How To Make A Basic Meringue

Meringues are light, airy desserts that seem to melt right in your mouth. They can be eaten just as they are or filled or served with whipped cream, ice cream, or fruit, See more at: cook123.com

The two main ingredients for making meringues are egg whites and sugar. In this recipe, Annie Schennum also flavors the meringues with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. The key, according to Schennum, is to whip the egg whites continuously until they are stiff before adding any sugar. Then you slowly add the sugar, all the while whipping on high speed, until all of the sugar is incorporated into the meringue. "Take your time and do not rush adding the sugar," she counsels. "And it could take up to 8 to 10 minutes to add all of th sugar."

The vanilla is added after the last of the sugar. Once it is all mixed, Schennum uses a piping bag to create the meringue shapes on baking sheets covered with parchment paper. This allows her to make a circle onto the parchment that is used as a guide to create the meringue discs. She says that you can also simply use a couple of large spoons to create cookie shaped meringues as well.

Once they are on the baking sheet they should be placed in a 225 to 250 degree F. oven for about one hour and fifteen minutes until completely dried out. "Once you can pick them up without sticking to the cookie sheet they are ready," says Schennum. After they are cooled on a wire rack they are ready to either eat as is or to become part of a dessert, such as using whipped cream with strawberries or whipped cream and a raspberry coulis (syrup). - See more at: cook123.com/recipes/Meringues.html#sthash.ANoOQ…