February 14th is Valentine’s Day. Interestingly, in some countries, this day is dedicated to friendship rather than romance. In South Korea, the celebration involves women giving chocolate to men on February 14th, men reciprocating with gifts on March 14th, and those who were overlooked enjoying black noodles on April 14th, marking “Black Day.” May our lives be filled with only sweet days!
Ingredients for the sponge cake: 3 eggs; 200 g sugar; 200 g flour.
Ingredients for the meringue: 1 egg white; 50 g sugar; a pinch of salt; jam – strawberry, raspberry, or cherry.
Let’s prepare the sponge cake.
Beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the flour and mix well.
Grease a baking pan with oil or line it with parchment paper. Pour in the batter and place it in an oven preheated to 180°C (350°F). Bake the sponge cake for 30 minutes.
Cut out a heart-shaped stencil from paper. Using the stencil, draw hearts on the parchment paper.
Now, let’s prepare the meringue.
Whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until foamy. Gradually add the sugar. Continue whipping until the mixture is thick, glossy, and holds its shape well. Transfer the egg white mixture into a piping bag (you can also use a plastic bag with a corner cut off). Carefully “outline” the hearts and place them in the oven. Dry them for 45 minutes at 100°C (212°F).
Using the same stencil, cut hearts from the cooled sponge cake. You can slice the hearts horizontally and soak them with syrup, jam, or cream.
Spread jam on the sponge cake and top it with the meringue heart.
Now, all that’s left is to present this heartfelt treat to its intended recipient.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all lovers!