How to Make Meringue

Guide Note Meringue adds the finishing touch to many delicious desserts. How to Make Meringue will show you how to turn a combination of sugar and egg whites into frothy delight!

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Make the Meringue
• Bake the Meringue
• Variations
• Conclusion
• References

Meringue Tips

1. Make sure that all of your equipment is super clean.
2. Don't use cream of tartar in a copper bowl.
3. Bring your eggs to room temperature before separating.
4. Check that your egg whites are completely free of yolk.
5. Leave the oven door ajar to release moisture.

More Mahalo Food How Tos

• How to Smoke a Turkey
• How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge
• How to Make Apple Cider
• How to Make Malasadas
• How to Make Guacamole
• How to Grill Salmon

Newest How To Guides

Tips on dealing with difficult people

Great ideas for mixed drinks

Beat the cold of winter by making the perfect cup of hot chocolate

Need to save money? Learn how to spend less on food

All the information you need to make the digital TV switch

• by Liz Casler

Introduction

• Meringue is a simple mixture of egg whites and sugar. It can act as a fluffy shell or topping for pies and ice cream, or stand alone, formed into cloud-like cookies that dissolve in your mouth. Combine meringue with your favorite fruits in summer for light, airy desserts.

What You'll Need

(Creative Commons photo by rusvaplauke)

• To ensure the success of your meringue, make sure that all your equipment is clean and free of oil residues. To this end, it's best to use glass or metal instruments rather than plastic, as plastic sometimes retains oil even after washing.

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup fine sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt or cream of tartar

Equipment

• Electric mixer
• Glass, stainless steel, or copper bowl (if copper, don't use cream of tartar or other acid)¹
• 2 cookie sheets (optional)
• Parchment paper (optional)

Make the Meringue

(Creative Commons photo by muriel amaury)

• Use only the purest ingredients when making meringue. Egg whites with any impurities, including remnants of egg yolk, won't froth well.¹

1. Place the oven racks in the center of the oven.
2. Preheat the oven to 200° F.
3. Line each cookie sheet with parchment paper.
4. Combine the salt and egg whites in your bowl, making sure that the whites are completely free from any speck of egg yolk.
5. Beat the whites on medium speed until they form soft peaks.
6. Add the sugar gradually to the whites, continuing to beat.
7. Stop beating once all of the sugar is incorporated.

Bake the Meringue

(Creative Commons photo by Jon Aslund)

• You can use meringue in quite a few ways. You can bake it on top of a sweet dessert, form it into the shape of a pie shell and bake it before filling it, or form it into meringue kisses to bake and eat.

For Meringue Kisses

1. Use a teaspoon or piping bag to dollop mounds of the meringue onto the cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Put the cookie sheets into the preheated oven.
3. Leave the oven door ajar by placing a wooden spoon handle or ball of aluminum foil inside the opening.¹
4. Bake for around two hours, or until the meringues are completely dry throughout.

For a Meringue Pie Shell

1. Grease a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.²
2. Spoon the meringue onto the cookie sheet and use the back of the spoon or a spatula to form it into a pie shell shape.²
3. Put the meringue in your preheated oven and bake until dry throughout, as with the meringue kisses.

Variations

• You can easily twist the traditional meringue by adding flavorings, toppings, or fillings.

1. Use brown sugar instead of white.
2. Fold a few handfuls of chocolate chips or nuts into the meringue before baking.³
3. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite flavoring -- vanilla, almond, orange, or another extract -- after you finish adding the sugar.
4. Add food coloring after the sugar for a more playful treat.
5. Make an Italian meringue by boiling the sugar in water before adding it to the egg whites.⁴

Conclusion

• Impress and delight your friends when you bring your fluffy meringues to your next get-together. Meringues are both tasty and low in fat, so there's no question of failing to please the crowd. Grill some salmon and make a pitcher of sangria to combine with your meringues for a fun summer meal.

Subscribe to Mahalo's Weekly How To Email Newsletter

• Get our best How To tips and ideas in your inbox each week
• Email
  

References for How to Make Meringue

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} FXCuisine: Make Your Own Meringues
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Epicurious.com: Meringue Recipe
3. ↑ MarthaStewart.com: Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies
4. ↑ Food Network: Italian Meringue