Whether you’re a long-time Bake Off devotee or tuning in for the first time, this week’s episode promises to keep everyone on the edge of their seat as it’s a first-of-its-kind: Meringue Week. The six remaining bakers face a towering challenge, from delicate meringue pies to four soufflés built on a cloud of meringue. And for the showstopper? Prepare to hold your breath as they tackle vacherin glacé – ice cream cocooned in a crisp, golden meringue shell.
Feeling inspired to whip up some meringue magic at home? Start with our ultimate meringue recipe: light, crisp and perfect as a blank canvas for flavour. From there, explore nine more inventive meringue recipes, showcasing everything from crisp French meringues to glossy Italian and impressively stiff Swiss – ideal for both classic bakes and showstopping creations.
1. Ultimate meringue
Our ultimate meringue recipe is the perfect place to start if you want to master the basics of baking. With just three simple ingredients, you can create cloud-like meringues that are crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle, ideal for desserts such as pavlova.
2. Ultimate lemon meringue pie
If you’re after a showstopping dessert to impress at the end of a dinner party, our ultimate lemon meringue pie is hard to beat. Although it looks impressive with its homemade pastry, tangy lemon filling and fluffy meringue topping, it’s surprisingly straightforward. Follow our step-by-step video to make this stunning dessert to serve six to eight guests.
Find more lemon dessert recipes that are perfect for entertaining.
3. Tiramisu meringue roulade
Tiramisu is often hailed as the ultimate dessert, but we reckon our tiramisu-flavoured meringue roulade is even better. The crisp meringue pairs perfectly with the silky coffee cream, and it’s an ideal showstopping dessert if you’re serving to coeliac or gluten-intolerant guests.
A gluten-free diet doesn’t have to mean no good puddings. Discover more gluten-free dessert recipes.
4. Swiss meringue buttercream
Take your layered cakes to the next level by swapping ordinary buttercream for silky Swiss meringue buttercream. Made by gently folding meringue into butter, this icing creates an incredibly light and fluffy texture. Once you’ve mastered this classic recipe, you can experiment with different flavours to keep your bakes exciting, such as chocolate, freeze-dried fruit or malt.
Check out more of our celebration cake recipes.
5. White forest meringue roulade
If you’re feeling confident in your baking skills and want a slightly more challenging kitchen project, our white forest meringue roulade recipe is worth the effort. With layers of crisp meringue, silky white chocolate and juicy cherries, it’s the perfect make-ahead Christmas dessert.
Keep your Christmas celebrations stress-free by getting most of the prep out of the way before the occasion. Check out our make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes.
6. Lemon meringue parfait
Orlando Murrin’s lemon meringue parfait recipe can be dressed up for an impressive dinner-party dessert or kept simple for a quick treat when you’re craving something sweet. For an extra special version, make your meringues and lemon curd from scratch before assembling. If you prefer a speedy option, using shop-bought meringue and lemon curd means you can have this no-cook dessert ready in just 20 minutes.
7. Coconut, raspberry & lime meringue slice
For something zesty and tropical, fold desiccated coconut and lime zest into your meringue. Bake until crisp, layer with cream, and finish with defrosted frozen raspberries for tartness and a burst of colour.
Explore a range of sweet and savoury dishes that celebrate coconut in our coconut recipes collection.
8. Rhubarb & strawberry meringue pots
Not everyone likes to share dessert, and, honestly, who can blame them? These individual meringue pots mean everyone gets their own, so there’s no arguing over the last bite. They’re a brilliant way to make the most of rhubarb when it’s in season, and with just five ingredients, you’re likely to have the rest in your pantry.
Explore more desserts for one, ideal for anyone who prefers not to share or wants a smaller sweet treat.
9. Brown sugar pavlova with fruit
Impress your guests at your next summer gathering with this brown sugar pavlova, piled high with passion fruit, strawberries, raspberries and pineapple. When berries aren’t in season, you can swap them for winter fruits like figs, oranges or pears. This recipe is a twist on the classic meringue by combining light brown soft sugar with golden caster sugar, creating a crisp shell with a subtle caramel flavour.
10. Chocolate & peanut butter pavlova
This chocolate and peanut butter pavlova pairs salty peanuts, crisp meringue and a silky chocolate crémeux with rich peanut butter cream to create a truly indulgent dessert. It’s a dessert that’ll really impress at Christmas.
Let the chocoholic out with our top chocolate dessert recipes.
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