Pesach Chocolate Meringue Squares

These are so good, you’ll make them all year-round! They taste positively chometzdig, and even better straight from the freezer. Just make sure to label them shehakol. I had a guest in the house who decided to raid the freezer and ate a lot of these not realizing they were Pesachdig (everyone knows the good stuff is in the freezer!)! They are sure to enhance any cake platter. Thanks, Gila F.

YIELDS 40–48 SQUARES, DEPENDING ON SIZE OF SQUARE

Bottom

• 5 large egg yolks
• 2 packages vanilla sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 11/4 cups potato starch
• 21/2 tsp baking powder
• salt, a pinch

Filling

• 11/2 large bars (150 g) bittersweet chocolate
• 1/4 cup sweet red wine

Topping

• 5 egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4–1 cup coconut flakes or ground nuts

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Beat egg yolks and sugars until thick and lemony — about 3–5 minutes. Add oil and mix well. Add juice alternating with dry ingredients, and mix until thoroughly combined. Pour into a 10×15-inch baking pan lined with baking paper. Bake for 10–15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Melt chocolate for filling. Add wine and mix together. Carefully spread on cooled cake.

Beat egg whites for topping until stiff, gradually adding sugar. Fold in coconut or nuts. Spread on top of chocolate layer. Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes more, until meringue is golden. Cool before cutting into squares. Freezes well.