Gooey Meringue Recipes

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.

EASY S'MORES PIE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl mix crumbs, sugar and salt. Add melted butter and mix until combined and moistened. Press the mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch (23cm) tart pan. Bake the crust in a 350°F/180°C preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, then let it cool completely on a wire rack before adding the filling.
• In a medium heatproof bowl, place chopped chocolate. Set aside. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the heavy cream and butter to a low boil until melted. Remove from the heat and pour mixture over the chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula or a whisk, stir mixture until melted and smooth. If mixture is not completely melted, heat in the microwave for 20 seconds and stir, until melted. Pour mixture over crust and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• In a heatproof bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, and salt, and set mixture over a saucepan of simmering water, keeping heat on low. Constantly yet gently whisk mixture by hand until warm to the touch and smooth, and sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. If you have a thermometer, the temperature should reach 160°F/71°C. Remove from heat.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg white mixture until stiff peaks form and meringue is thick and glossy, about 6-8 minutes (start with low speed and gradually increase to medium-high), adding in vanilla extract near the end.
• Spread meringue gently over chocolate filling and swirl it decoratively using the back of a spoon. Toast topping using a kitchen torch. Place in the fridge until serving.
• Tart will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

GOOEY MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 110c and Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Tip the 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.
• 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.
• Fold in the a third of the icing sugar with a big metal spoon or rubber spatula. Again, don't over-mix. Fold in the rest , The mixture should now look smooth and billowy, almost like a snow drift.
• Scoop up a heaped dessertspoonful of the mixture (or pipe but sometimes this can cause the meringues to drop). Using another dessertspoon, ease it on to the baking sheet. Bake for 1 1⁄2-1 3⁄4 hours in a fan oven (100C), 1 1⁄4 hours in a conventional or gas oven (110C), 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.)