Name: Women's Whim with Cherries: a moist cake with a crisp meringue crust
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 25 g fresh yeast; 200 ml lukewarm milk; 150 g butter; 6 egg yolks; 350 g plain flour; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 6 egg whites; 200 g powdered sugar; 500–700 g cherries (fresh or canned, drained); 200 g chopped walnuts; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Dough: Crumble the yeast into the lukewarm milk in a bowl, add the sugar and let it sit for a moment. Put the flour into a large bowl, add the butter and work it into a crumbly mixture. Then add the yolks and the yeast mixture. Knead into a smooth dough. There is no need to let it rise — continue immediately.

Preparing the base layer: Spread the dough on a greased and floured baking sheet (approx. 22 × 33 cm). Sprinkle with half of the chopped walnuts and arrange the cherries on top. Sprinkle with two tablespoons of sugar and add the remaining walnuts.

Meringue layer: Whip the egg whites until foamy, add a pinch of vinegar and gradually beat in the powdered sugar until a firm, glossy meringue forms. Spread it evenly over the prepared cake.

Baking: Bake in a preheated oven at 200–220 °C for about 30 minutes, or until the meringue layer acquires a golden crust. The surface may crack slightly — that's part of this cake's charm.

Cooling and serving: Let the cake cool completely, ideally on a wire rack. It tastes best after resting for a few hours, when the flavors meld beautifully.