A sweet dessert that is also a work of art.
Table of Contents
Whoever said you can’t play with your food probably never made meringue nests before. Calling these sweet treats meringue nests might be the most accurate name for any dish. That’s because this recipe is a simple batch of meringue that you put into the shape of a nest. That nest can then become the home of anything you want. Therefore, the dessert is just getting started when you finish making your meringue nests.
Of course, you can worry about what to put in the nest later. The meringue itself couldn’t be easier to put together. As long as you can beat a few eggs, stir in the other ingredients, and use a piping bag, you will have no problem creating these meringue nests. Even better, when it’s all over, you’ll also get to enjoy the sweetness of these light and delicious meringue-based creations.
Are Meringue Nests Healthy?
Meringue nests don’t provide much nutritional value. Even the egg whites don’t add much nutrition. The rest of the recipe is mostly sugar and cream. That’s not to say that it’s an unhealthy recipe; it just doesn’t provide many vitamins and nutrients. The key is putting something like fruit inside the meringue nest that can provide some nutrients and make this a reasonably healthy dessert.
Full Speed Ahead…
One of the best pieces of advice I can share for this recipe is to make sure you beat the eggs at full speed until they’re properly foamy. Keep in mind that this isn’t a recipe that you’ll want to rush. The tartar and sugar should be added gradually. In fact, it could take 5 to 10 minutes to fully add the sugar until it is completely dissolved and you have soft peaks. Finally, don’t be in a rush to take the nests out of the oven. Allow them to cool off completely before doing anything else with them.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat
Set oven to 200°F and prepare baking sheet.
Whip
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks.
Stiffen
Gradually add sugar, then vanilla, until stiff peaks form.
Pipe
Shape meringue into nests on a baking sheet.
Bake
Cook for 2 hours until crisp, then cool in the oven.
Fill
Add cream or fruit to nests before serving.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Once cooled, meringue nests can be placed in plastic zip-lock bags or airtight containers. They should remain good if stored in the fridge for at least a week, longer if you opt to keep them in the freezer.
Older eggs tend to be less stable, which is why it’s best to use fresh eggs when making meringue.
When making meringue, cold eggs can reduce your volume. Therefore, room temperature eggs are always your best option.
Serving Suggestions
Once you have your meringue nests, we suggest filling them with some combination of cream, custard, and fruit. But you might also enjoy something to drink with them. I might recommend a Strawberry Protein Shake or perhaps a Peanut Butter Keto Low Carb Smoothie. I’ve also found that a great dessert drink to have is Vegan Hot Chocolate, at least depending on the time of year.
If you’re a fan of sweet desserts, there are also a few other recipes I think you should try. For starters, I would recommend an Egg White Chocolate Soufflé, which I promise isn’t as hard to make as you might think. Personally, I’m quite partial to these Greek Yogurt Brownies. Also, if you want to step out of your comfort zone a little and try something new, I would recommend Funfetti Protein Cookies or Gluten Free Carrot Cake Truffles.
Meringue Nests
Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 200°F (93°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
In a clean, dry mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
-
Gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat the mixture. Once all the sugar is added, beat until stiff peaks form and the meringue is glossy.
-
Beat in the vanilla extract until just combined.
-
Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the meringue into small circles on the prepared baking sheet, building up the edges to form nests.
-
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours, or until the meringues are crisp and dry. Turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside, with the door slightly ajar.
-
Once cooled, fill the meringue nests with your choice of whipped cream, curd, or fresh fruit before serving.
Nutrition
The post Meringue Nests appeared first on Food Faith Fitness.
