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Basic Meringue Recipe

Meringue is a basic mixture of egg whites and sugar that whips up into a voluminous mixture of fluff that is light and airy. This meringue mixture can be used to bake individually baked little meringue cookies, as a topping to pies or pirogy’s, or even incorporated into cakes.

A pirog in a baking sheet topped with a basic meringue.

How to flavor Meringue

  • You can also gently mix nuts into this Basic Meringue if you want to amp up this recipe and make Hazelnut Meringue.
  • If chocolate is your thing, go ahead and add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mix to make it chocolate flavored just like we did in this Kiev Cake Recipe.
  • Add 1 tsp vanilla extract to the meringue if you wish. I don’t usually, since it is hard to taste it once the meringue dries.

Easy meringue on a baking sheet.

How to make SMOOTH Meringue

Start out by combining the granulated sugar and the egg whites in the bowl. This is different than slowly adding the sugar into the lightly whipped egg whites, but this way the liquid from the egg whites helps to dissolve the sugar.

This method increases baking time, but in return, you get smooth, grain-free meringue – guaranteed!

Fluffy meringue on a whisk.

Troubleshooting Meringue

The most common problem is unerwhipping the meringue. This creates an unstable meringue that doesn’t dry well, can be sticky, or even weep syrup as it bakes. You start whipping, you see it nice and fluffy and you think this is it. In reality, though, you still need to continue whipping until the meringue changes structure and goes from just fluffy to a stiff and fluffy meringue.

The meringue needs the structure to be stable enough and not collapse when subjected to being baked in the oven. That’s why you really do need to whip this meringue for the full 15 or more minutes (increase the time if using a hand-held mixer).

Meringue cookies made with this basic meringue recipe. Hazelnut Meringue Cookies like this one are made with Basic Meringue. Click picture for the recipe.

Tips for Perfect Meringue

  • Always start with a thoroughly cleaned, grease-free bowl. Metal or glass is best as it does not absorb or hold on to fats as plastic bowls do.
  • Separate the eggs as soon as they’re out of the fridge, then allow them to come to room temperature or heat in the microwave for a couple of seconds. This will allow the eggs to whip up to their fullest.
  • Don’t leave out the salt. The salt loosens up the egg whites and allows them to whip up to the fullest.
  • If you typically have trouble with meringue, do add cream of tartar or a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice. They help to stabilize the meringue. I do not add any of them, but it does help if meringue gives you trouble.
  • Use meringue right away after whipping. You can not whip the meringue ahead of time and use it later.

Can I Use Powdered Sugar instead of Granulated?

Yes, use the kinds of sugar interchangeably, but make sure to measure them by weight. One cup of sugar weighs 200 g.

How to store meringue cookies

  • Store meringue in an airtight container at room temperature. Properly made meringue will keep for weeks, but for freshness use within a week.


Ingredients:

  • Egg whites
  • Sugar
  • Salt

How to make Basic Meringue Recipe:

  • Into a thoroughly cleaned, absolutely grease-free mixer bowl, separate egg whites from your egg yolks making sure that no trace of the egg yolk gets into the egg whites. Add the sugar and a pinch of salt to the liquid egg whites and whip on high speed for about 15 minutes. If using a handheld electric mixer this might take about 5-10 minutes longer.

How to make this easy meringue recipe in a mixer.

To BAKE: follow HERE for full BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

How to bake the Meringue:

  • To bake individual meringues: Preheat oven to 225 F, then fit a piping bag with a plain round or a star tip and pipe the meringues onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until the meringues are dry all the way through in the middle. For a meringue mount of about 3 tablespoons, it will take about 2+ hours for it to dry.
  • To check for doneness, gently open the oven door and remove one meringue mount. Allow to cool completely and crack it open to check the middle of the meringue. If the middle is dry, the meringue is done baking.

Depending on your recipe though, you might need the meringue to be soft and marshmallowy or nice and crunchy. 

A spatula full of fluffy meringue.

 

Basic Meringue Recipe

Easy Meringue for Baking | Let the Baking Begin!
4.91 from 11 votes

Meringue – a basic mixture of egg whites and sugar that whips up into a voluminous mixture of fluff that is light and airy. This meringue mixture can be used to bake individually baked little meringues, as a topping to pies or pirogy’s, or even incorporated into cakes.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: meringue, meringue cookies
Calories: 139 kcal
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Instructions

Instructions

  1. Into a thoroughly cleaned, absolutely grease-free bowl, separate egg whites from your egg yolks making sure that no trace of the egg yolk gets into the egg whites.
  2. Add 1 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt to the liquid egg whites and whip on high speed for about 15 minutes. If using a handheld mixer this might take about 5-10 minutes longer. As you start whipping the egg whites, they will be very thick and runny, but as you continue whipping, slowly the egg whites will gain volume and look very luster and pearly in color.

To BAKE:

  1. follow HERE for full BAKING INSTRUCTIONS.

Recipe Notes

To bake individual meringues pipe the meringue onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in preheated to 225F oven, until the meringues are dry all the way through in the middle.

For a meringue mount of about 3 tablespoons it will take about 2+ hours for it to dry.

To check, gently open the oven door and remove one meringue mount. Allow to completely cool. Crack it open and check the middle of the meringue. If it is dry in the middle it is baked. Depending on your recipe though, you might need the meringue to be soft and marshmallowy or nice and crunchy.

Nutrition Facts
Basic Meringue Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 139
% Daily Value*
Sodium 81mg4%
Potassium 32mg1%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Sugar 33g37%
Protein 2g4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Edith Wallwork

    im a little confused as despite changing the serving size to since i only have two eggs avalible, the recipie is telling me to use 0.5 cup of sugar from 100grams of sugar, im rather confused as i domnt have that cup measure and what do i do with the rest of the sugar?

    googles being little help towards this

    · Reply
  • Ira

    Hi Marina,
    I’m trying to bake Kievsky cake, can I make this meringue in one layer and bake? If yes, how long would I bake? Or is this recipe only to pipe individually? Also, will meringue get soggy if they are individual pieces verses a layer? Or does meringue stay crunchy in the cake? Hope my question made sense.
    Thank you kindly!

    · Reply
  • JRichards

    Meringue does not have to be so sweet. Sugar is bad for your health. Less sugar can be used, and I often use none.

    · Reply
    • Are you trying to say that egg white omelet (1 ingredient – egg white) is healthier than meringue (egg white + sugar)?
      I have to agree with you on that one 😉

      Sweets typically don’t score many points in the health & wellness section 🙂

      · Reply
  • Lilly

    Love your blog! Everything is so yummy and beautiful! Thank you!

    · Reply
  • Olya

    Hi. Which piping bag set plus attachments do you use? Can you please attach a link please. Would really appreciate it! Thank you

    · Reply
  • Yana

    I don’t see baking temp in the recipe. Is it around 200F?

    · Reply
  • Amie

    Hi Marina.
    I’m looking to make your meringue bombs and can’t find at what temperature to bake the meringues. Please let me know. Thank you! It looks the bomb! Can’t wait to make it!

    · Reply
  • olya

    I’m looking to buy a decorating set and was wondering which piping bag set do you have and which ATTACHMENTS?

    · Reply
  • Tonya

    Marina,
    Thank you for making this post. Making meringue can be challenging and frusturating for new bakers. I wanted to ask you, if I bring sugar down to about 3/4 cup will the egg whites be stable? Thank you for your awesome work!

    · Reply
    • Hi Tonya,
      Thank you for your kind words! To answer your question, yes, the meringues will be stable even with 3/4 cup. There’s actually two usual proportions that people use for meringue – one has 1 cup of sugar for 6 egg whites and the other one has 1 cup of sugar for 4 egg white. The one that has 1:4 ratio is more stable, but the 1:6 still does work. So in reality you could even go down to 2/3rds cup of sugar per 4 egg whites. Just make sure to whip it for long enough and you should be good.

      · Reply

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