Meringues are a delightful dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. They are light, airy, and have a crisp texture. The basic recipe for meringues is quite simple and requires only a few ingredients. The magic of meringues lies in the transformation of simple ingredients into a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy.
Ingredients:
4 egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 cup (220g) caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
Method:
Preheat your oven to 120°C (250°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites and a pinch of salt until they become foamy. This is best done with an electric mixer on medium speed.
Gradually add the caster sugar, a spoonful at a time, while continuing to beat the eggs. Once all the sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form.
Gently fold in the vanilla essence using a spatula.
Spoon the meringue mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. You can make them any size you like, but remember they will expand a little in the oven.
Bake for about 1 hour, or until the meringues are crisp on the outside and dry on the inside. You can test this by inserting a skewer or toothpick into the center of one meringue.
Turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside until they cool completely. This will prevent them from cracking.
Once cooled, remove from the oven and enjoy!
