Mont Blanc is a stunning fall dessert that originated in France and became popular in Japan. It is a perfect treat for chestnut lovers and anyone who wants to enjoy a cozy and satisfying dessert in the fall season.
Between Mont Blanc and cheesecake, I actually can’t decide which one is my favorite dessert. I used to go to a Mont Blanc cafe near Tokyo station every fall. Mont Blanc is such a wonderful dessert to enjoy and if you have never tried it before, I highly recommend you try this recipe1. You will fall in love with it!
What is Mont Blanc
The Mont Blanc that is popular in Japan today is a cone or dome-shaped cake made with thin strands of brown chestnut puree. The inside is usually filled with a crispy meringue and whipped cream, and then covered with another layer of chestnut puree. The final touch is usually a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a whole chestnut.
Where is Mont Blanc Originally From
Mont Blanc is a dessert that originated in both France and Italy. It means ‘white mountain’ in French, and it is named after the mountain that rises on the border between the two countries. The mountain is covered in snow all year round, and the dessert resembles its snowy peak. The region of Piedmont, Italy, which overlooks the mountain, is famous for producing chestnuts, the main ingredient of Mont Blanc.
A yellow-colored Mont Blanc that you can find in old-fashioned pastry shops in Japan is a variation that was created by Chef Sakoda, the founder of MONT-BLANC. Chef Sakoda was inspired by the white mountain when he visited Europe, and he invented the yellow Mont Blanc to imitate its appearance.
The standard brown Mont Blanc that we see today, which is made by piping chestnut puree into thin strands, was invented by Angelina, a renowned patisserie in Paris. This style of Mont Blanc became popular in Japan after the first Angelina store in Japan opened in Printemps Ginza in 1984.
Q&A Where Can I Get Roasted Shelled Chestnuts?
I can find roasted shelled chestnuts at my local grocery store in NYC, but they might be hard to find at your local grocery stores. If you can’t find them, you can try Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. I think they sell roasted shelled chestnuts. Or you can buy them on Amazon.
Ingredients for Mont Blanc
Chestnut cream
- chestnut
- milk
- sugar
Meringue
- egg white
- sugar
- powdered sugar
Whipping cream
- heavy whipping cream
- sugar
Topping
- chestnut
- honey
Similar Recipes to Mont Blanc on Oishi Book
- Rare Cheesecake (No-Bake Cheesecake)
- Japanese Purin (プリン – Custard Pudding)
- Matcha Gateau Chocolat (抹茶ガトーショコラ)
CHECK Stay in touch with me on Instagram and Pinterest to get the latest recipes! DM or comment me on Instagram if you have any questions or feedback!
Mont Blanc
Ingredients
Chestnut cream
- 100 g chestnut
- 100 ml milk
- 30 g sugar
Meringue
- 1 large egg white
- 10 g sugar
- 5 g powdered sugar
Whipping cream
- 50 ml heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Topping
- 2 chestnut
- 1 ½ teaspoon honey
Instructions
Meringue
- Preheat oven to 230 ℉ (110℃).
- Mix the egg whites at a very high speed (I recommend using an electric hand mixer).When the whites are forming stiff peaks, add the sugar a bit at a time and whisk well (I added the sugar in three parts and you can whisk slower than you did at the beginning). When the whites are glossy and solid enough that they don't change shape when dropped from the whisk then they are ready.
- Add sifted powdered sugar into the bowl. Use a spatula to mix thoroughly.
- Prepare a baking pan, and put parchment paper on top.
- Put the mixture into a piping bag with a large tip. Squeeze it onto the parchment paper in circles with a 2 inch (about 51 mm) diameter .
- Put the baking pan into the preheated oven. Bake for 90 minutes at 230 ℉ (110℃).
- After 90 minutes, take the baking pan out of the oven. Take the meringue and move to a plate. Let them cool down in your fridge until you use.
Topping
- In a small bowl, add chestnuts and honey. Just soak until you start decorating.
Chestnut cream
- Cut chestnuts into small pieces.
- In a pot, add the chestnuts, milk, and sugar. Turn the heat to medium low until boiling.
- After you see the mixture boiling, turn the heat to low and cook for 6-7 minutes.
- After 6-7 minutes, turn the heat off and move it to your blender.
- Blend it until everything is well mixed.*1
- Put the chestnut cream into the fridge. Cool it down until the whipping cream is done.
Whipping cream
- Use a large bowl and add heavy whipping cream and sugar. Whisk until you get the form.
Let's make Mont Blanc!
- Take the Meringue and Chestnut cream out of the fridge.
- Put some syrup from the Topping bowl on top of the meringue. Next, put the whipping cream on top. Pipe the chestnut cream around the whipping cream.Place the topping Chestnut on top of the cake.
Let's eat!
- This is super delicious cake!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.