Meringue Easter Baskets
This Easter, jazz up your dessert spread with these cute meringue baskets! Picture this: pillowy meringue shells, topped with chocolate eggs and green grass coconut, filled with your favourite cream, jam, or chocolate. And get this—the handles are meringue too! It's like a mini edible masterpiece that's as fun to make as it is to eat. Trust me, your guests will be swooning over these sweet treats!
Ingredients:
- 150g egg whites (at room temperature)
- 300g icing sugar
- Gel food coloring (green)
- Shredded coconut
- Chocolate eggs
- Filling of your choice: whipped cream, curds, jam, or chocolate ganache
- White Candy Melts
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 90°C
2. Prepare 2 parchment paper sheets to line a baking sheet. Draw circles approximately 3/4cm in diameter as a template for your baskets. Use this as a guideline for the basket handle as well.
3. In a clean mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites at medium speed until they become foamy.
4. Gradually add the icing sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, while continuing to whisk.
5. Increase the speed to high and whisk for 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks.
6. Prepare piping bags fitted with a 1M star tip for the basket and a 16/18 star tip for the basket handle. Reserve a quarter of the meringue for the basket handle.
7. Pipe the meringue onto the baking sheet in basket shapes, ensuring to leave a hollow center for filling.
8. On the second baking sheet, pipe the basket handles, using the width of the template circles as a guide.
9. Bake the meringue baskets in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
10. After baking, leave the oven door open and let the meringues cool completely.
11. Prepare the "grass" coconut by rubbing a few drops of green gel color into the shredded coconut.
12. Once cooled, assemble the baskets and stick basket handles using melted candy melts onto the basket top. Chill in the fridge briefly.
13. Fill the hollow centers of the meringue baskets with your chosen filling, sprinkle shredded coconut on top, and place chocolate eggs on top.
14. Serve and enjoy these delightful Easter treats!
Feel free to get creative and have fun making these adorable and delicious meringue Easter baskets!