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Apparently, there is quite the historical debate regarding the origins of this dessert! 

This is very similar to Pavlova, which is a meringue-based dessert. The outside is crisp, like meringue, but the inside is soft and light. It is traditionally topped with fruit and whipped cream. Pavlova was thought to originate in either Australia or New Zealand.

It was brought to the United States by German-speaking immigrants and was known as the schaum torte or foam cake.

According to my research, the dessert by the name schaum torte is virtually unknown outside of Wisconsin, which gives credence to the theory that the cookbook was originally found in an estate sale somewhere in NW Wisconsin.

Schammon Torte

Valerie Simpson
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, German
Calories

Equipment

  • large sheet pan
  • parchment paper
  • piping bag
  • 1 large star decorating tip

Ingredients
  

  • 6 egg whites beaten stiff, room temperature
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch cream of tartar
  • 1 pinch salt

Fillings:

  • Ice cream, fresh fruit, whipped cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250 F.

To make the meringue:

  • With a handheld or stand mixer, beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar until stiff. Add in sugar and vanilla very slowly and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.

To make the shells:

  • Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.  
  • Draw a circle on the opposite side of the parchment pan in the diameter you wish your shell to be. You can make one large or several individual shells.
  • When constructing the meringue base, you can either spread the mixture onto the parchment paper with a large spoon or pipe the mixture using a piping bag and a star tip.
  • If using a spoon to construct the meringue, place large spoonfuls of meringue mixture onto your traced pattern, hollowing out the middle.
  • If using a piping bag, pipe a circle, smooth with a spoon, and then pipe 2-3 layers of meringue around the edges to form a “wall."
  • Place shells in oven and allow to bake for 1 hour. Turn off heat and leave shells in oven for another 30 minutes.
  • Fill with whipped cream, custard, and or fruit. You could even use ice cream in place of the whipped cream (or both….)
Keyword Meringue, Pavlova

Schammon Torte