Merveilleux
This Merveilleux recipe will remind you why you love French pastries. These decadent meringue sandwich cookies are filled with chocolate whipped cream, covered in more cream and rolled in chocolate shavings. Oh là là…
![](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-24a.jpg)
Table of contents
What’s so great about this recipe
This recipe is a chocoholics dream and it is truly not hard to make. If you can whip egg whites, you can make this recipe. It does take some time since the meringues need to bake for several hours. But this is hands-off time.
The ingredients and techniques are adaptable and accessible for most home bakers. Your friends and family will say “merci beaucoup”.
Recipe Ingredients
![ingredients for merveilleux in glass bowls.](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Merveilleux-ingredients.jpg)
Ingredient Notes
- Egg Whites – Use fresh egg whites. Do not use pasteurized egg whites unless the carton specifically states they can be used for meringue.
- Rum – The alcohol is optional, but remember that alcohol enhances other flavors. It’s especially nice with chocolate.
- Chocolate – Semi Sweet Chocolate is the best for making the cream filling.
- Cream – Heavy cream has a higher percentage of fat than “whipping” cream. Use heavy cream in this recipe.
- Sprinkles – You can use chocolate shavings, chocolate sprinkles or any other sprinkle that you’d like to decorate the merveilleux.
How to make Merveilleux
See the recipe card for detailed measurements and instructions.
![a baking sheet with parchment paper over a cookie piping guide](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-1.jpg)
- Draw circles to use as a piping guide on a sheet of parchment paper.
- Place another sheet of parchment over the piping guide.
![the photos showing how to whip egg whites and make a meringue](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-6a.jpg)
- Whip the whites to soft peak before you begin adding the superfine sugar.
- Whip the meringue to full peak.
- Fold in the confectioner’s sugar.
![photo one showing a bag piping meringue discs. photo two showing a hand smoothing the tops of meringues. photo 3 shows baked meringue lined up for filling](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-11a.jpg)
- Pipe the meringues using the circles as a guide. If you don’t have a piping bag you can spoon the meringue.
- Smooth the tops of the meringues and bake.
- Flip half the baked meringues and pair them up by size.
![showing a tray of filled meringue cookies before sandwiching. Showing the setup for icing and finishing merveilleux](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-17a-1.jpg)
- 1. Pipe chocolate cream onto the flipped cookies.
- Set up the cream, cookies, shavings and cupcake papers for finishing.
![Photo 1 shows a iced meringue cookie in a bowl of chocolate shavings. Photo 2 showing a hand covering the cookie with shavings. Photo 3 shows the finished cookie in a cupcake paper.](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-21a.jpg)
- Ice the cookie and drop it into the bowl of chocolate shavings.
- Roll the cookie around to cover it in shavings.
- Place the merveilleux into a cupcake paper for easy serving.
Pastry Chef Tips for making Merveilleux
- Always use fresh egg whites. If you use pasteurized egg whites from a carton make sure the package specifically says they can be used for meringue. Some markets sell pasteurized eggs still in the shell, which can also be used for this recipe.
- Make sure your mixing bowl is absolutely clean. If there’s a trace of grease or egg yolk the whites won’t whip properly.
- I use the same piping guide I use to make French Macarons. Using a guide helps you pipe consistently sized meringues for neater sandwiches. If you don’t have a piping bag you can clip the corner off of a sandwich bag or even just spoon the meringue onto the pan.
- The baking time for the meringues can vary based on your oven, the weather and other factors. Check the oven every 1/2 hour to hour to make sure the temperature doesn’t go over 200°F. If your oven is running hot you can prop the door open with the handle of a wooden spoon.
- The baked meringues can be stored in a tightly covered container for a couple of days. Make sure they are not in a humid environment like the refrigerator or they will soften.
- If the Merveilleux are eaten within 3-4 hours the meringue layers will still be crisp. After 3-4 hours the meringue become more marshmallow-y. They’re delish either way so you can serve them as you prefer.
Recipe Variations
- I flavored my Merveilleux with dark chocolate. But you use your imagination to adapt this recipe. White chocolate, milk chocolate, cinnamon, instant coffee or raspberry preserves could flavor the cream.
- Chocolate shavings are a traditional decoration, but you can roll them in mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, chopped nuts, cookie crumbs or even broken bits of meringue.
![](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-22a.jpg)
![](https://www.baking-sense.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Merveilleux-27a.jpg)
We love French Pastries. Here are more recipes for you to try: Concorde Cake, Pate a Choux, Financiers, Marolaine, Kouign-Amann, Caneles, Macarons, Sable Cookies, Madeleines and a romantic Coeur a la Creme.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.
Merveilleux (Meringue Sandwich cookies) Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 each egg whites (4.75 oz, room temp)
- 6 oz superfine sugar (3/4 cup (see note))
- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 oz confectioner's sugar (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 recipe Chocolate Whipped Cream (prepared after the meringues are baked and cooled)
- 8 oz semi sweet chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Use a biscuit cutter or glass to draw twenty-four 2" circles on a 1/2 sheet of parchment paper. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put the paper with the circles underneath the parchment on the pan. This will be your piping guide.
- In a large mixer bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium speed (#4-5) until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, add the superfine sugar in a slow steady stream. Add the salt and vanilla. Increase the speed to medium-high (#6-7) and continue whipping until stiff peaks are formed. Total time 6-7 minutes.4 each egg whites, 6 oz superfine sugar, 1/8 teaspoon table salt, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Remove the bowl from the mixer. Sift the confectioner's sugar over the meringue then use a wire whisk to fold the sugar into the meringue.2 oz confectioner's sugar
- Scoop the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (1/2"). Pipe the batter into discs that are the size of the circles you've drawn. The discs should be about 1/2-3/4" thick. If you don't have a piping bag you can clip off the corner of a sandwich bag or spoon the meringue onto the pan.
- Bake the meringues until the exterior is dry and still very pale in color, about 3-4 hours. When the meringues seem dry, use a small spatula to gently lift one. It should separate easily from the parchment paper. Turn off the oven, prop the door open a crack, and leave the meringues in the oven until they cool to room temperature.
- While the meringues are baking, place the chocolate shavings into a bowl.
- After the meringues are completely cooled, make the chocolate cream according to the instructions in the recipe. As soon as the cream is ready, scoop half the cream into a pastry bag fitted with a plain round tip.1/2 recipe Chocolate Whipped Cream
- Flip over half the meringues and pipe a generous dollop of cream onto the flat side. Sandwich with the other meringues. Use a small spatula to ice the tops and sides of a meringue and drop it into the bowl of chocolate shavings. Roll to cover completely. Set it into a cupcake paper or onto a serving platter.8 oz semi sweet chocolate shavings
- Continue with the remaining meringues. Refrigerate the Merveilleux for 1 hour to set the cream. Best eaten with 3-4 hours.
Equipment
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