Why Do You Call This Roll Brazo de Mercedez? #PastryRecipesWorldwide

Photo Source:Brazo de Mercedez by Gloss Girl, on Flickr

Why Do You Call This Roll Brazo de Mercedez?

What is a Brazo? A Mercedez? Well, others say, a brazo means a hand and Mercedez, a name of beautiful lady living in the woods alone, baking bread daily, and hoping that someday, a male stranger will pass by to eat her soft bread, form into a roll with sweet filling.

Ingredients:

For the filling:
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 egg yolks

For the meringue:
8 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedures:

1 Make the filling: Combine ingredients in a bowl and cook on a double boiler until thick. Set aside.

2 Make the meringue: Preheat oven to 400ºF.

3 Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Slowly add the sugar and vanilla. Continue to beat until stiff.

4 Spread meringue on an oiled baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until lightly brown.

5 Invert on parchment paper that has been sprinkled with sugar. Spread filling while meringue is still warm. Roll the meringue like a jelly roll.

6. Serves 12 persons.