Cherry Meringue Bites Recipes

DORIS' CHERRY MERINGUE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry and line a 23cm flan tin. Press the pastry into the corners and trim off the excess pastry with a sharp knife. Mix the ground almonds with the 3 tbsp of sugar, then sprinkle over the pastry base.
• Drain the cherries well, then pat very dry with kitchen paper. Reserve 200ml of the juice. Scatter the cherries over the pastry case and bake for 15-20 mins, until the pastry is golden and crisp.
• Tip the juice into a small pan and boil for 3 mins until reduced a little. Blend the cornflour to a paste with a little cold water and stir into the pan, cooking until thickened and smooth. Stir in the liqueur and pour into the tart case, then leave to cool while you make the meringue.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then whisk in the 100g of caster sugar until thick. Spread over the filling, ensuring there are no gaps between the filling and the tart case. Return to the oven for 10 mins to brown the meringue, then serve warm or cold.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar (1 tablespoon every five seconds), and continue to beat until meringue is stiff and glossy, about 1 1/2 minutes more. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
• Drop meringue by scant 1/4 cups onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until dry and just golden brown, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Let cool on baking sheets.

CHERRY MERINGUE PUFFS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, place egg whites; set aside until room temperature, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper or foil; set aside.
• Heat oven to 300°F. Beat egg whites, vinegar and salt with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and gelatin until stiff peaks form, scraping bowl occasionally. Spoon half of the mixture into large decorating bag fitted with large star tip #824 (at least 1/2-inch opening). Pipe puffs about 1 inch wide and 1 inch high onto cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining mixture.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until dry but not brown. Turn off oven; let stand in oven 15 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1 1/3 cups of the baking chips uncovered on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring after 35 seconds, until melted and smooth. Peel cookies from paper or foil; dip bottoms into melted chocolate, and place on waxed paper. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place remaining baking chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on High 45 to 50 seconds, turning bag over after 25 seconds. Squeeze bag until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip off one corner of bag, and drizzle over cooled puffs. Let stand until drizzle hardens, about 10 minutes.

SWEET CHERRY MERINGUE DESSERT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold in saltines and pecans., Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and edges begin to crack. Cool on a wire rack. Spread whipped topping over crust. Carefully spoon pie filling over top.

CHERRY-BERRIES MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• About 30 minutes before making the meringue shell, place an egg separator over a small bowl. Crack open each egg over the egg separator to separate the white from the yolk. (Save egg yolks for another recipe.)
• Place the egg whites in a clean medium bowl, and let stand at room temperature up to 30 minutes.*
• Heat the oven to 275°F. Line a cookie sheet with a piece of foil or cooking parchment paper.
• Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites; beat with an electric mixer on high speed until mixture looks foamy. Beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating about 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape mixture from side and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula, until mixture is glossy and forms stiff peaks when beaters are lifted. (Do not underbeat because the meringue shell won't hold its shape.) On the cookie sheet, shape the meringue into a 9-inch round with the back of a spoon, building up about a 1-inch side.
• Bake 1 hour 30 minutes. Turn off oven; leave meringue in oven with door closed 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack 2 hours longer.
• Place a medium bowl and the beaters of electric mixer in refrigerator to chill. These will be used to beat the whipping cream, which beats better in a cold bowl.
• Place block of cream cheese on a plate, and let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes to soften slightly. Or to soften cream cheese in the microwave, remove foil wrapper and place in microwavable bowl; microwave on Medium (50%) 45 to 60 seconds.
• In a large bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and the vanilla until mixed; set aside.
• Pour the whipping cream into the chilled bowl. Insert the chilled beaters in the electric mixer. Beat on high speed until whipped cream forms soft peaks when beaters are lifted. Gently fold the whipped cream and marshmallows into the cream cheese mixture.
• Place the meringue on a serving plate, and spoon the filling onto the meringue. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours to blend the flavors but no longer than 24 hours.
• Rinse the strawberries with cool water, and dry on paper towels. Cut out the hull, or "cap," from each strawberry with the point of a paring knife. Cut the strawberries lengthwise into slices to measure 1 cup. In a medium bowl, stir together the pie filling, strawberries and lemon juice.
• To serve, spoon the berry mixture onto the filling. Or cut the meringue shell into serving pieces, and top each serving with the berry mixture.