Coconut Topped Meringues Infused With Vanilla Bean Recipes

VANILLA MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Use an electric mixer to beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and vanilla. When whites begin to hold stiff peaks, gradually add half the sugar. When peaks become glossy, gently fold in remaining sugar.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and use a pastry bag with a star tip or a Ziploc bag with a corner cut out to form small mounds of meringue mixture, each about an inch wide and tall.
• Bake meringues until hard, about 2 hours. Meringues are ready when they release from parchment paper. Turn oven off, prop door open and allow meringues to sit in oven for another hour or so.

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.

LEMON AND TOASTED-COCONUT MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Blend flour, coconut, and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk egg yolk and 2 tablespoons ice water in small bowl to blend. Add to processor and blend until mixture begins to clump together, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill 2 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling.)
• Roll out dough on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 10-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold overhang under; crimp decoratively. Pierce crust all over with fork; freeze 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake until crust is pale golden, about 15 minutes longer. Cool completely on rack.
• For filling:
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Whisk sugar and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Whisk in yolks, whole eggs, lemon juice, and salt. Whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens and just begins to boil around edges, about 6 minutes. Add butter; whisk until smooth. Cool 10 minutes. Pour warm filling into crust.
• For meringue:
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Add cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then beat until stiff glossy peaks form, about 7 minutes. Gently fold 3/4 cup toasted coconut into meringue. Spread coconut meringue over warm filling, covering completely, sealing meringue to crust edges and mounding in center.
• Bake pie 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 275°F; bake 30 minutes longer. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup toasted coconut over pie; continue to bake until meringue is light golden brown and set when pie is shaken slightly, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer pie to rack and cool completely, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered.)

COCONUT TOPPED MERINGUES INFUSED WITH VANILLA BEAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F Line a rimmed sheet with parchment. Using a 4-inch round template such as an inverted bowl, draw 6 circles evenly spaced on parchement; place marked sides, on a baking sheet.
• With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites and salt until foamy. Beat in vanilla seeds. Gradually add sugar; beat until combined. Raise speed to high, and beat until stiff (but not dry), peaks form, about 15 minutes.
• Spoon meringue onto each circle, do not smooth tops. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoons coconut over half of each mound. Bake, leaving oven door slightly ajar, until outside is crisp and bottom can be removed easily from parchment, about 3 hours. Let cool, Meringues can be stored in a single layer in an airtight container up to 2 days.