On mother’s day, I personally think there should be over-the-top displays of appreciation and beauty. This will come in the form of children helping their mom plant flowers in the garden, cleaning the garage, a foot massage, a favorite meal (basically anything cooked by someone else) and, of course, a gorgeous dessert. After eating the aforementioned favorite meal, she may long for something light and ethereal. Meringues. This is one easy recipe, served three different ways. It can be made by children of all ages, maybe with a little help from dad. By adding flavors to the meringue, you can personalize the dessert.
If you spread the whipped meringue into three disks, then stack them high on a pedestal, with a touch of whipped cream and berries, you have a cake fit for a mom…
Or you can fold some coconut into the meringue, spoon it into little clouds to take on a picnic…
Add strawberries sauce and it is the perfect way to say “Mom, you ROCK!”
How to Make Mother’s Day Meringues
Find full recipe below.
Preheat your oven to 300°F and line two cookie sheets with parchment.
In a stand mixer, fitted with the whip attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until just foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat the whites until they are soft peaks (the whites will droop when the whip is picked up). With the mixer turned to slow speed, add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, then the cornstarch. Turn the speed back to medium and add the vanilla and vinegar.
Continue beating until the whites are glossy and hold a stiff peak when lifted out of the bowl.
This is when you would add the flavors to the meringue. Gently stir them into the mixture.
To make the cake: spoon the meringue onto the parchment in three mounds of 2 cups, 1 cup and 1/2 cup. Then, with the back of a spoon, spread the two larger mounds so they are flattened slightly. Leave the little one rounded for the top of your cake.
With the remaining meringue, you can spoon them into the cookies.
Turn the oven down to 200°F and slide the trays into the oven. Bake for 1 hour at 200°F and then turn the oven off and allow the meringues to sit in the oven for another hour.
To make the strawberry sauce: Cook the strawberries, vanilla bean and sugar with 1/4 water, until the strawberries are soft and the juices have thickened up slightly. This will take about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the berries and how much sugar. The sauce can be made days ahead and served warm or cold.
Whip the cream:
Whip the cream, vanilla and sugar until stiff peaks just before serving.
To assemble the cake: Place the largest meringue on a serving platter, cover with some of the whipped cream and some of the fresh berries, repeat with the next layer and top with the smallest meringue. To serve, cut the cake, which will pretty much fall apart and serve in a bowl with the strawberry sauce.
I’m doing this post way in advance so you all have plenty of time to make this…hint, hint, my boys!
Ingredients
Meringues
- 6 large egg whites
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract homemade vanilla extract
- 2 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp corn starch
Strawberry Sauce
- 1 lb fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1/4 cup sugar you may need more if the strawberries aren’t very sweet
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Garnishes
- Fresh Berries
- Edible Flowers
Instructions
Meringues
- Preheat your oven to 300°F and line two cookie sheets with parchment.
- In a stand mixer, fitted with the whip attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until just foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat the whites until they are soft peaks (the whites will droop when the whip is picked up). With the mixer turned to slow speed, add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, then the cornstarch. Turn the speed back to medium and add the vanilla and vinegar.
- Continue beating until the whites are glossy and hold a stiff peak when lifted out of the bowl. This is when you would add the flavors to the meringue (see notes). Gently stir them into the mixture.
Cake
- Spoon the meringue onto the parchment in three mounds of 2 cups, 1 cup and 1/2 cup. Then, with the back of a spoon, spread the two larger mounds so they are flattened slightly. Leave the little one rounded for the top of your cake. With the remaining meringue, you can spoon them into the cookies.
- Turn the oven down to 200°F and slide the trays into the oven. Bake for 1 hour at 200°F and then turn the oven off and allow the meringues to sit in the oven for another hour.
Strawberry Sauce
- Cook the strawberries, vanilla bean and sugar with 1/4 water, until the strawberries are soft and the juices have thickened up slightly. This will take about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the berries and how much sugar. The sauce can be made days ahead and served warm or cold.
Whipped Cream
- Whip the cream, vanilla and sugar until stiff peaks just before serving.
Assembly
- Place the largest meringue on a serving platter, cover with some of the whipped cream and some of the fresh berries, repeat with the next layer and top with the smallest meringue. To serve, cut the cake, which will pretty much fall apart and serve in a bowl with the strawberry sauce.
Beautiful dessert! Perfect for Mother’s Day!
Gorgeous. Happy Mother’s Day!
Oh how beautiful, Zoe! I hope your boys get the hint 🙂 I love that little spoon you used to drizzle the sauce over the meringues.
Zoe, Zoe, Zoe. . . . Those are gorgeous. Mouthwatering. Poofy. Floofy. Tastealizing©. (I made that up.) Ethereal. Now if I had someone to make them for me. . . sigh.
Love these cuties a lot, light and yumm 🙂 …. Lovely Pictures Zoe !!! HAppy Mother’s day !!!
This site is such an inspiration!!! Thank you so much for your work 🙂
Dreamy!
Gorgeous! Coming off of your cinnamon addition, I find that chai spice meringues are lovely, as well as individual chocolate ones topped with a chocolate chip. Aaand skittles. I made tie-dye ones, and the skittles on top slowly roasted but kept their shape, so good.
I assume you’ve given the boys your list. 😉
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day, perhaps I should email this post to my boys and husband!. Love meringues.
Hi Zoe!
Your meringues looks really tasty and delicious!
You can submit your meringues pics on http://www.foodporn.net It is a food photography site where members can submit all food pictures that make readers hungry 🙂
I am already hungry to see your meringues photo by the way, LOL
Zoe, I so agree with you about over-the-top displays of adoration and affection for Mother’s Day! And plenty of beauty! And a meal cooked by someone else. These meringue treats are so beautiful! Light, sweet, fruity…perfection!
Any way sugar can be replaced by a sweetener????
Hi Zoe,
Yes, I just read the word dreamy and dreamy it is, yummy!!
Thanks for the wonderful pics!!
Simply gorgeous. Meringue is my favorite thing to eat.
I love meringues! My mom used to make them. 🙂
I enjoy coffee flavored meringues.
Beautiful!
Being a struggling social worker, I can’t afford a stand mixer (as much as I would love one!). Do these turn out ok if you just use a regular beater? And any suggestions if you do? Thanks! They look marvelous!!! -Keri
Hi Keri,
Yes, you can use a hand held beater to make these, they come out just as well.
Thanks, Zoë
Stunning meringue dessert. One question tho : How do you keep your meringues looking bright white even after adding vanilla extract and baking for one full hour?
Hi Vivienne,
You can’t add too much vanilla or it will be an off white. You also need to bake the meringue at a very low heat.
Thanks, Zoë
Lovely post as always, and the spoon in the last picture caught my eye as well- so beautiful!
That looks amazing – especially the cake version you linked to.
Am I missing something for the interview you note at the end? Is there supposed to be a video there?
Wow you make making meringue look so easy and elegant, this looks far too good to eat!
TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD WHEN OUR COOK WOULD MAKE THESE! SO DELICIOUS AND THESE ARE THE VERY BERRY PRETTIEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!
Zoe, if i make these as cookies, for how many days will they last in an airtight container? Thanks!
Hi NRS,
It will depend on the humidity. If it is dry, they will last for as long as a week.
Cheers, Zoë
BEAUTIFUL! cAN’T WAIT TO MAKE THESE!
Thanks for you receipts, I made meringues they are gorgeous.
Hi Chris,
I am so thrilled you made them!
Enjoy, Zoë