Basic meringue
- Published: 31 May 07
- Updated: 8 Nov 24
Think meringue is too fiddly or time consuming to make from scratch for a pavlova or roulade? Think again! You’re just three ingredients away from making perfect meringues every time, with this easy basic meringue recipe.
Then as soon as you’re feeling like a pro, be inspired by the recipes in our best meringue collection – over 30 to browse.
-
Serves 6 -
Hands-on time 15 min, oven time 1 hour 15 min-1 hour 30min, plus cooling
Before you start
It’s really important to make sure your bowl is spotlessly clean when whisking egg whites – even a tiny amount of grease will stop the whites from stiffening up. It’s best to avoid plastic bowls as they’re the most likely to harbour fats or oils from a previous recipe.
Wondering whether the sugar has been properly mixed into your egg whites? Take a pinch of mixture and rub it between your thumb and finger – if it feels grainy, it needs mixing a little more.
If you want a neater finish to your meringues, transfer the mixture to a piping bag with a wide nozzle and pipe it onto the baking tray.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 121kcals
- Fat
- trace (trace saturated)
- Protein
- 1.6g
- Carbohydrates
- 30.6g (30.6g sugars)
- Salt
- 0.1g
FAQs
When should you use French meringue?
It is best to use French meringue when the meringue will be cooked further, either on a pie or to make crisp meringues (for nests, shards etc). If not cooking further, you should use Swiss or Italian meringue.
What are the 3 types of meringue?
French, Swiss, Italian (there are others but these are considered the main ones). French meringue is made with raw egg whites and sugar. Swiss meringue is made when eggs and sugar are cooked together before being whipped to cool (this type or meringue is the most dense and more stable than French meringue). Italian meringue is made with a hot sugar syrup being added to whipped egg whites. This cooks the eggs and creates the most stable of all three meringue types.
Do you need cream of tartar for meringue?
No, but it can help to stabilise the egg whites.
What is the difference between meringue and pavlova?
Meringue is crisp and might have a chewy centre (depending on how long it's cooked for) while pavlova has the addition of cornflour and vinegar, resulting in a thinner crust and a soft mallow middle.
How do I make my meringue chewy?
Cook for less time. The less cooking, the more chewy it will be in the centre.
What does vinegar do for meringue?
It makes a stable foam so that the meringue better holds its shape (same as creme of tartar and lemon juice aka acid).
delicious. tips
To make these meringues into nests, make the recipe up until the end of step 2 (dolloping the meringues onto the lined baking sheet). Using the back of a metal spoon, press the centre of each meringue down, making a shallow hollow and creating a ‘nest effect’. Continue with step 3.