Basic French Meringue Food

AUTHENTIC FRENCH MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Butter and flour a baking sheet.
• In a glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Sprinkle in sugar a little at a time, while continuing to whip at medium speed. When the mixture becomes stiff and shiny like satin, stop mixing, and transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag. Pipe the meringue out onto the prepared baking sheet using a large round tip or star tip.
• Place the meringues in the oven and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it from closing all the way. Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are dry, and can easily be removed from the pan. Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature.

BASIC FRENCH MERINGUE

Steps:

• Whisk whites, salt, and cream of tartar with a mixer on medium-low speed until foamy. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until sugar dissolves and soft peaks form. Gradually increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, 8 to 10 minutes. Use immediately.

FRENCH MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a mixer, begin to whip the egg whites with cream of tartar, if using.. Slowly add the sugar. Whip the whites until stiff peaks.
• Combine flour and confectioners' sugar (and nut powder if using), then fold into whites.
• Load batter into pastry bag (use open star or any desired shape IF NOT using nut powder otherwise use no tip), and pipe quarter size meringues onto grease free parchment paper. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until browned. Remove and cool before use.
• Pipe buttercream from cake assembly into some of the meringues for a surprise.
• Apply meringues to the cake after applying a heavy crumb coat. Cover completely. Put fresh berries or dollops of cooled, piped chocolate ganache between any gaps of the meringues.

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.

BASIC SWISS MERINGUE

Steps:

• Place whites and sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, and whisk on high speed until mixture is cool and stiff peaks form, about 6 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Use immediately.

STEP-BY-STEP MERINGUE

Steps:

• If you are using the meringue for a baked pie begin making the meringue at least 20 minutes before the pie is done baking (if using refrigerated eggs as preferred) so that the meringue can be applied to a piping hot filling. Once the meringue is made it should be applied to the pie within 5 minutes or it will begin to lose volume. If you are using the meringue for a refrigerated pie instead of using Cream of Tartar make a cornstarch mixture by combining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mixing thoroughly with 1/3 cup of cold water, heat the mixture on the stove in a small saucepan while stirring constantly over low heat until it thickens, then set aside to cool.
• For a meringue with more volume start with refrigerated eggs that are at least several days old. Older egg whites (3-4 days old) create more volume than newer egg whites. Cold eggs separate more easily than temperate eggs because cold egg whites hold together better. Use a clean dry large glass or stainless steel mixing bowl to beat the egg whites in, a small clean dry dish to place the egg in and clean dry beaters to beat the egg whites with. Egg whites will not whip as well if there is any grease or moisture on the bowl, dish or beaters.
• Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites, cracking the egg shell gently in the center of the side by knocking it against the counter. Placing your thumbnails on either side of the crack in the egg shell, gently pull the egg shell halves apart over the dish, transferring the egg yolk from one shell half to the other, allowing the egg white to fall into the dish. Repeat this until all the egg white has fallen into the bowl then set aside the egg yolk. If the egg yolk breaks during this step make certain to remove any traces of yolk (or egg shell) from the egg whites in the dish using an empty egg shell half or a clean dry spoon. The smallest amount of egg yolk in the egg white mixture can cause the egg whites to fail to whip properly. When all the egg white has been placed in the dish and you are certain that the egg white has no yolk or shell in it - transfer the egg whites to the mixing bowl and repeat for all the remaining eggs. Set the egg whites aside.
• If using refrigerated eggs allow 15 to 20 minutes for the egg whites to warm to room temperature. Using either the beaters or a clean dry whisk beat the egg whites until foamy then add the salt and beat well. If you are using the meringue on a pie that will not be refrigerated add the 1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar or 1 tablespoon Piping Gel to the egg white mixture and beat until incorporated. Note: once you start the mixing process you need to continue beating without taking any breaks. Set the mixer to medium high and beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks (peaks that droop to one side when lifting the beaters away from the mixture).
• Reduce the mixer speed to medium and begin to gradually beat the sugar into the egg white mixture one tablespoon at a time. When you have finished adding the sugar it is very important to make certain that the sugar is completely dissolved into the mixture. To test for this simply rub a tiny bit of meringue between your fingers - if you feel any grit in the meringue then the sugar has not been completely incorporated - beat for a minute longer and test again. Using extra fine sugar makes this process faster and easier than using table sugar. For a softer meringue use between 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar (to prevent weeping use just 1/2 cup), for a harder meringue use between 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar (much more likely to weep). A "French Meringue" would require 1 cup of sugar. If you are using the meringue with a refrigerated pie begin incorporating the cooled cornstarch mixture into the meringue one tablespoon at a time until you have finished adding the cornstarch mixture. Now add the vanilla extract and beat until it is well blended into the meringue. The beating process is complete when you can hold a spoonful of meringue upside down and none of the mixture falls off (again make certain there is no sugar 'grit' remaining in the meringue). Continue beating the meringue until the peaks are as stiff as you desire. Once the meringue forms stiff peaks (peaks that hold their exact position when the beaters are removed from the mixture) stop beating - do not over beat the mixture.
• Begin placing the meringue on top of the filling (piping hot if the pie was baked). Putting the meringue on a hot filling will seal the meringue underneath and will help to protect the meringue. Make certain that the meringue touches the edges of the pie crust as this will help to prevent shrinking later. Finish spreading the meringue over the pie.
• Bake the meringue in an oven that is preheated to 325 degrees. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes - be careful to watch the meringue closely as it will begin to brown quickly once it nears the end of the baking cycle. Overcooking can cause the meringue to become tough, sweat or burn. If you want a meringue that is harder or more done lower the temperature to between 250 to 300 degrees and bake for a longer period of time. Meringues should be baked until light brown in color and dry to the touch.
• Serving & Storage: Cut a meringue pie using a cold wet knife dipping between cuts in cold water. There are conflicting answers on whether or not baked meringues need to be refrigerated. They are perfectly safe at room temperatures for up to 2 hours. Meringue pies should be stored in air-tight containers and are best eaten within a day or two. If the pie is refrigerated it will eventually weep. Cooked meringue can be stored refrigerated for several days or frozen for up to 3 months. Meringue with higher sugar content is more likely to weep since it is the sugar in the meringue that attracts moisture. Using the cornstarch mixture in making the meringue helps to reduce weeping in refrigerated or frozen meringue pies.
• A final note: sweating or weeping meringue on fairly fresh pies is caused by one or more of the following conditions: over-baking, over-beating, under-beating, high humidity, refrigeration or when the meringue is placed on a cool filling.

FRENCH MERINGUE & MERINGUE MUSHROOM

Steps:

• In a large bowl with an electric mixer at low speed, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and increase the speed until soft peaks form. Start adding the sugar slowly. Beat until glossy stiff peaks form.
• Place the meringue in a piping bag or large zip-lock bag and push the mixture toward one corner, folding the other corner over, then twisting, allowing you to control the meringue. Cut off just the very tip of the exposed corner so the meringue can exit the bag. Then try it out by dotting four small beads of meringue at the corners of a cookie sheet. Set a sheet of parchment paper over the top; the meringue beads will provide a bond to hold the paper in place.
• Make the mushroom caps by holding the bag over the parchment paper and push until a 1-inch mound of meringue forms. Wet the tip of your finger with water and gently round off any peaks to make a smooth surface.
• For mushroom stems, form peaks on smaller mounds of meringue by pulling the bag up and away from the surface as you push.
• Bake them in a 200° oven for an hour, and then turn oven temperature down to 175 and leave them until they're completely dry to the touch.
• Optional:.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a glass microwave-safe dish in the microwave for about one minute or until melted. Once cool, you can coat the bottom of the mushroom caps with dark chocolate, let them set, and then coat them again with white chocolate. Once the white chocolate is set, you can scratch in the mushroom gills using a toothpick, and attach the stem using a little more white chocolate.
• Or, if not coating the bottom of the mushroom caps, make a hole smaller than a pea in the bottom of a mushroom cap with a toothpick or skewer. Dip the tip of the stem in the melted chocolate and press into the hole in the cap. Allow the chocolate "glue" to harden (it only takes a minute). Place the mushroom upright on its stem and dust the cap lightly with cocoa powder.

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.

BASIC MERINGUES WITH VARIATIONS OR A LARGE PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 100°C - 120°C Do not use the oven fan if possible.
• Beat the four egg whites with the cream of tartar using an electric mixer. Bring to 'soft peak' stage.
• Add 1/3 of the sugar and continue to beat to 'firm peak' stage- approx another 3 minutes. Then add the remaining sugar one spoon at a time whilst continuing to beat.
• Continue beating until the mixture is shiny and the sugar has totally dissolved. Feel the meringue mix with your fingertips and you should not be able to feel any gritty sugar. Continue to beat until the sugar has dissolved, if required.
• Sift the cornflour over the meringue and add the vinegar. Fold in gently.
• Use a spoon or pipe the mixture to form meringues onto a cookie tray lined with baking paper.
• Bake approx 60 minutes, or until firm and dry. During cooking reduce the oven temperature if the meringues are browning rather than drying out. When cooked, turn the oven off and leave the oven door slightly ajar. Allow the meringues to cool in the oven for about an hour, or leave overnight.
• Store in an airtight container. They should keep at least a few days.
• ____VARIATIONS ____.
• Flavoured meringues-add some vanilla or other essence of your choice whilst folding in the cornflour.
• Coloured meringues- add some food colouring of your choice and beat through before folding in the cornflour.
• Chocolate meringues- sift in 2 tablespoons of Dutch cocoa with the cornflour. You can also add ground or finely chopped nuts if desired.
• Coconut meringues- lightly fold through 1/2 cup of shredded or dessicated coconut with the cornflour.
• Almond meringues- fold through 1/2 cup ground almonds with the cornflour. You can also add some almond essence if desired.
• Lime or Lemon Meringues- fold through finely zested lime or lemon zest with the cornflour. A teaspoon of juice can be used instead of/substitute for the white vinegar.
• Sprinkled meringues- sprinkle meringues with finely chopped nuts or 100's and thousands prior to baking.
• For a Large Pavlova- Draw a 22-25 cm (9-10 inch) circle on the baking paper. Turn paper over and place on a large cookie sheet/tray. Use the entire mixture to pile onto the circle. Smooth over the surface and bake for 90 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the pavlova in the closed oven for another hour. After an hour open the oven door and leave the pavlova in the oven to cool. Serve topped with whipped cream or vanilla yogurt. Top with some fruit or grated chocolate. Can also be served with lemon butter/curd instead of cream.
• Small Pavlovas/Individual pavlovas- make as for large pavlova but use 6-8 spoonfuls of meringue per pavlova. Pile the meringue as high as possible. Bake for about 45 minutes.