Valentine Iced Gems
Indulge in love at first bite with my Valentine's Iced Gems! Sweeten your moments with these heart-shaped delights, a nostalgic twist on a childhood favorite. A buttery cookie base and sweet meringue tops that just scream love in every bite. Whether you're baking for your special someone or just treating yourself, this recipe adds a sprinkle of joy to your celebrations. Let's dive into the fun of homemade Valentine's Iced Gems – where tradition meets sweetness!
Ingredients:
For the Biscuits:
- 75g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 40g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
- 120g all-purpose flour
- A pinch of salt
For the Meringue
- 80g egg white, room temperature
- 160g icing sugar
- Gel food coloring (optional)
Makes approx. 30 cookies
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 170c and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla paste and then mix in flour and salt to form a dough.
3. Roll out the dough (7mm thick) and cut out the cookie base using a small heart cookie (3-4cm) and place them on the baking sheets.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Allow biscuits to cool on the sheets briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Turn down the oven to 90c so it is ready for baking the meringues.
5. In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the icing sugar while continuing to beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. It takes atleast 8 minutes. Optional to colour the meringues. I opted for ombre effect – dark pink, light pink and white.
6. Transfer the meringue to a piping bag with a star tip 4B and pipe hearts onto the cooled biscuits. See video for reference.
7. Place the meringue topped biscuits back in the oven for 35 minutes. Do not open the oven before then as the meringues will crack. You can turn off the oven and leave in the oven with the door ajar.
8. Allow the meringue-topped biscuits to cool in the oven as above or cool on a rack.
Savor these delightful bitesize treats with your loved ones for a Perfect Valentine´s Day. Enjoy!