Coconut Meringue Nests Recipes

COCONUT MERINGUE NESTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250ºF.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl with mixer on high speed 5 min. or until mixture forms soft peaks. Add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating constantly after each addition until stiff peaks form. Beat additional 3 min. or until mixture is glossy. Gently stir in half the coconut.
• Spoon egg white mixture into 10 mounds on each of 2 parchment-covered baking sheets. Use back of spoon to shape each into 2-1/2-inch round, then make depression in center of each mound to resemble nest. Sprinkle remaining coconut around edges; press gently into egg white mixture to secure.
• Bake 50 min. to 1 hour or until meringues are dry and coconut is golden brown. Cool completely on baking sheets. Meanwhile, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Spoon pudding mixture into meringue nests just before serving; top with almonds.

MERINGUE EASTER NESTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (available at most grocery stores). In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until soft peaks form.
• 2. Then, slowly add the sugar, beating constantly until the mixture is glossy and stiff (another minute or so). Beat in the vanilla extract until just combined.
• 3. Now you're ready to make the meringue nests. Spoon three mounds of the mixture onto each baking sheet. Use the bowl of the spoon to shape each mound into a 4-inch-wide circle with a 2-inch-deep depression in the center. Give your nests a lived-in look by sprinkling shredded coconut over each one.
• 4. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the meringues are dry and the coconut has turned golden brown. Once cool, tuck one malted candy egg or jelly bean into the nest for each child in the family. Makes 6 nests.

MERINGUE NESTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°F (100°C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, begin whipping the egg whites with the salt at medium speed until frothy.
• Increase the speed of the mixer to medium-high and whip until the egg whites thicken and begin to hold their shape. Continue whipping the whites while adding the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Once the sugar's been added, add the vanilla and continue to whip for 2 minutes, until stiff and glossy.
• Remove the mixer bowl from the stand and sift the confectioners' sugar over the meringue while simultaneously folding it in.
• Divide the meringue into 8 portions, evenly spaced, on the baking sheet. (They'll all fit if you arrange 3 down each side lengthwise and 2 in the center.)
• Take a spoon, dip it in water, tap off the excess, and make a hollow in the center of each meringue, like mashed potatoes in preparation for gravy.
• Bake the meringues for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and continue to let the meringues dry out in the oven for 1 hour more.
• The meringues are done when they feel dry and lift easily off the parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• Variations
• Meringue nests lend themselves to many variations. Here are some of my favorites. Simply fold the additional ingredients into the meringue after adding in the confectioners' sugar.
• Cinnamon: 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• Coconut: 1/2 cup (40 g) dried shredded coconut, toasted
• Cocoa Nib: 6 tablespoons (60 g) cocoa nibs
• Coffee: 1 tablespoon best-quality instant coffee (crush the crystals into a fine powder with the back of a spoon first) or espresso powder
• Chocolate: 3 tablespoons (21 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• Chocolate Chip: 1/2 cup (80 g) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (regular or mini)
• Chocolate-Chocolate Chip: 3 tablespoons (21 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder and 1/3 cup (60 g) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (regular or mini)
• Green Tea and Black Sesame: 1 1/2 teaspoons matcha (green tea powder) and 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
• For Almond Meringue Nests: Replace the vanilla with 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, and press 2 tablespoons sliced almonds into the top of each meringue before baking.
• Storage
• Once cool, store the meringues in an absolutely airtight container until ready to serve. They can be made 1 week in advance.