Heart Meringues

Since having our children we've never really done a "big" Valentines Day. We hire a nice film, maybe grab a nice bottle of wine and cook up our favourites dishes. But this year I'm gluten free and would adore something special so when Taste & Smile sent this recipe through I lit up. How fabulous and fun do these look? You can make these ahead too. Why not check out their page for more delights?

Pretty as a picture, these pastel meringue hearts make a stunning finale to a Valentine’s dinner à deux.

Makes:  2 pairs

Prep time:  30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

for the meringues

60g (2½oz) Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Golden Caster Sugar

1 large egg white, about 30g (1¼oz)

Squires Kitchen mint green paste food colour

for the filling

65ml (2½floz) double cream

110g (4oz) jar cherry compôte

Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Icing Sugar, for dusting

Squires Kitchen crystallised natural whole roses

You will also need 2 baking trays lined with parchment paper, a 8cm (3¼”) heart-shaped cutter and a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan180°, 400°F, Gas 6.

Using the cutter, draw 4 heart shapes with a pencil on the 1 of the sheets of parchment paper, spaced apart as the meringues will spread a little. Turn the paper over so you don’t get pencil on the undersides of the meringues.

Tip the sugar onto the remaining baking tray and spread it out in an even layer. Warm through on the middle shelf of the oven for about 3-4 minutes or until the sugar feel hot to touch and has lightly coloured, stirring once. Don’t let it caramelize.  Pour into a small bowl.

Reduce the oven heat down to its lowest, 110°C/Fan90°C, 225°F, Gas ¼.

As soon as the sugar is ready, using an electric mixer, add the white to the bowl and whisk at high speed until it is light and foamy, for about 1 minute. Slowly add the hot sugar, a dessertspoon at a time, and continue whisking until the mixture has cooled and is very thick and glossy. Scrape down the sides halfway through. This will take about 5 minutes.

Using a fine skewer or toothpick, add a little of the colouring, briefly whisk again and check that it’s the colour you’d like, if not, add some more.

Use a little of the meringue to stick down the paper on the baking tray. Spoon the mixture into the piping bag and pipe the heart shapes.

Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 55-60 minutes. The meringues are ready when they are crisp on the outside and the bases are dry and not at all sticky. Turn off the oven and leave them to cool in the oven for a few hours or overnight.

To assemble, lightly whisk the cream, divide between half of the meringue hearts, spoon on the cherry compôte, then top with the remaining hearts.  Arrange on plates, lightly dust with Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Icing Sugar, decorate with the crystallised roses and serve.

Make-ahead

The meringues can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and stored in an air-tight container.