Swiss Meringue For Sugar Plum Fairy Food

SWISS MERINGUE

Steps:

• Set up a double boiler (a pot filled with water not all the way to the top) and bring the water to a simmer.
• In a very clean heatproof bowl (I use the bowl of my stand mixer) whisk together the egg whites and the sugar.
• Set the bowl over the double boiler, making sure the water is not touching the bottom of the bowl, and whisk while the mixture heats to 160F. You can check with a kitchen thermometer, or if you do not have one the mixture will become very liquid as the sugar melts and it should feel very smooth between your fingers. This will take about 5-7 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to your stand mixer (or you can do it with a hand mixer but it will take much longer), whip at high speed with your whisk attachment to cool the mixture down.
• Continue whipping at high speed until stiff peaks are reached. The mixture will become very thick, glossy, and almost marshmallow like. This will take about 6-8 minutes of whipping.

HOW TO MAKE SWISS MERINGUE

Steps:

• Using your Swiss meringue: Swiss meringue is best when used immediately and served the same day. Do not refrigerated it in bulk or it will lose its lightness and become weepy. However, you can frost your cake or cupcakes and refrigerate overnight if needed; the meringue will be less airy the next day, but still fine.

SWISS MERINGUE FOR TRADITIONAL BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Fill medium saucepan one quarter full with water. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring water to a simmer.
• Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of electric mixer and place over saucepan. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. Test by rubbing between your fingers.
• Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and whip, starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix until combined. Use meringue immediately.

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.

SWISS MERINGUE

Steps:

• Fill medium saucepan one quarter full with water. Set the saucepan over medium heat, and bring water to a simmer.
• Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of electric mixer, and place over saucepan. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. Test by rubbing between your fingers.
• Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and whip, starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix until combined. Use meringue immediately.

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment; trace six circles measuring 3 inches in diameter on each. Turn paper over so ink is face down.
• Place meringue in an 18-inch pastry bag fitted with a jumbo star tip (Ateco #824). Pipe meringue into disks filling the circles, starting at center and working outward in a spiral. Pipe two more layers around edge, forming a bowl.
• Bake 1 hour, until meringue is set and no longer tacky. Reduce heat to 175 degrees. Bake until meringue is completely dry and crisp but not at all brown, 1 hour or more. Remove from oven; store in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• Place jam in pan over low heat. Cook until liquid, about 5 minutes. Pass through fine strainer; discard solids. Place jam in an airtight container until ready to use.
• Using a small brush, lightly coat berries with egg white. Sprinkle with superfine sugar until well coated, shaking off excess.
• In bowl of electric mixer, whip cream to soft peaks. Add jam; fold in, using rubber spatula. Place meringue bowls in jumbo paper cupcake liners set on plates. Spoon plum mixture into meringues; top with berries and spun sugar. Serve immediately.

SWISS MERINGUE FOR SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Steps:

• Fill a medium saucepan one-quarter full with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer.
• Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heat-proof bowl or bowl of electric mixer; place over saucepan. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes. Test by rubbing between your fingers. Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment; whisk on low speed, gradually increasing to high speed, until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla; mix until combined. Use immediately.

BROWN SUGAR MERINGUES WITH RED WINE PLUMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Blend together the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla to make a paste. Whisk the egg whites until they are stiff and glossy, then whisk in the sugar in three goes, adding a little paste and whisking back to firm peaks each time. Keep whisking until the meringue is thick and heavy.
• Spoon six meringue heaps onto the baking sheet, spaced apart, then shape into nests by making dips in the centres with the back of a spoon. Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the oven and leave to cool in the oven for a further hr.
• Put the wine, sugar and cinnamon stick in a medium pan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the plums, then poach gently for 4-5 mins until just tender. Remove the plums with a slotted spoon, peel off the skins, then set aside.
• Increase the heat under the sauce and boil hard until reduced to a thick syrup, about 5 mins. Pour into a jug; leave to cool.
• To serve, set the meringue nests on serving plates and spoon the crème fraîche into the centres. Place three plum halves on each and drizzle over the sauce. Serve without delay.

PLUM MERINGUES

Steps:

• Using a small knife, remove the pits from plums without cutting plums entirely in half. Place plums in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring stock syrup and bay leaves to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Immediately pour syrup over plums and let cool completely.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. With the mixer on low, slowly add superfine sugar; increase speed and continue whisking until firm peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until meringue is smooth and shiny and stiff peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Drain plums and pat dry with paper towels, removing as much syrup as possible. Gently fold plums into meringue mixture.
• Using two large spoons, scoop one-quarter of the meringue mixture and pass it between both spoons to form a rounded oval shape; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining meringue. Transfer to oven and bake for 2 hours.
• Cool meringues slightly on baking sheet; carefully transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely in a dry place before serving.