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Schaum Torte is a German-inspired, light as a feather, melt in your mouth, dessert everyone will love!
Schaum Torte is just a funny German word for a baked meringue dessert. It seems that every nationality has something similar; the Russians* have their Pavlova, Italians call them Meringues, in France it's Dacquoise, etc. In Wisconsin, where I spend my first 27 years, Schaum Torte is often a celebration dessert. It's simple, yet beautiful and addictingly delicious!
Bernice and Uncle Alvin ran a large Wisconsin dairy farm where I spent many a summer day roaming the corn fields, collecting eggs from the henhouse and helping my cousins round up cows at day's end from remote pastures, herding them back to the picturesque red barn. We played hide 'n seek in the barn loft - piled high with newly mown hay, snuck strawberries and raspberries, still warm from the summer sun, in Bernice's lovely garden and indulged joyously in these wonderful, light-as-a-feather, melt-in-your-mouth Schaum Tortes.
So back to sweet Bernice ....... she was the "queen" of Schaum Tortes in our family! My mom occasionally made them and although mom's Schaum Tortes tasted wonderful, they looked a bit ho-hum compared to Bernice's perfectly swirled, hollow-centered, white towers; crying out to be filled with mounds of freshly whipped cream and bright crimson berries (if my cousin, Jane and I didn't swipe them all in our garden pilfering!) So you can see why, for special family occasions, Bernice's assignment was often Schaum Tortes.
To this day, each year when strawberry season arrives, I make Schaum Tortes and think fondly of my aunt. You can call them whatever you want (personally, I think Pavolva sounds much more sophisticated!) but when you see that farm stand with local berries or a pick-your-own sign, grab a bucketful and be sure to treat your family/friends to this fabulous dessert!
*Author's addendum - oops! A reader set me straight and I so appreciate it! It seems that Pavlova originated in Australia or New Zealand when the Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova, visited there!
A German-inspired light, sweet dessert confection everyone will love!
- 6 egg whites from large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups sugar divided
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Preheat oven to 250˚F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. With a Sharpie type permanent pen, trace 6 -3" circles on each sheet of parchment paper.
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With an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the egg whites, water and salt till the mixture begins to stiffen and forms a point when beater is pulled out. Continue beating and add, very slowly (over 2-3 minutes), 1 cup sugar, cream of tartar and vinegar.
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Add the other 1 ¼ cups of sugar, again very slowly, and vanilla. Beat for 10 minutes on medium speed.
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Drop large spoonfuls of meringue onto the circles on prepared sheet pans and hollow out the centers with a teaspoon or follow directions in step 5 for piping.
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For piping, snip off a corner of a large zippered plastic bag or decorating bag. Place a large (I use a Wilton 1M) decorating tip into the corner opening. Spoon about ½ of meringue into the bag and twist the top closed. Starting in the center of each circle and moving in a circular pattern fill in each circle with meringue. Continue piping around outside edges, forming walls. I usually go around 2 or 3 more times, depending on how tall I want my Schaum Tortes. Use your finger to smooth out the top where the piping stops.
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Place in preheated oven and bake 1 hour, then turn heat off and leave Schaum Tortes in oven for another ½ hour. Remove and store in an airtight container. Believe it or not, these guys also freeze beautifully! I've kept them in the freezer for several months, when thawed you'd never know they had been frozen.
To serve:
I like to dollop freshly whipped cream in the centers and top with fresh strawberries or other berries, sweetened with a touch of sugar. You can do it the other way around too, spooning the strawberries or other fruit into the hollow centers and topping with dollops of whipped cream. Sometimes we also put ice cream in the center and berries on top. As you can see, there's no set way to serve these, but do expect rave reviews!
Adapted from this fun old-timey cookbook produced by the ladies of the Lutheran church in my hometown during the Second World War.
Mary B says
My mother always made this dessert and filled it with ice cream. hot fudge and sugared raspberries for the kids. The adults were given ice cream, hot fudge and creme de menthe. Both absolutely delicious.
Chris Scheuer says
Your mother created some delicious, wonderful memories! Are you by chance from Wisconsin, Mary?
Debbie Brown says
I have been looking for this recipe!!
So excited to find!
I also have fond memories of my grandmother's Schaum Torte and we are also from Wisconsin.
Her maiden name Zuetchil .
Thanks!
Chris Scheuer says
Sounds like a wonderful German name and I bet a wonderful German grandmother! Enjoy!
Jen says
I just watched a channel nine story that has been investigating where the pav comes from. It has been discovered it was I. The USA pre Australia. The USA pave originated from this shaum torte. So in my book the Germans should have the credit of creating the pav.
I think in truth and instinct the best desserts originated Europe.
The Balkans, Polish, Russians Germans all make amazing desserts.
Chris Scheuer says
A good history lesson Jen! It is hard to beat European baked goods. We are always shocked at how delicious they are when we're in the UK or France, especially France!
Christina Musser says
I think I just found our gluten free dessert for Erin's wedding!
Gwennie says
I was so thrilled to see your recipe for Schaum Torte, which is the one thing that my Grandmother always made. My German, lived in Wisconsin Grandmother. Then I click on the link for the old timey cookbook and up comes butterhorns, which are my husband's favorite thing, from his Norwegian, lived in Wisconsin Grandmother. You made this Wisconsin girl's day. Greeting from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. .I'm headed to the kitchen to make Schaum Torte for my Dad, to remind him of his mother.
haters says
The dessert is so pretty but is it good is it to sweet or wat
snixykitchen says
Your story reminds me of running around my great grandpa ramonda's farm as a child. These desserts look decadent and delicious!
France@beyondthepeel says
What ever you want to call them...they're beautiful!
Marina@Picnic at Marina says
Lovely Dessert! and a very elegant presentation!
tortina says
Great idea, simply but interesting! Very Good!
Veronica Miller says
meringues have never appealed to me, but they never looked so pretty to me either! I love the idea of filling them with sweetened berries and whipped cream. What a perfect summer treat!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Now Chris I would have had to correct you too but I'll go one step further and say Pavlova is Australian. The New Zealanders like to try and claim it but it's ours!
This is such a beautiful version. As soon as I see some good strawberries I'll have to whip some of these up for dessert. It's amazing how delicious something so simple can be.
Marta @ What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today says
Lovely story 🙂 and dessert of course. With strawberries in my fridge I can see it happening 🙂
lena says
i dont think i can even get the pronounciation correctly. it's nice having a dessert that brings back so much memories of someone, i think you did just as perfect, the swirls are so pretty with that hole in the center!
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook says
So pretty! Love your mom's plop technique 🙂 They taste even better when they have wonderful memories attached. Just delicious!
Sandra says
Plopped or piped these look like as a feather and delicious. How pretty would these be on a dessert buffet!
Vicki Bensinger says
I'm with you Chris I think the word Pavlova sounds more graceful and lovely than Schuam Torte. You'd look beautiful and I prefer them piped rather than plopped as well. Very pretty photo. Makes me want to dive in.
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I love your story! It siunds like a fun childhood! Your Schaum Tortes look amazing! I love meringue, and plopping them with strawberries is perfect! What a wonderful dessert!
Lenia says
It is sweet how we connect people with food recipes...Your aunt's dessert is really amazing!
Have a lovely day,dear Chris!
Foodycat says
I love the name schaume torte for meringues! I think it means cloud? But I have to say, as a proud Australian, Russia has Pavlova?!? There is debate as to whether it was New Zealand or Australia who first named that meringue dessert for Anna Pavlova, but it definitely wasn't Russian!
Hovkonditorn says
These are so beautiful, and the meringue is perfect!
Martha says
So pretty! I've never made any but this makes me want to! If my German is correct Shaum is another word for foam. Makes sense?
Ginny says
Wouldn't this be great for a bridal shower? I have never heard of this kind of torte, but we have lots of those meringue cookies around here.
Kim says
I really enjoyed reading your post... so much of cooking and meals are realted to good memories, don't you think???? Every time I think about my grandma (the sweetest one) I can't help but thinking how much I enjoyed picking wild blueberries and raspberries with her... After the picking part, there was the baking one, we made cake and pies... Your Shaum tortes looks wonderful and they sure put a highlight on these beautiful and fresh strawberries...
GLENDA CHILDERS says
Your aunt sounds delightful.
This would be such a pretty dessert to serve at a wedding shower.