Meringue is a light, airy, sweet dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. It is the perfect accompaniment for cakes, pies and other desserts, or it can be eaten on its own. It is a versatile dessert that is popular all around the world.

Brief History and Origin

Meringue has its origins in the Swiss town of Meiringen. It is believed that a Swiss pastry chef, Gasparini, was the first to make a meringue in 1720. He made it for dinner in honor of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna. The meringue was so well-received by the guests that it soon became popular in other parts of Europe.

In France, the meringue was first made in 1755 by the famous French chef Nicolas Appert. He is credited with inventing the meringue by combining egg whites, sugar and lemon juice. The meringue was a popular dessert in France and eventually made its way to America in the 19th century.

Meringue – The Recipe

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr
• Total time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 egg whites
• 60g icing sugar
• 60g caster sugar

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven and preheat it to 100 degrees C. Also, prepare a baking sheet by lining them with parchment paper.
2. Add egg whites to a large mixing bowl and whisk them using an electric mixer until fluffy and stiff peaks appear.
3. Increase the speed of the mixer to high and slowly add caster sugar, a dessertspoonful at a time and beat for 3 to 4 seconds between each addition of sugar, avoiding overmixing. The prepared mixture will be shiny and thick.
4. Add one-third of the icing sugar to the mixture and fold gently using a rubber spatula. Continue adding the remaining icing sugar in two portions and folding in between each addition until the mixture becomes billowy and smooth.
5. Drop dessertspoonful of batter on the prepared baking sheets while maintaining enough space. Place in the oven and bake for 1 ¼ hour or until meringues become crisp and the color turns pale coffee.
6. When ready, remove from oven, leave to rest for some time, then transfer to the wire rack until cooled completely. Serve and enjoy! 

Popular variations

Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:

• Citrus Meringues: These are an absolute delight with a crunchy exterior crust and creamy citrus within. They melt in your mouth with a tangy explosion.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Meringues: The addition of chocolate and peanut butter gives these airy and sugary meringues a deep flavor without making them heavy on the palate. These will surely become the family favorites.
• Peppermint Meringue Cookies: Inspired by the Christmas flavors, these meringues are delicate and flavored with peppermint. These are best for sharing at a party or for the kids around.
• Hazelnut Meringue: Meringue naturally leans toward sweetness, and adding nuts to the meringue reduces the sweetness to light and airy. It also has a very lovely nutty flavor.
• Berry-swirl Meringues: The meringues with swirls of berry syrup are not just vibrant looking but delicious. We love the tangy and sweet berry flavor in the sweet chewy meringues.