Brazo de Mercedes

A favorite holiday dessert at home! Trial run for the upcoming Christmas festivities...

Ingredients:

- 12 eggs - white and yolks separated

- 1 cup of sugar

- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

- 2 Tbsp vanilla extract

- 1/2 tsp almond extract

- 1 small can condensed milk

- powdered sugar

Instructions-

Meringue:

• Preheat oven at 370 F
• Line a jelly-roll pan or large cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with grease
• Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, while gradually adding sugar.  Mix until soft stiff peaks are attained.
• Spread egg whites on pan evenly.  Use toothed edge to comb surface of egg whites.

Filling:

• In low heat, pour condensed milk, egg yolks, and vanilla extract.  Mix briskly until it thickens.  Do not let mixture settle in heat, or it will curdle.
• Once thickened, set aside to cool

Remove meringue from oven and set aside to cool.  Once cooled, dust surface with powdered sugar.  Place a new sheet of wax paper on top of meringue surface.  Turn upside down so bottom surface of meringue is on top.  

Spread filling on the surface.  Take one end of the wax paper to roll one egde of the meringue in, until all the meringue is completely rolled in.  Leave roll in the wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Once chilled, slice and serve.