Brazo de Mercedes
Brazo de Mercedes is a type of rolled cake (sometimes referred to as jelly roll) made from a sheet of soft meringue with custard filling. This heavenly cake can be considered as one of the all-time favorites in the Philippines
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
What I like most about Brazo de Mercedes is the sponge-like texture of the meringue that literally melts in my mouth. The light flavor of the meringue is balanced by the flavor of the rich custard filling. This is truly amazing!
The name likely reflects a sense of grace and elegance, which is fitting for this beloved and delicate Filipino soft cake. It is similar to a custard cake but is fluffier, with the richer filling inside rather than on top. You might think it’s hard to make, but don’t worry—it’s actually quite simple if you follow my instructions. So, let’s get started and make Brazo de Mercedes!
How To Make Brazo De Mercedes
Preparing the Meringue Base
Start by mixing the egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture until soft peaks form. This is crucial for creating a light, airy texture in the meringue, which is the base of our Brazo de Mercedes.
Sweetening the Meringue
Next, gradually add 3/4 cup of granulated sugar while continuing to mix. Keep beating until the mixture reaches a semi-firm texture. This step ensures that the meringue is sweet and glossy, providing a perfect exterior for the dessert.
Prepping the materials for baking
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, line a baking sheet or large tray with wax paper and lightly grease it. This preparation prevents the meringue from sticking and makes it easier to roll later.
Spreading and Baking the Meringue
Spoon the meringue onto the greased wax paper, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Bake the meringue in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the top turns a light to medium brown. This will create the fluffy base layer for your Brazo de Mercedes.
Making the Creamy and rich Filling
While the meringue bakes, combine 10 large egg yolks and 14 ounces of condensed milk in a small pot. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously until it thickens. Once thickened, remove from heat and mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Set this delicious filling aside; it adds sweetness and richness to our dessert.
Cooling and Assembling the Cake
After baking, remove the meringue from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar on top, then place another piece of wax paper over it. Use a baking pan or tray to flip the meringue, removing the wax paper on top to prepare for spreading the filling.
Rolling the Brazo de Mercedes
Spread the thickened filling evenly over the meringue. Starting from the longest side, carefully roll the meringue, enclosing the filling inside. This rolling technique forms the signature shape of our Brazo de Mercedes.
Finally, transfer your rolled Brazo de Mercedes to a serving plate. This elegant dessert is now ready to be enjoyed!
Brazo De Mercedes Ingredients
You don’t need much—just six items, which are commonly found in local stores and supermarkets, so don’t worry. However, you will need a few pieces of equipment to make this Brazo de Mercedes complete. Check out the list below!
Equipment
- Electric mixer – Used for beating the egg whites and cream of tartar. Without an electric mixer, the meringue (the fluffy, sweet layer that creates a soft, melt-in-your-mouth exterior) may not achieve the necessary soft peaks and semi-firm texture, resulting in a less stable and less airy final product.
- Oven – For baking the meringue.
- Wax paper – Used to prevent the meringue from sticking to the baking surface and to help with rolling.
- Baking sheet or rectangular baking tray – One of these is for holding the meringue, and the other is for helping to flip it.
Ingredients
- 10 large raw eggs yolks and whites separated – Yolks are used in the rich filling of our Filipino cake and whites for the airy meringue.
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar – Helps stabilize the egg whites, ensuring a perfectly fluffy and structured meringue for your Brazo de Mercedes cake.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – Adds a sweet, aromatic flavor to our soft cake.
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar – Sweetens the meringue and contributes to its glossy texture. Its powdery structure also adds to the visual appeal of the Brazo de Mercedes.
- 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar – Used in making the meringue. Sprinkled on top of the meringue, it adds a touch of extra sweetness and helps with rolling.
- 14 ounces condensed milk – Provides a creamy, rich base for the filling, making the Brazo de Mercedes a decadent and indulgent Filipino dessert!
How To Serve Brazo De Mercedes
To serve Brazo de Mercedes, carefully transfer the rolled cake to a serving plate using a spatula or large knife. For an elegant presentation, dust the top with a light sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar or garnish with fresh fruit, like strawberries or berries. If you prefer, you can also drizzle syrups, such as caramel, over your Brazo de Mercedes for an extra touch of sweetness. Don’t forget to slice the cake into generous portions, revealing its beautiful swirl of soft cake and creamy filling! This delightful treat is best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, making it a perfect centerpiece for any celebration or family gathering.
Me-Ring-Ge: A Pasalubong Candy in the Philippines
Brazo de Mercedes has a filling inside and a fluffy exterior called meringue (muh-rang). In the Philippines, meringue, locally pronounced as “me-ring-ge”, refers to a type of hard candy that is a popular “pasalubong” or souvenir treat. This sweet delight is often given to family and friends as a token of appreciation or affection. The term “me-ring-ge” is a local adaptation of the word “meringue,” but pronounced differently to fit the Filipino accent and phonetic patterns. While “meringue” usually means a soft, fluffy dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar, in the Philippines, it has become a hard candy. This shows how local variations can turn familiar ideas into unique regional treats!
Looking For Other Cake Recipes?
If you’re looking for other cake recipes to try another day, here are some amazing and delicious options for you.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we can see your creations!
Brazo de Mercedes
Ingredients
- 10 eggs large, yolks and whites separated
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 14 ounces condensed milk
Instructions
- Combine egg whites and cream of tartar then beat using an electric mixer until soft peaks form.10 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Make the meringue by gradually adding the granulated sugar while mixing the ingredients. Continue mixing until the texture is semi-firm.3/4 cup granulated sugar
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place wax paper on top of a cookie sheet or large rectangular baking pan and grease the surface.
- Place the meringue on top of the greased wax paper then spread evenly using a spatula.
- Bake the meringue for 20 to 22 minutes or until the color of the top part turns light to medium brown.
- While the meringue is in the oven, make the filling by combining the egg yolks and condensed milk in a small cooking pot. Apply heat and cook the mixture while continuously stirring until the texture becomes thick.10 eggs, 14 ounces condensed milk
- Add the vanilla extract to the condensed milk and egg yolk mixture, turn off the heat, and mix thoroughly. Set aside.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Remove the meringue from the oven and cool down for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle the confectioners sugar on top of the meringue then place wax paper on the top part of the meringue followed by a similar sized baking pan or tray. The meringue should now be in the middle of two baking trays.3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- Flip the meringue: the new cookie sheet/baking tray placed on top should now be below. Remove the baking tray and the wax paper (you should now see the opposite side of the baked meringue) then spread the filling (cooked egg yolks, condensed milk, and vanilla extract mixture) over the meringue.
- Roll the meringue. Complete rolling side to side starting at the longest side. Make sure that the layer with filling is rolled inward.
- Transfer to a serving plate then serve.
- Share and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Watch the Video on How to Make Brazo de Mercedes
isabel says
pede ko po malaman technique ng iro-roll ko na siya dumikit po ung brazo sa wax paper .. thankyou
Yeddah says
Hi! I just want to ask how if I can’t find the Cream of tartar in market what would be I substitute? I want to try to bake this recipe.. tnx for the video and I’ll wait for your rply,.. thank you very much =) =D =)
robie says
hi kuya:).,thanks for this recipe .,i really want to bake this one.,,what if i dont have cream of tartar , what could be the possible substitute for it?ia baking powder is all right?.,thanks a lot.,waiting for ur reply…!!!!:)
Marion says
Hi finally i found this recipe thank you
hopelesschef says
Hi Kuya! Super thanks for this recipe 🙂 I love Brazo de Mercedes and now I can just make it when I crave for it!
Renee says
Hi!, this is the first time i will do baking, we don’t have an oven here in our place,but my mom use turbo broiler like for making baked macaroni .I want to know maybe there’s a difference with the Preheating time and is there an adjusments for the settings ?thanks i hope you can answer my question i want to do this !going to wait for your reply! 🙂 thanks again
Ms. Ann says
I’m also interested to know if meringue can be cooked using turbo boiler.. I just hope someone can answer this. I believe you can also try this using conventional oven or oven toaster.
ilovetocook says
hi po.. I tried this yesterday but dumikit po cia on wax paper kaya i wasnt able to roll it that good.is it because mainit pa cia kaya dumikit?
anyway, thanks a lot. I learned a lot from this website..I just learned cooking so it helps me a lot..
Ms. Ann says
grease the surface of your wax paper more, so it will not stick on your wax paper.
Alona says
I would suggest a parchment paper, it’s better than wax paper but to make sure spray a little shortening.
Sabrina says
Hi! I loved your recipe and found it very easy to make. My 1st was perfect! However, I can’t seem to remove that eggy smell on the egg whites when cooked. Would you know a trick to remove that smell? thanks!
marie says
add a few drops of lemon juice 🙂 I also add 1 tsp. vanilla to the meringue mixture, it gets rid of the eggy flavor …
alma says
can i make brazo de mercedes without confectioner sugar,is that be alright?
Ms. Ann says
It’s okay if you don’t have confectioners’ sugar, however if your meringue’s done and you’ll put the custard inside and roll it, it’ll be hard ‘cos it’s sticky.
Cory says
Thanks po for this recipe. I tried it and it was great!! I never done this before but it is so simple…
Thanks and more power!
adalia bonita says
hi kuya, can i beat the white egg using by whisk bulk,, dont have elctric hand mixer for now po…
imy says
Hi! Im wondering kung pede ba tong ibake sa round pan?
MvS says
Dear Sir,
The tutorial video of your brazo mercedes was so easy to follow,thank you.I tried to make this cake for my parent’s wedding anniversary but when I started to roll my meringue(with the filling),it cracked.What did I do wrong? 🙁 Do I have to roll it while the meringue is still warm? Because I rolled it when the meringue was completely cool.
michelle says
You have to roll the cake fresh from the oven while still hot… It will crack if rolled cool. The same procedure you done in all Rolled-cakes recipes.
Hopes this help.
leah says
🙂 this site is absolutely perfect for mom like me…im almost 1 month watching those video from youtube.and some of the recipe i already tried…thank you for creating this site, its wonderful…..
cindy says
i watch this ever time i try a new filipino dish,it helps and i enjoy watching it..prima!!!
Rachelle says
s! -- mga 5 mins siguro pag-beat nung egg…depende sa speed ng hand mixer mo…sa akin on high na yun…
dd -- pam yung brand nung ginamit ko na pang-spray…
hope this will help
dd says
hi po…ano po gnamit nyo panggrease knna?
s! says
approxi,ately how long will you beat the egg white until you reach the soft peak?
P. Lopez says
Thank you for sharing the recipe, its really yuuummmmmy, as you said its easy to make it, My family and friends really enjoy it.
james says
thanks, i really love it. the outcome was great.