A sweet dessert that is also a work of art.
Whoever said you can’t play with your food probably never made meringue nests. To create them, you simply pipe homemade meringue into the shape of a bird nest. That nest can then become the home of anything you want. Therefore, the dessert is just getting started when you finish making your meringue nests. I love to make these meringue nests for a spring or Easter get-together, when the birds are singing and the sun has finally come out and is melting the last of the winter snow.
The meringue itself couldn’t be easier to put together. As long as you can beat a few egg whites, stir in the other ingredients, and use a piping bag, you will have no problem creating these meringue nests. If you’re not familiar with meringue, it has a sweet, distinctive flavor that brings to mind cotton candy or marshmallows and a light, airy, and crunchy texture.
Are Meringue Nests Healthy?
Meringue nests don’t provide much nutritional value. Even the egg whites don’t add much nutrition. The rest of the recipe is mostly sugar and cream. That’s not to say that it’s an unhealthy recipe; it just doesn’t provide many vitamins and nutrients. One positive is that meringues are lower in calories and fat than other handheld desserts like brownies or cookies, which is perfect if you’re on a diet but want to snag a sweet treat. You can make meringue nests even better for you by filling them with fruit!
Patience Is A Virtue
One of the best pieces of advice I can share for this recipe is to take your time. First off, make sure you beat the eggs until they’re properly foamy. Second, when I say the cream of tartar and sugar should be added gradually, I really mean gradually. In fact, it could take five to 10 minutes to fully add the sugar until it is completely dissolved and you have soft peaks. Finally, don’t be in a rush to take the nests out of the oven. Allow them to cool off completely before doing anything else with them.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Once cooled, meringue nests can be placed in resealable plastic bags or airtight containers. They should remain good in the fridge for at least 1 week. In the freezer, they will last 1 month.
Serving Suggestions
Once you have your meringue nests, I suggest filling them with some combination of cream, Custard, curd, and fruit. In terms of beverage pairings, I recommend a Strawberry Protein Shake, Peanut Butter Low-Carb Keto Smoothie With Almond Milk, or Vegan Hot Chocolate.
If you’re a fan of sweet desserts, there are also a few other recipes I think you should try. For starters, I would recommend an Egg White Chocolate Soufflé, which I promise isn’t as hard to make as you might think. Personally, I’m quite partial to these Greek Yogurt Brownies. Also, if you want to step out of your comfort zone a little and try something new, I would recommend Funfetti Protein Cookies or Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Truffles.
Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a clean, dry mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat the mixture. Once all the sugar is added, beat until stiff peaks form and the meringue is glossy.
- Beat in the vanilla extract until just combined.
- Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the meringue into small circles on the prepared baking sheet, building up the edges to form nests.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours, or until the meringues are crisp and dry. Turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside, with the door slightly ajar.
- Once cooled, fill the meringue nests with your choice of filling before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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