AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (2024)

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AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (1)

Meringues are the foundation of many desserts (at my house in Bologna, we call them "spumini"). They are excellent when crumbled for stuffing ice cream cakes or whole, used as a decoration. They are also delicious eaten alone, perhaps covered with melted chocolate or flavored with coffee. They are simple to prepare, but you must arm yourself with patience and be sure to perform some fundamental steps: let's see the recipe together!

AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (2)

  • 6egg whites
  • 1¾(400 gr)caster sugar
  • 1 tbsplemon juice

First steps

Preparing delicious meringues is not difficult, however a few directions need to be followed precisely! Firstlyyou must keep in mind the meringue's two main enemies: fat and moisture. The tools that we will usemust be perfectly clean and dry. In order to beat the eggs well,avoid plastic or wooden bowls, which always retain a little fat residue from previous preparations.When you separate the egg whites, be careful not to "dirty" them with traces of yolk, in case you break one, it is advisable to throw everything out and start over. The lemon juice helps to render the meringues glossy once they are cooked, but personally I don't find this step necessary. As for the salt, I prefer not to add it because it encourages the leakage of liquids, which is to be avoided when you beat the egg whites.

Firstly,preheat oven at 160 °F, keeping the oven door half-opento prevent the formation of moisture. To maintain a constant temperature (which may range between 140 °F and 175 °F)I recommend you use anoven thermometer: which is cheap but will prove useful in many occasions.Never exceed 175 °C; the meringues will not have to cook properly, but dry out without turning brown.

Whipping egg whites

Remove the eggs from the fridge and let them rest until they have reached room temperature.Separate the egg whites from the yolks(which we will be able to use with the meringues for the preparation of other desserts, such as theLEMON SEMIFREDDO).Add half the sugarto the egg whites and begin to beat with a food processor or an electric beater, then sprinkle the remaining sugar and lemon as the mixture begins to swell. When the egg whites are glossy and firm you will be ready to prepare the meringues.

AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (3)

AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (4)

Meringues

As soon as the mixture is ready, insert it in a pastry bag and form the meringues on a non-stick pastry tray. If you do not dispose of a perfectly non-stick surface, wrap the pan with a sheet of baking paper. A soon as the meringues are readybake for about 3 hours, then turn off the heat and let stand inside the oven (always keeping the over door semi-open) until they are cold. When the meringues come off the pan without breaking and are perfectly dry inside, they will be ready!

AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (5)

AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (6)

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ITALIAN LEMON SEMIFREDDO COVERED WITH MERINGUES

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Meringues

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Meringues are the foundation of many desserts (at my house in Bologna, we call them "spumini"). They are excellent when crumbled for stuffing ice cream cakes or whole, used as a decoration. They are also delicious eaten alone, perhaps covered with melted chocolate or flavored with coffee. They are simple to prepare, but you must arm yourself with patience and be sure to perform some fundamental steps: let's see the recipe together!

Author: Filippo Trapella

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites
  • 13/4(400 gr) caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (8)
  2. Preparing delicious meringues is not difficult, however a few directions need to be followed precisely! Firstly you must keep in mind the meringue's two main enemies: fat and moisture. The tools that we will use must be perfectly clean and dry. In order to beat the eggs well, avoid plastic or wooden bowls, which always retain a little fat residue from previous preparations. When you separate the egg whites, be careful not to "dirty" them with traces of yolk, in case you break one, it is advisable to throw everything out and start over. The lemon juice helps to render the meringues glossy once they are cooked, but personally I don't find this step necessary. As for the salt, I prefer not to add it because it encourages the leakage of liquids, which is to be avoided when you beat the egg whites.
  3. FIRST STEPS - Firstly, preheat oven at 160 °F, keeping the oven door half-open to prevent the formation of moisture. To maintain a constant temperature (which may range between 60 °C and 80 °C) I recommend you use an oven thermometer: which is cheap but will prove useful in many occasions. Never exceed 175 °C; the meringues will not have to cook properly, but dry out without turning brown.
  4. WHIPPING EGG WHITES - Remove the eggs from the fridge and let them rest until they have reached room temperature. Separate the egg whites from the yolks (which we will be able to use with the meringues for the preparation of other desserts, such as the LEMON SEMIFREDDO). Add half the sugar to the egg whites and begin to beat with a food processor or an electric beater, then sprinkle the remaining sugar and lemon as the mixture begins to swell. When the egg whites are glossy and firm you will be ready to prepare the meringues.
  5. MERINGUES - As soon as the mixture is ready, insert it in a pastry bag and form the meringues on a non-stick pastry tray. If you do not dispose of a perfectly non-stick surface, wrap the pan with a sheet of baking paper. A soon as the meringues are ready bake for about 3 hours, then turn off the heat and let stand inside the oven (always keeping the over door semi-open) until they are cold. When the meringues come off the pan without breaking and are perfectly dry inside, they will be ready!

ITALIAN LEMON SEMIFREDDO covered with meringues »

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  1. AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (9)poo bum researcher says

    your recipe is amazing
    i made it for my colleges at work

    Reply

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AUTHENTIC MERINGUES RECIPE for cakes and semifreddo - philosokitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to meringue? ›

How to Make Meringue Successfully
  • When making meringues, always cook egg whites to avoid salmonella poisoning.
  • Don't use packaged egg whites to make meringue. ...
  • Use fresh egg whites. ...
  • Use eggs at room temperature. ...
  • Never let any yolk get into the whites.
  • Don't overbeat egg whites.

Which sugar is best for meringues and why? ›

Caster sugar is the usual option for meringues – the small grains dissolve easily in the foamy mixture. However, Angela Nilsen of BBC Good Food magazine has taken this a step further, by using half caster and half icing sugar, which is, of course, even finer.

Why do you put icing sugar in meringues? ›

Recipe Notes

If you want, you can add some crème of tartar (an acidic powder) to the meringue to stabilize the mixture. Add icing sugar instead of caster sugar as it dissolves quickly and it will make the process a little easier. Incorporate the sugar slowly as you beat it through the meringue.

What is meringue in cake? ›

Meringue is loosely defined as a mixture of beaten egg whites and granulated sugar whipped together.

What must be avoided when making meringue? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meringue
  1. Adding Sugar Too Quickly.
  2. Skipping Cream of Tartar.
  3. Mixing in a Dirty Bowl.
  4. Using Cold Eggs.
  5. Overbeating the Egg Whites.
  6. Squeezing the Air Out.
  7. Baking at Too Low a Temperature.
Mar 19, 2024

Why do you put vinegar in meringue? ›

Acid. Whether it be vinegar, lemon juice, cream of tartar, or a combination, an acid will greatly improve the structure of meringue. Acid not only helps meringue whip up and aerate more quickly, it also keeps it stable. Without acid, meringue is more likely to collapse either during or after mixing.

What are the 3 types of meringue? ›

But not all meringues are the same. There are in fact three major types: French, Swiss, and Italian. The distinction depends on how the key ingredients — egg whites and sugar — are combined and whether any heat is involved in the process.

Is it better to use granulated or powdered sugar for meringue? ›

It can be made with any sugar. One cup of superfine sugar or packed brown sugar is equal to 1 cup of granulated sugar; 1-3/4 cups powdered sugar equals 1 cup granulated. Superfine sugar may dissolve more readily and produce a smoother glossier meringue, but volume will not be as great.

How do you keep meringues white when baking? ›

The oven temp will drop when you open the door to put the meringues in there so this higher temperature helps to mitigate some of that heat loss. We then turn the heat down lower and bake for an hour. This ensures that they stay bright white and get crispy and dry throughout.

What does a pinch of salt do to meringue? ›

White sugar and egg whites are the main players, and many recipes add in salt and/or cream of tartar as helpers. Salt helps to balance the sweetness a little. Cream of tartar is a dry acid (tartaric acid! thank you winemaking by-product!) to help with stabilization.

Can you leave meringue in oven overnight? ›

This is a good cookie to make in the evening; meringues can be left in the oven (with the heat turned off) overnight. Baking vegan? A good substitute for the egg whites in this recipe is aquafaba, the liquid drained from a can of chickpeas.

What happens if you add sugar too soon to meringue? ›

In the case of the meringues, adding the sugar at the start of mixing produced a cookie that was dull on the exterior, with a too-fine crumb within. The cookies made when the sugar was added at the very end had an overly airy texture (tasters compared it to Styrofoam) and a grainy consistency.

What is the best meringue for cake? ›

French meringue made with less sugar is often used to lighten base mixtures such as in a chiffon cake and or flourless cake. French meringue is the least stable of the three meringue types but the lightest and the most airy.

Will meringues go soft on a cake? ›

However the meringue may soften slightly as it will absorb some moisture from the sponge cake. Also note that in humid or damp conditions the meringue is more likely to become soft as the sugar in the meringue will attract moisture from the surrounding air.

What is a Swiss meringue? ›

2. Swiss Meringue. Swiss meringue is denser and glossier as compared to its French cousin. It is made by first mixing together egg whites and sugar, then heated over a bain-marie, or double-boiler until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture reaches a temperature of 71°C.

Why isn't my meringue getting fluffy? ›

Fats, water, or dirt may compromise the meringue and prevent it from achieving the fluffy heights you desire. Avoid plastic bowls, which can retain traces of oil. Separate your eggs carefully. Enough yolk will also prevent the egg white proteins from binding together in the way you need.

What is the main ingredient in meringue which makes it light and fluffy? ›

Meringue is a classic confection that has stood the test of time. It is a delicate foam made by beating egg whites and sugar until they reach stiff peaks. The resulting texture is light and airy, and the taste is sweet and ethereal.

Why does cream of tartar help meringue? ›

Cream of tartar stabilizes the tiny bubbles in the egg whites, by precluding the egg proteins from sticking together. It thus speeds up the egg white whipping process and contributes to a stable, billowy, glossy meringue, perfect for cookies, topping pies, and folding into cake.

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