Foolproof Meringue Food

FOOLPROOF SWISS MERINGUE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of water to a simmer in a medium pot.
• Combine sugar, egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Reduce the heat of the pot and place the bowl over the steam. Whisk egg whites lightly until a digital or candy thermometer inserted into the mixture reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), 6 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
• Place bowl back onto the stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Whisk on high speed until egg whites are cool and stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Mixture should hold peaks effortlessly and start balling up around the whisk attachment while appearing silky, shiny, and pure white.
• Use meringue immediately. It will hold its shape without separating for about a week in the refrigerator.

FOOLPROOF MERINGUE

Steps:

• Beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add marshmallow creme, beating until stiff peaks form.
• Spread over pie.
• Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned.

LIGHTEST EVER MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment and set up a piping bag with a medium-size star nozzle.
• In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until very stiff - the whites should stand in stiff, not floppy, peaks when the beaters are lifted out. Once you have reached this point, pour in roughly half the sugar and the vanilla extract and whisk again until the mixture becomes very thick, firm and shiny. Add the remaining sugar and whisk again until thick, firm and shiny. If you like meringues with soft, mallowy centres, just add 1 tsp cornflour and 1 tsp white wine vinegar to the mix along with the sugar.
• Carefully spoon the meringue into the piping bag. Push any air out of the top and tightly twist the end of the piping bag to seal. Gently squeeze until meringue is visible at the end of the nozzle, then begin piping onto your lined baking sheets. Pipe spiralling circles, about 6cm wide and 3 layers high - like you would ice a cupcake to make roughly 18. The meringues will spread slightly as they cook, so leave enough space between each one. Bake in the oven for 1 hr, turning the heat down to 120C/100C fan/gas ½ after 30 mins.
• Remove from the oven - they should peel easily away from the parchment - and cool on a wire rack. Can be made up to a week ahead and kept in an airtight container, or frozen for up to 3 months, between layers of parchment, in an airtight container.
• To make Cream & chocolate meringues for dessert, put 100g dark chocolate in a glass bowl and melt over a pan of gently simmering water. Carefully dip the base of each meringue in to coat, then place on their sides on a plate or tray to set. While the chocolate sets, whip 300ml double cream. Assemble the meringues in pairs and sandwich their chocolate bases together with a good spoonful of cream. Delicious served with ice cream, raspberry coulis or fresh berries.

NEVER-EVER-FAIL MERINGUE

Steps:

• Blend cornstarch and cold water in a saucepan. Add boiling water, and cook until thick and clear. Cool completely.
• Beat egg whites till foamy. Gradually beat in sugar, beating until stiff and glossy. Add salt and vanilla, and slowly beat in cold cornstarch mixture. Beat quickly for several minutes. Spread meringue on filled, cooled 9-inch pie.
• Bake pie at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes until tips of meringue begin to brown.

NO WEEP, NO SHRINK MERINGUE

Steps:

• Mix cornstarch, 2 tbls sugar and water and cook over low heat till mixture is clear -- remove from heat -- in a bowl, whip egg whites until peaked and then slowly add the heated cornstarch-sugar-water mixture.
• Beat until creamy.add salt and 6 tbls sugar and beat again till fluffy -- Pile on your pie and bake in a 350* oven till meringue is gold tinged, usually 20-30 minutes.

MILE HIGH MERINGUE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch, 3 tablespoons sugar, salt, lemon juice and water.
• Bring to a slow boil over medium heat and stir until clear and thick.
• Set aside and cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add cooled cornstarch mixture, beating until mixture thickens.
• Gradually add 6 tablespoons sugar, beating until soft peaks form, approximately 5 to 8 minutes.
• Spoon the prepared meringue over your favorite pie and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

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.

FOOLPROOF MERINGUE

Steps:

• In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, combine egg whites, vanilla and lemon extract. Beat until foamy. Gradually add white sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, covering completely.
• To bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Bake pie in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

PERFECT MERINGUE

Steps:

• Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until frothy.
• Gradually beat sugar a little at a time.
• Continue beating until stiff and glassy. Don't underbeat.
• Beat until all sugar is dissolved.
• Beat in flavoring (optional).
• Pile meringue onto hot pie filling, being careful to seal meringue onto edge of crust to prevent shrinking and weeping.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until delicately browned.