul Bocuse, Alain Chapel, Louis Outhier, Georges Perrier and Jean and Pierre, the Brothers Troisgros.

    One of his signature dishes was the Marjolaine and it seems it took him years to perfect.  A combination of nutted meringues, pastry cream, and a hint of chocolate.  As with any classic, there are a number of variations some of which include cake layers and German Buttercream.  I used a lightened version of pastry cream and a sour cream ganache instead of making creme fraiche.  While the original recipe added the almond praline to one of the pastry creams, I used it to finish off the top where it adds a pleasant crunch and doesn't get lost.

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    Although a Marjolaine initially can be intimidating, almost all of the components can be made ahead of time.  The praline can be made at least a week in advance.  The pastry cream can be made days in advance and the nutted meringue must be made at least a day ahead but can be made a week ahead of time.  In order for the nutted meringue layers of the Marjolaine to soften, it should be assembled a day ahead of time.  Most recipes I have seen give a one to three days in advance assembly but I find the meringues get too soft if assembled more than a day ahead.

    The meringues become very brittle as they cool and continue to dry.  No matter how well the layers are piped, they need to be trimmed.  I was hesitant to do this as in the past they have shattered so badly they couldn't be put back together.  However, I found that by using a serrated knife with a sawing motion and applying almost no pressure, they can be trimmed perfectly.  I trimmed one to a 13 x 4 ½  rectangle then placed it on top of a second one.  I used it as a guide, trimming the lower one to match.  Do not stack them more than two at a time.  If a layer does crack, use it on the second or third layer when assembling.  You will see below that I did indeed crack a layer and reformed it.

    This Marjolaine is one of the most elegant desserts to be found and is, indeed a special occasion dessert.  Don't let its many parts dissuade you from making this classic pastry.  Every step is illustrated to make this easier.

    Almond PralinePraline Ingredients2 tablespoons water
    1 tablespoon light corn syrup.
    ½  cup granulated sugar (100 grams or 3 ½  ounces)
    ½  cup whole or slivered blanched almonds (58 grams or 2 ounces)

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Toast the almonds 8 to 10 minutes until fragrant and just colored.  Cool completely.  Oil a jelly roll pan or line a half sheet pan with silpat and set aside.

    Spray the back of an offset spatula and set next to the prepared pan.

    In a small, heavy saucepan, add the water, corn syrup  and sugar. Water,sugar and corn syrup in pan Bring to a boil and Syrup beginning to boilBoiling 2wash the sides down with a brush dipped in cold water.  Washing down sidesCook over medium heat until the syrup turns a deep golden brown.  As the syrup starts to color, watch it closely as it will deepen in color quickly.  Beginning to colorTake if off the heat just before it gets deep enough as it will continue to color.  Praline sugar colorQuickly stir in the almonds, Almonds inturn out into the pan and spread out with the sprayed spatula.Praline poured out

    When completely cool, break into pieces and place in a food processor.  Praline in processorProcess to pulverize. Praline processed You may have to do this several times, straining between to avoid over-processing the praline that is already pulverized.  Praline being processed (1 of 1)Set this aside.

    Pastry Cream - for how to photos see Pastry Cream
    1 ½  teaspoon gelatin
    2 teaspoons cold water
    4 large egg yolks
    ½  cup sugar (100 grams)
    3 tablespoons cornstarch*
    1 ⅓ cup milk, very hot
    1 ½  teaspoon grated orange rind
    ¾ cup 40% or heavy cream

    *If you are going to freeze this pastry cream or use it in anything frozen, you cannot use the cornstarch.  Substitute ¼ cup flour (35 grams or 1 heavy ounce).  Cornstarch breaks down when thawed, flour doesn’t.

    Soften the gelatin in the water and set aside.

    Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a non-reactive saucepan.  Whisk in the cornstarch or flour. Add the milk slowly, whisking well and scraping the corners of the pan with a rubber spatula to make sure all of the egg yolk mixture is incorporated.

    Place over medium heat and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil.  This will become very thick.  You have to whisk very hard at the end to prevent it from lumping.  If you are using cornstarch, remove it as soon as it comes to a boil.  If using flour,  boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from the heat and tear the dissolved gelatin into small pieces stirring it into the hot liquid (there is no need to liquefy it, the heat of the mixture will do this for you).

    Divide the mixture in half (about 1 cup each).  Add the orange rind to one of the containers.Two bowls of Pastry Cream Cover the surface with plastic wrap, poke a few holes in it and refrigerate overnight to chill.

    When ready to use, whip the cream to stiff peaks.  Cream whippedThe pastry creams will be very stiff.  That is how it should be.  Break each of the pastry creams up, then whisk each of them to loosen.loosened pastry cream Fold half the whipped cream into each of the pastry creams.Whipped cream on top

    folding in whipped creamWhipped cream folded in

    Repeat with second pastry cream.

    Nutted Meringue

    Meringue Ingredients 1 cup + 2 tablespoons superfine or baker’s sugar (225 grams or 8 ounces)
    10 ounces almonds or hazelnuts or half and half, toasted (285 grams)
    3 tablespoons potato starch (30 grams or 1 ounce)
    1 cup egg whites (256 grams or 9 ounces or about 8 egg whites)

    Before starting the meringue, draw two 5”x14” rectangles on a piece of parchment paper.

    These will be your templates for the meringue layers.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.

    Roast for about 7 to 9 minutes until golden brown and fragrant.  Cool completely.  This may be done a week ahead of time.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two sheet pans with parchment.  Set aside.

    If your only choice for sugar is granulated, put it in the bowl of a food processor and process for about a minute or so to grind it finer.  Sugar procaessedRemove from the bowl and set aside.

    Place the nuts, potato starch and 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a processor bowl and Nuts, sugar, starch in processorprocess until very finely ground.  Almonds, sugar, starch processedStop several times, pulse the machine to redistribute the nuts and continue until they are properly ground.

    Place the egg whites in a mixer bowl Egg whites in bowland beat until they are quadrupled and leave the beater lines in the foam.  Whites quadrupledSlowly, add the remaining sugar and Adding sugarcontinue beating for 3 to 4 minutes if using a heavy duty stand mixer.Meringue whipped

    Meringue on whipFold in the nut mixture in three batches as gently and quickly as possible so the meringue does not break down.Nuts in 1

    Folding nuts inAdding nuts 3Folding nuts inPlace the template under a piece of parchment in the half sheet pan.  Fit a piping bag with a number 9 plain tip.    Place one-fourth  (180 grams 6 ⅓ ounces) in the bag.  Meringue piping bag 1Piping bag being filled 2Pipe about ¼  inch inside the line. Starting to pipe Piping meringue Fill in the outline with a zig-zag motion.  Zig Zag meringueUsing a small offset spatula, fill in the meringue and level it.  Smoothing meringueRepeat with the second piece on the template. Remove the template from under the meringue.  Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until lightly browned.  Cool completely.

    While the first sheet is baking, place the template under the parchment and immediately pipe the second set.  Remove the template.  Bake as directed.

    If you don’t have access to a piping bag and tip, simply divide the meringue and spread it evenly over the templates.

    These can be made a week ahead and stored well covered and airtight.

    Trim the meringues so there are 4 uniform layers.  Cut the meringues apart.  Meringues cut apartsingle layer on paperRemove the paper on the bottom by turning upside down.Layer turned overPaper being removedTurn right side up and, using a serrated knife, saw with very little pressure to avoid cracking the rectangles.  Layer being trimmed Layer trimmedTrim one layer to 13 x 4 ½ inches, then stack one on top of another and trim it to size. 2 layers stacked Repeat with the other two layers.  Do not stack any more than two layers together when trimming.

    Sour Cream Chocolate Ganache and the cream - make just before using.Glaze ingredients
    16 ounces semisweet chocolate (454 grams)
    1 cup 40% or heavy cream
    1 cup sour cream (225 grams or 8 ounces)

    Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave at half power.  Chocolate meltedRemove it from the heat and stir in the sour cream

    Chocolate, cream and sour cream

     and the cream.

    Chocolate with cream and sour cream

     Assembly -  best assembled one day ahead.  As it sits, the meringues continue to soften.

    component parts 4 layers Nutted meringue, trimmed
    Orange pastry cream with whipped cream
    Pastry cream with whipped cream
    Sour Cream Chocolate Ganache
    Sliced almonds, roasted
    Praline

    Place one layer nutted meringue on a board.  1st layer downTop with the plain pastry cream.Pastry cream on 1st layer1st layer pastry cream spread

    Place the second layer of meringue on the pastry cream and top it with ½ cup ganache. This is a good place to put a broken meringue.broken meringue

    broken layer fixedganache on 2nd layerchocolate spread outPlace the third layer on top of the ganache and top with the orange pastry cream.3rd layer

    3rd layer spread outPlace the fourth layer of meringue on the pastry cream. 4th layer

    Reserve 1 cup of ganache.  Use the remainder to coat the sides and top of the Marjolaine.FrostingCover the sides with the toasted sliced almonds. Nuts on Cover the top with the praline.  Sometimes the layers of meringue shift a bit as you are pressing on the opposite side while applying the chocolate or the almonds.   If the Marjolaine has become a little crooked while assembling, square it by placing one hand on each side and gently press toward each other.Squaring off

    Pipe ganache on the top layer with #3 open star tip.Piping edge

    Refrigerate overnight to allow the meringue to soften.

    Yield:  Cut into 12 or more servings.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephenie Domenico says

      February 24, 2014 at 11:49 am

      That looks AMAZING! And if you use pure cornstarch, I think it's gluten free! Maybe if my sister-in-law is really good, she'll get a special treat for her birthday. ;)

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        February 24, 2014 at 3:56 pm

        Hi Stephenie: I hope she is very good. Sure she will enjoy this. To my knowledge all cornstarch is gluten free which is why I used that and potato starch in the recipe. You can make almost everything ahead and then assemble when needed. You have a lucky sister-in-law!

        Reply
    2. manisha says

      February 20, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      Amazing!!!!!

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        February 20, 2014 at 9:50 pm

        Thank you so much Manisha!

        Reply

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