These light fluffy basic meringues are the perfect way to use up leftover egg whites after making ice cream or other treats.
Meringues are often classified as a hard recipe to make on recipe sites but they are actually quite easy to make if you follow my tips and tricks 🙂
Tip and trick for making good meringues
- Make sure there is no yolk in your egg whites. They will prevent the egg whites from whipping properly.
- Make sure your bowl and mixing tools are really clean. Some have even suggested rubbing half a lemon over the mixing bowl before using to ensure any greasy residue is removed.
- All the sugar slowly, little bit by little bit. Do not be tempted to dump it all in at once. A few tablespoons at a time is fine. Make sure you beat the egg whites well between each addition.
- Low and slow is the way to go when it comes to cooking these basic meringues. Good meringues take time. Use your lowest oven setting, (mine is 212°F (100°C)) but go lower for longer if you can.
To make the basic meringues
To start with put the oven onto preheat at 212°F (100°C) or lower if you can. Line two baking trays with baking paper.
Make sure your bowl is very clean. You don't want any grease or residue in the bowl or it will stop you from getting lovely firm, soft peaks. Separate the eggs and put the egg yokes aside for another recipe, such as my Strawberry Ice cream
Hot tip: Crack the eggs one at a time into a small seperate bowl. That way if one yoke breaks, you can put the egg aside for something else and try again. Do not add any yokes to your eggs whites or they will not whip properly.
Measure your sugar and have it near the mixing bowl. Prepare your piping bag with a fluted or smooth nozzle, if using. It helps to have the edges folded back and it propped up in a mug to make filling easier.
Beat egg whites using a handheld electric mixer or stand mixer until opaque, stiff white peaks start to form. Gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon or two at a time, beating in well between additions. You want to beat in as much air as possible and get a nice smooth, glossy meringue that forms stiff, opaque white peaks when you lift the beaters out.
Continue to add sugar until it is all mixed in. Add the salt, vinegar and vanilla essence and beat well. The mix should be thick, glossy and form beautiful large peaks and stick to the beaters.
Hot tip: to remove the extra meringue from the beaters, tap them against each other. Don't tap them on the edge of the bowl or you will knock out some of all that fluffy air you have worked so hard to beat in!
Transfer mix to a piping bag if using and pipe meringue onto baking paper in two-inch (five cm) swirls, about one inch (2.5cms) apart.
Hot tip: if you don't have a piping bag you can spoon the meringues onto the baking paper instead. They will still taste delicious.
For fun rainbow meringues sprinkle with 100's and 1000's or your edible sprinkles of choice.
Bake meringues for 1.5 hours, longer if using a lower oven temperature. To check they are done tap the bottom of the meringues, they should make a hollow sound.
Leave trays in the oven, turn off and allow them to cool completely.
Delicious on their own, with some homemade ice cream or whipped cream and fresh berries.
Storage
These basic meringues are best eaten on the day they are made for maximum crispness. You can store them in an air-tight container lined with baking paper for up to a week, but they will start to lose their crunch over time and go sticky and chewy.
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📋 Recipe
Basic meringues
Equipment
- Electric hand beaters or a stand mixer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (160gms) caster sugar
- 4 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven as low at it will go, ideally 212°F (100°C ) or less and line two baking trays with non stick baking paper.
- Beat egg whites in a bowl using hand mixer or stand mixer until it starts to form stiff opaque white peaks
- Slowly add sugar, a table spoon or two at a time, make sure sugar is well beaten in in between adding more sugar.
- Add the salt, vanilla and vinegar and mix in well
- Add mix to a clean pipping bag fitted with a fluted nozzle.
- Pipe on to tray in small circles about 2 inches (5cm) diameter, spaced about 1 inch (2.5cm) apart.
- Sprinkle with rainbow coloured sprinkles (optional)
- Bake in oven for 1.5 hours or until crisp and hollow sounding when tapped.
- Turn off oven and allow to cool completely.
- Eat immediately or store in a air tight container for up to a week
- Delicious on their own or served with ice cream, fresh cream or fresh fruit!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate based on an online database. The nutritional content of ingredients may vary by brand. If you require accurate nutritional information, you should calculate this based on the specific brands and products you are using.
Alex says
I absolutely love meringues - they're one of my favourite sweet treats. Thanks for including all of your tips to achieving the perfect ones!
Sylvie says
Thanks for all the great tips and tricks to make meringues! They are definitely a great treat to make with leftover egg whites 🙂
Robyn says
The 100s and 1000s add such a pretty and colourful touch! And thanks for all the tips, I struggle to make meringues so will follow your advice next time! 🙂