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How to Make Vacherin like a Professional Pastry Chef

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Discover how to make a show-stopping Vacherin. This French dessert layers crispy meringue, smooth vanilla ice cream, and tangy strawberry sorbet. Keep reading to master this delicious dish!

A Vacherin sitting on top of a cake stand with strawberries and chantilly cream.

Vacherin is perfect for special occasions. It's popular in the winter but works all year. If you love desserts, you are going to love Vanilla Ice Cream,  Strawberry Filled Donuts or Milano Cookies.

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Ingredients to make a Vacherin

  • Egg whites
  • Sugar
  • Lemon juice
  • Strawberries
  • Milk
  • Cream
  • Vanilla pod
  • Egg yolks

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Preparing The Ingredients

Shiny, stiff meringue in a mixing bowl.

Make the Meringue

Whip egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and lemon juice to form a stiff, shiny meringue.

Meringue circles on a baking sheet.

Bake Meringue

Use a pastry bag to make 3 x 18cm circles on a baking sheet also you can make meringue decorations for later. Bake at 200F for 2.5 hours. Let them dry.

Whisking egg yolks and sugar for vanilla ice cream.

Preparing Crème anglaise

Warm up the milk and cream in a pan on low heat. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar. Add a little of the warmed milk to the yolks and mix well. Then pour this mix back into the pan and heat until it reaches 84°C. After that, put it in the fridge to cool down.

Pouring crème anglaise into an ice cream maker to make Vanilla ice cream

Vanilla Ice Cream With Ice Cream Maker

Pour the crème anglaise into the ice cream maker. Turn it on to churn the mix into ice cream. Check the texture. Stop when it's thick like soft-serve ice cream.

Blended strawberry sorbet mixture.

Making Strawberry Sorbet Mix

Blend strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.

Pouring sorbet mixture into an ice cream maker to make Strawberry Sorbet.

Strawberry Sorbet With Ice Cream Maker

Pour the mix into an ice cream maker and churn until it's thick like sorbet.

Starting The Assembly Of The Cake

Meringue and vanilla ice cream in a mold.

First Assembly Layer

Place a meringue circle in the mold. Add vanilla ice cream on top.

Adding strawberry sorbet on top of meringue.

Second Assembly Layer

Put another meringue circle. Add strawberry sorbet.

Complete Vacherin cake ready for freezing.

Finish and Freeze

Add the last meringue circle. Freeze overnight.

Your Vacherin is almost done!

Unmold cake and scraping Chantilly cream on the cake.

Unmold and Chantilly Cream

Heat mold. Lift. Freeze again.

Whip everything in a bowl until you get firm peaks. Spread a thin layer on the cake and smooth it out with a scraper. Then freeze it again.

Decorated Vacherin cake with cream and strawberries.

Decorate

Chantilly cream border. Decorate with leftover meringue and strawberries.

Cut & Enjoy your Vacherin

You just made it! Enjoy.

Hint: You might need to trim the meringue circle a bit to make it fit the mold just right. Keep the freezer at a steady, cold temperature to avoid messing up the texture.

Substitutions

  • Egg Whites: If you're vegan, you can use aquafaba. It's the liquid from a can of chickpeas.
  • Cream 35%: Use coconut cream if you want it dairy-free.

Variations

  • Sorbet Flavors: Instead of strawberry, try mango or raspberry sorbet.
  • Meringue: Add a pinch of cocoa powder for a chocolate meringue.
  • Ice Cream: Swap vanilla ice cream with chocolate or salted caramel.

Equipment

Storage

  • Store in a freezer.
  • Not suitable for long-term freezing.

Top tip

Make sure all layers are fully set before adding the next.

FAQ

Can I use store-bought ice cream?

Yes, but homemade is better.

How long can it stay in the freezer?

Up to two week.

Is lemon juice necessary?

It enhances flavor.

Can I use a different fruit for sorbet?

Yes, but it will change the taste.

Do I need an ice cream maker?

It's easier with one but not mandatory.

Can it be made dairy-free?

Yes, use coconut milk.

Do I have to use a mold?

Yes.

How do I know the meringue is ready?

When it forms stiff peaks.

How many servings does it make?

Serves 6-8 people.

  • Keep eggs refrigerated.
  • Wash strawberries well.
  • Ensure all dairy products are fresh.

Other recipes like this? Try these:

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A Vacherin sitting on top of a cake stand with strawberries and chantilly cream.

How to Make Vacherin like a Professional Pastry Chef

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Print Recipe

Make the perfect Vacherin at home. Layers of meringue, strawberry sorbet, and vanilla ice cream, wrapped in chantilly cream. 

  • Total Time: 6.5 hours
  • Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

Meringue

6 Egg whites

150g Sugar

A squeeze of Lemon juice

Strawberry Sorbet

500g Strawberries

100g Sugar

35ml Lemon Juice

Vanilla Ice cream

4 Egg yolks

100g Sugar

250ml Milk

250ml Cream 35%

1 Vanilla Pod

Chantilly Cream

350g Cream

15g Sugar

5ml Vanilla extract

Instructions

Step 1 - Meringue:

  1. Whip egg whites until foamy.
  2. Add sugar slowly. Make stiff, shiny meringue.
  3. Draw 3 x 18cm circles with pastry bag.
  4. Make extra meringue decor.
  5. Bake at 200°F for 2.5 hrs, then dry for 2 hrs.

Step 2 - Vanilla Ice Cream:

  1. Simmer milk and cream.
  2. Whisk yolks and sugar.
  3. Mix a bit of warm milk into yolks.
  4. Put all back in pan. Heat to 84°C.
  5. Cool in fridge.
  6. Use ice cream maker.
  7. After you are done, put the ice cream maker back in the freezer for 8h.

Step 3 - Strawberry Sorbet:

  1. Make puree of all ingredients.
  2. Use ice cream maker.

Step 4 - Assembly:

  1. Fit meringue circles in 18cm mold. Use zester if needed.
  2. Layer 1: Meringue.
  3. Layer 2: 400g vanilla ice cream.
  4. Layer 3: Meringue.
  5. Layer 4: 400g strawberry sorbet.
  6. Layer 5: Meringue. Freeze overnight.

Step 5 - Unmold:

  1. Heat mold. Lift.
  2. Freeze again.

Step 6 - Chantilly Cream:

  1. Whip all the ingredients in a bowl until firm peaks.
  2. Spread thin layer on cake.
  3. Smooth it out using a scraper.
  4. Freeze again.

Step 7 - Finish:

  1. Decorate with leftover chantilly, meringues, strawberries.
  2. Enjoy a slice!
  • Author: Sandrine Pearson
  • Prep Time: 4 hours
  • Cook Time: 2.5 hours
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Freezing
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Food safety

  • Keep eggs refrigerated.
  • Wash strawberries well.
  • Ensure all dairy products are fresh.

More Cakes Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vladimir.j

    I'm blown away by the taste!

    Reply

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