Schaum Tortes

December 2020 Update

During a holiday season that’s going to be just plain…well…WEIRD…I’m finding comfort in creating old holiday recipes. (What are we calling it? #CovidChristmas ? #PandemicHolidays ? Someone tell me the appropriate levity-heavy hashtag here!) I’m pulling this gal out of the archives for public consumption, because we could all use a few holiday recipes to lift our spirits nowadays.

When it comes to Schaum Tortes, something about the crispness – yet- toothsomeness of my grandmother’s recipe will always transport me back to Christmas Eves of my youth, drowning them in whipped cream and sliced strawberries while my cousins and I horsed around away in their basement while watching holiday episodes of “All That” and playing ping-pong.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for schaum torte, as well as a few old antiquated pictures and a torte that could have been saved – from a photographic point of view – if only I had remembered to add whipped cream to it before photographing it. HA!

From the Original December 24th, 2015 Posting:

Schaum Tortes were a staple of my Christmas Eves growing up. My paternal grandmother, Mamie, would whip up these crunchy yet pillowy meringues and serve them with sliced strawberries and fresh whipped cream. My cousins and I would plop into the dense black leather couches in her living room, munching away and watching Christmas shows on SNICK while our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles would do their boring adult stuff. (In hindsight, what they did then is likely what I enjoy doing now: just sitting around and talking about things that matter.)

My grandmother unexpectedly passed away a few days after Christmas in 2008. Ever since then, Christmas has always, well, been a bit of a downer for me. Not that I spend my holidays weeping, but I always think of Mamie more often than not. However, regardless of how bummed I may feel, I’m always one to try and make myself, and those around me, happy.

This year, with Mamie on my mind, I decided to give Schaum Tortes a try.

Schaum Tortes translates into “foam cakes” from German, and some research on their origin lead me to find that they are popular amongst Wisconsinites of German origin. Well, Mamie was a Wisconsinite of German origin, so that makes a hell of a lot of sense now! Ha!

Many people find Schaum Tortes similar to Pavlova, their Russian equivalent. Their crisp outsides yield a pillowy meringue inside; it melts in your mouth like spun sugar. Schaum  Tortes must be served with sliced strawberries and fresh whipped cream. It’s a rule! (Though, admittedly, I’m a sucker for Reddi Whip and that’ll NEVER change.)

I’m struck with a bit of nostalgia at this moment.

Cheers, Mamie. I hope I did you proud with these Schaum Tortes…even if I overcooked the first batch I made. Haaa.

Schaum Tortes
(Makes 4 medium tortes, perfect for an ample single serving)

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Serving:

• 1& 1/2 – 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 1 & 1/2 cups whipped cream

Before We Get Started…

– When separating egg whites, be sure no yolk mixes in. Even the smallest amount of yolk will not allow a proper meringue to form.

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 275°F.

2.) In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat egg whites until they are foamy, approximately 30 seconds.

3.) Add cream of tartar and vinegar to egg whites; beat until soft peaks form, approximately 3 – 5 minutes.

4.) In increments, add sugar to bowl, continuing to beat until all sugar is combined. Add vanilla extract. Beat until stiff peaks form.

5.) On a lightly greased or parchment paper-covered baking sheet, divide meringue mixture into four tortes, slightly denting the middles with a spoon and building up the sides to form a shallow well.

6.) Bake in oven for 45 – 50 minutes; turn off heat and keep tortes in oven, door closed, for an additional 45 – 60 minutes.

7.) Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool. Serve with sliced strawberries and whipped cream.