By: May Rostom
Want to prepare Valentine’s Day dessert a couple of days in advance? No problem. This meringue recipe will save you the trouble of running around the kitchen trying to fix some desert on Valentine’s Day, making 12 hearts. Being so light and airy, they satisfy your sweet tooth without turning your stomach.
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup superfine (powdered) white sugar
4 large egg whites, at room temperature (not cold)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (liquid or powder)
Strawberry Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup lightly sweetened (semi-sweet) strawberry puree or strawberry jam
Fresh Berries
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
Directions:
Meringue Hearts: Preheat oven to 130 degrees C. On two baking sheets of parchment paper, draw 6 hearts (12 total) on each piece of parchment paper, using a heart-shaped cookie cutter as your stencil. Place the paper in the tray and place the racks on the upper and lower thirds of your oven.
Using the whisk on your electric mixer beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat the egg whites until they obtain consistency. Add the sugar, a small amount at a time, and continue to beat until the meringue becomes stiffer but not gritty when rubbed between your fingers. If it feels gritty the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between your fingers. Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip.
Also Read: Candle lit dinner for two
Also Read: Happy Valentine's Competition!
Also Read: The week before Valenine's Day - Part 2
Also Read: The week before Valentine's Day
Also Read: Why men are as shallow as women
Pipe the meringue within the 12 heart shapes on the parchment paper. Smooth with a butter knife or spatula.
Bake in preheated oven for about 60 to 70 minutes. Half way through the process, switch the baking sheets between the racks. To know when they’re done, try to release them from the parchment paper, this should be easy. After releasing them from the parchment paper, leave them in the hot yet turned off oven for another 30 minutes.
For the strawberry whipped cream: In a large mixing bowl mix the whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Refrigerate the mix for about 30 minutes. When chilled, beat once more until it’s soft, then add the sweetened strawberry puree, a little at a time, beating just until it stiffens a bit. Adjust to taste.
To assemble dessert: apply the strawberry cream on top of the meringues using a pastry bag. Garnish with berries or strawberry puree. Sandwiching meringues with ice cream is also very tasty, try it!
Left over meringues can be stored for up to a whole week, if kept in an air tight container.
Read More: Top 10 Heart Healthy Valentine Gift Ideas
Read More: Make-up tips for Valentine Day
Read More: Valentine's day: Romance or Retail?!!
Read More: 10 awesome valentine gifts for long distance relationships
Read More: Seeking Definition