Daring Bakers Challange March 2011 - Meringue Coffee Cake

The March 2011 Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Ria of Ria’s Collection and Jamie of Life’s a Feast. Ria and Jamie challenged The Daring Bakers to bake a yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake.

Now this kind of challenge is right up my alley. I LOVE making bready stuff. There's something about the kneading and how it changes consistency and then it rises and it's like magic and then there's the smell.... *sigh* I could go on and on...

I figured that two massive wheels of this would be too hard to share out to people so I decided to make a wheel with half of it and treat the rest like chelsea buns.

The dough as I put it aside to rise.

 

The dough once it was risen.

 

The fillings all ready to go.

 Dough rolled out and meringue ready to go.

 meringue spread out

Topping in place and rolling started. I went for the traditional chocolate, pecans and cinnamon-sugar.

 I can't resist a macro shot and it all looks so pretty!

Dough rolled up.

I rolled my dough onto baking paper and a flexible cutting board.

Ring closed up.

I cut with kitchen scissors.

The finished result. It was flatter than I'd expected and I think it was in about 5 mins too long but it still looks good (I think).

For the chelsea bun versions I cut the log into sections with a knife.

I greased and floured muffin tins and put the segments in in various ways.

The buns after the second rise.

Another gratuitous macro shot.

And this is one of the buns cut in half. Yummo!

And this is a segement from the wheel. The texture, although a little dry (must watch the clock!) was really great and something new for me. I will definitely be trying this recipe again with variations in filling. It was a great hit with everyone who tried it and I have requests for Easter.