This Festive Meringue Wreath is a showstopping festive dessert, and much lighter than the traditional Christmas puddings, cakes and pies.
Welcome to my favourite bake of the entire year, a stunning Festive Meringue Wreath!
Things are certainly looking festive around here!
I’m not normally one for getting excited about Christmas, but over the course of this year some family wounds have been healed and that has relaxed so many facets of my life.
I feel excited about planning and celebrating crimbo. And of course eating lots of good food :D
Now I am a firm fan of Christmas pud with lashings of brandy butter, of mince pies, and even Christmas cake (sans marzipan for me please).
But I would never be able to eat any of them straight after indulging in The Big Meal.
They are all so heavy and filling that they are a meal in themselves, best served with coffee and at least a couple of hours either side of any other grub.
For the past ten or more years I’ve served these Satsumas Poached in Red Wine (if you haven’t tried them yet, please give them a go this year – they are just incredible!) which for the lactose happy are made even tastier with a great big dollop of Rodda’s Clotted Cream.
However, if you are after a showstopper this year, I need you to take a peep at my most recent bake. This delectable Festive Meringue Wreath.
A great big fluffy wreath shaped meringue.
With individual little nests perfect for filling whatever your heart desires. I opted for some (out of season and therefore ridiculously overpriced) strawberries, blueberries and figs.
Once again if you’re not lactose challenged, grab a big old tun of clotted cream and dollop liberally.
Just please don’t tell me.
If you fancy something a little more decadent, why not crumble up some chocolate brownies and crunchie bars.
Then drizzle with a salted caramel sauce (YUM!!!).
Or maybe some mincemeat, satsuma segments and cream?
If you plump for something else to fill those nests, please do let me know in the comments below ;)
Festive Meringue Wreath
When you come to prep the meringues for the oven, draw around your serving plate onto the back of the grease proof baking paper before dolloping on the goo.
This way when your meringues are all cooked and cooled, you know they’ll fit without having to break them up.
I hadn’t thought this part through before baking (duh) and my gigantic nest wouldn’t fit on my serving plate.
Which is why I took these photos with the meringues dressed on a white photography board.
Thank goodness I had this trial run before the big day!
What are your traditional Christmas day puds?
Are you traditionalists or do you like to shake things up a bit?
- 4 egg whites
- 200 g golden caster sugar
- 50 g granulated brown sugar
- 200 g strawberries
- 200 g blueberries
- 4 figs quartered
- Take a sheet of greaseproof baking paper and sketch around the serving plate you want to use on Christmas day. Lightly grease a large baking sheet and pop the greaseproof paper on it, ink side down.
- Make sure all equipment you use below is perfectly clean and grease free. To be extra sure and avoid catastrophe, some people wipe a cut lemon over the bowl and whisk before starting although I've never found that necessary.
- Preheat the oven to 110c/100 fan/225f/gas 1/4
- Using an electric whisk (unless you're a masochist or iron man) beat the egg whites until they become stiff peaks.
- Add half the caster sugar and continue beating until the peaks turn shiny and very stiff.
- Add in the remaining caster sugar, continue beating until it becomes beautifully silky and stiff then gently fold in the brown sugar with a spoon.
- Taking a tablespoon, dollop the meringues mixture around the baking paper, staying within the lines. I found 2 tablespoons made 10 nests perfectly, but feel free to play around with the size to suite your serving dish and number of guests.
- Pour some boiling water from the kettle into a mug. Heat a teaspoon in the water, dry on a tea towel and whilst it's still hot use it to melt the meringue in the centre of each dollop creating a nest. Re-dunk the spoon and repeat until you have hollowed out each of the nests.
- Bake in the oven for 2 hours, they should become golden and ever so lightly caramelised when done.
- Slide the baking paper onto a cooling rack and when completely cool very gently peel away the paper. Don't panic if it cracks a little as you'll be covering it with fruit.
- Just before serving top with the berries and figs.
choclette says
Lovely idea Janie and you’re right, this would be a lovely light offering after the big meal. However, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without my mother’s Christmas pudding and I can always manage a bit.
Jane Sarchet says
Oh, I could certainly handle it for breakfast or supper Choccy! Happy crimbo lovely :)
Janie x
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes says
This looks so pretty! A lovely light alterternative rather than the typical heavy dessert after Christmas lunch.
Jane Sarchet says
Exactly Jemma! Thanks for stopping by and merry crimbo! :)
Janie x
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
These are beautiful. I bet they would be nice with a drizzle of dark chocolate over them too!
Jane Sarchet says
Corrrr, yummy idea Dannii!
Janie x
efwalt says
I do love meringue! What a lovely idea – so much lighter than rich Christmas pud. I bet this would work well with pistachios or maybe pomegranate too!
Jane Sarchet says
Oooh, love the idea of adding pistachios Emma!
Janie x
Emily says
A lovely idea! Looks very pretty and I like the idea of adding brown sugar x
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Emily :)
Janie x
Heidi Roberts says
Wow, that look divine, I love home made meringue
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Heidi :)
Janie x
Fiona @ London-Unattached says
That DOES look lovely. But I haven’t made meringue since I was at school, so I think I’d need to practice something a bit simpler first…any chance you could post me one?
Jane Sarchet says
Hahaha, Fiona, you know how greedy I am right? Pretty sure it’d never make it into the packing box without me sneaking cheeky little bits off the edges :D By the time it arrived it’d probably be the size of a regular meringue!
Janie x
glamorous glutton says
These look wonderful, really fab. Perfect for Christmas & so fresh. GG
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you GG :)
Janie x
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
This looks so gorgeous and all the fruit makes it a wonderful dessert for Christmas. On my list for sure!
Jane Sarchet says
Yay! Hope you all enjoy it Lucy :)
Janie x
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe says
What a great idea for a festive dessert – is it much different from pavlova – looks quite marshmallowy inside rather than crisp all the way though. I am very traditional about my christmas pudding but my mum makes all sorts of desserts and we have to have a break after our big main before we can have dessert – kids run around the backyard for a while and everything is cleared up. Hope you enjoy your christmas
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Johanna, you too! The centre of mine was still a little sticky as I was in a hurry to photograph it before the light went (December in Cornwall is DARK!) so I pulled it out of the oven before the cooking time was up ;)
Janie x
My Little Italian Kitchen says
This is a wonderful idea! So pretty and so delicious and festive with the fruit. I love meringue.. so addictive!
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you for your kind comment :)
Janie x
Tortilla for tea says
This is a brilliant idea for Christmas Day dessert in our house, because no one likes Christmas pudding. Meringue is so much lighter and healthier, especially with the fresh fruit!
Jane Sarchet says
Exactly my thinking Tortilla’s! If you give it a bash, do let me know how you get on :)
Janie x
Sammie says
This festive meringue wreath is absolutely gorgeous. I love the fresh fruits and all the ideas you have given for variations. Perfect for a lighter dessert anytime, but especially after Christmas table creaker dinner! Sammie.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Sammie, I hope you have a fabulous crimbo & new year too ;)
Janie x
Chris Coyle says
What a great idea! One of my brother-in-law’s favorite desserts I try to make for him is berries and cream filled pavlovas – this is basically just a BIG pavlova shaped appropriately for the holiday. Too bad I’m not spending X-Mass with them this year – I’ll have to remember this for future reference. :)
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Chris, and here’s wishing you the jolliest festive season :)
Janie x
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Still love this idea.