Make Ahead Swiss Meringue Buttercream Food

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM RECIPE

Steps:

• In a medium pot, add at least 1-inch of water and bring to simmer.
• Thoroughly wash and dry the stainless steel mixing bowl from your stand mixer (you don't want grease touching meringue). Add 7 egg whites and 2 cups sugar and whisk together. Place mixing bowl over a large saucepan of barely simmering water, creating a seal over the pot (bowl should be over the steam, not touching water). Whisk constantly until mixture reaches 160˚F (takes about 3 min). Sugar should be fully dissolved (you should not feel any sugar granules when rubbing mixture between finger tips). Mixture will feel hot to the touch.
• Wipe water from bottom of mixing bowl and transfer bowl to stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until stiff glossy peaks form (about 15-20 min) and bottom of the bowl feels completely at room temp and not warm (important: warm meringue will melt the butter).
• Once bowl is at room temp, switch to paddle attachment, reduce to medium speed and add butter 1 Tbsp at a time, adding it just as fast as it is absorbed by meringue. Once all butter is in, scrape down the bowl and continue beating until it reaches a thick whipped consistency (3 min on med-high speed). If it looks lumpy or liquidy at all, keep beating until smooth, thick and whipped.
• Add 2 tsp vanilla extract and 1/4 tsp salt and mix on med-high until incorporated (about 1 min).

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Chose a medium saucepan and a medium heatproof bowl that you can use for your double boiler. You'll want to use a bowl that will neatly fit on top of your saucepan, but the bottom of the bowl CANNOT be touching the water below. (See photo below). Wipe down your bowl, making sure it's completely dry and there's no grease, residue, or crumbs left in it. Remove butter from the fridge and set aside. Carefully separate your egg whites.
• Add egg whites and sugar in your mixing bowl and whisk by hand to combine. Place bowl on top of a saucepan that's filled with a few inches of water and turn on medium heat.
• Continue to whisk by hand until your sugar has completely dissolved and your egg mixture has reached 70 C / 160 F. You can check this using a candy thermometer. The eggs will be thick and frothy. Remove from heat.
• Place eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until egg whites become thick and voluminous and reach stiff peaks. This can take around 10 minutes. The egg whites should hold their shape and not droop. The mixture should also be completely cooled.
• Turn your mixer down to low speed, then slowly add your butter, piece by piece. As you add your butter, your meringue mixture may turn soupy, and/or eventually look curdled - this is ok.
• Continue until you've added all your butter. Turn your mixer up to medium speed and continue to whisk until frosting comes together and is smooth again. Do not worry about over-mixing - keep going.
• Finally, add vanilla and salt. Mix briefly. Then remove bowl from mixer and use a spatula to give it one final stir by hand, getting rid of any air bubbles.

MAKE-AHEAD SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Beat butter with electric mixer until fluffy and pale. Transfer to small bowl.
• In double boiler over simmering water, whisk sugar and egg whites until warm and sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to clean bowl of electric mixer; beat on high with whisk attachment until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce mixer to medium-low; add butter a scant 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
• Switch to paddle attachment; beat on lowest speed 3 to 5 minutes. Leave at room temperature if using same day.

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Heat sugar and eggs Bring a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water to a simmer. Meanwhile, combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Set bowl over (not in) simmering water, and whisk until whites are warm to the touch and sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. (Heating the eggs relaxes their proteins, enabling the eggs to whip up higher and more quickly; the sugar also melts, for a silky smooth consistency.) Test by rubbing between your fingers; the mixture should feel smooth.
• Whip meringue Attach bowl to a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture is cooled completely, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in butter Reduce speed to medium-low; add butter 2 tablespoons at a time, beating to incorporate fully after each addition. Don't worry if the buttercream appears curdled at this point; it will become perfectly smooth again with continued beating. After all the butter has been incorporated, beat in vanilla.
• Finish Switch to the paddle attachment. Beat on the lowest speed to reduce air bubbles, 3 to 5 minutes. Let stand, covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature. (If not using the same day, transfer to airtight containers and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days or the freezer up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature; beat with the paddle attachment on the lowest speed until smooth and pliable, about 10 minutes.)
• Follow recipe above, adding 5 1/2 ounces melted and completely cooled semisweet chocolate along with the vanilla.

MAKE AHEAD SWISS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Grease a 9X13 disposable foil pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Place chicken pieces in dish.
• Sprinkle with swiss cheese.
• Mix together remaining ingredients and spread over cheese.
• Cover dish with foil.
• Place croutons in a ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin.
• Tape bag of crushed croutons to dish.
• Freeze.
• When ready to bake, thaw in refrigerator overnight.
• Uncover dish and sprinkle with croutons.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until bubbly. Cover with foil mid-way through cooking if croutons start getting too brown.