Blush Meringues Recipes

ULTIMATE MERINGUE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 110C/ 100C fan/gas ¼.
• Line 2 baking sheets with non-stick liner or parchment paper (meringue can stick on greaseproof paper and foil).
• Tip 4 large egg whites into a large clean mixing bowl (not plastic). Beat them on medium speed with an electric hand whisk until the mixture resembles a fluffy cloud and stands up in stiff peaks when the blades are lifted.
• Now turn the speed up and start to add 115g caster sugar, a dessertspoonful at a time. Continue beating for 3-4 seconds between each addition. It's important to add the sugar slowly at this stage as it helps prevent the meringue from weeping later. However, don't over-beat. When ready, the mixture should be thick and glossy.
• Sift one third of the 115g icing sugar over the mixture, then gently fold it in with a big metal spoon or rubber spatula. Continue to sift and fold in the remaining icing sugar a third at a time. Again, don't over-mix. The mixture should now look smooth and billowy.
• Scoop up a heaped dessertspoonful of the mixture. Using another dessertspoon, ease it on to the baking sheet to make an oval shape. Or just drop them in rough rounds, if you prefer.
• Bake for 1 ½-1 ¾ hours in a fan oven, 1 ¼ hours in a conventional or gas oven, until the meringues sound crisp when tapped underneath and are a pale coffee colour.
• Leave to cool on the trays or a cooling rack. (The meringues will now keep in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for a month.) Serve two meringues sandwiched together with a generous dollop of softly whipped double cream.

BLUSH MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 140C/fan120C/gas 1. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment or non-stick sheets. Whisk the egg whites and a generous touch of pink colouring (it will go very pale as it whisks) with an electric hand whisk, until stiff. Continue whisking as you sprinkle in the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, then whisk until the mixture is thick and glossy, and stiff peaks form as the whisks are removed from the mixture.
• Using two tablespoons, make 18 large 'quenelle' shapes, spaced well apart on the baking sheets. Bake for about 11⁄2 hrs until they are crisp and will peel easily from the lining. Leave to cool in the oven for 30 mins with the door slightly ajar. They will keep in an airtight tin for up to a week.
• When ready to serve, beat the mascarpone until smooth. Pour in the cream, add the sugar and whisk again to soft peaks. Very lightly stir in the fruit so it is rippled through the cream. Sandwich the meringues together with fruit cream. Pile onto a plate and eat the day they are made.

GOOD MERINGUE

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture forms stiff peaks.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Beat together the egg whites and salt, in a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Put the pastry bag in a large and tall deli or plastic container and fold the top over the container so you can see clearly into the bag and it stands upright. Dip the paintbrush or wooden skewer in to the red food coloring. Starting from the bottom of the bag, brush a thin stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat on the opposite side of the bag with the blue food coloring. Fill the bag with the meringue. Try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to disturb the food coloring. Snip the bottom of the bag with scissors so you have a 3/4- to 1-inch opening. Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1-inch apart onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• To decorate them, combine the white chocolate chips and coconut oil and in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted.
• Carefully dip the bottom of each meringue into the melted white chocolate, letting any excess drip off. Dip in sprinkles or sanding sugar and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Let set completely, about 1 hour.