What To Do With Leftover Meringue
Wondering what to do with leftover meringue?
You’re in the right place!
In this guide, we’ll talk you through some of the most delicious ways to use up excess meringue, from cookies, to pies, to super quick and delicious desserts for busy evenings.
Let’s get going…
What To Do With Leftover Meringue: Recipes To Try
Meringue Cookies
Meringue cookies are a delightful, light treat perfect for using up leftover meringue mixture.
Simply preheat your oven to 100°C (212°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Spoon or pipe the meringue mixture into small, even dollops on the tray. Bake for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until crisp and dry. Store them in an airtight container, and enjoy a delicious snack whenever you fancy.
Pavlova
Pavlovas are elegant desserts that showcase fluffy meringue.
To create a pavlova, spread your leftover meringue into a circular shape on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake at 150°C (302°F) for 1 to 1.25 hours until the outside is crisp. Once cooled, top with whipped cream and fresh fruits for a beautiful, indulgent dessert.
Meringue Tarts
Transform leftover meringue into delicate tarts.
Firstly, prepare a pastry base using your favourite recipe.
Fill the pre-baked shell with a luscious curd or custard before topping with the meringue.
Bake the tart at 180°C (356°F) for 10 to 15 minutes, until the meringue peaks are golden. Allow to cool, then serve and relish the delectable flavours.
Meringue Roulade
A meringue roulade is an excellent option for a showstopping dessert.
Spread the leftover meringue onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, aiming for a rectangular shape.
Bake at 160°C (320°F) for 20 to 25 minutes.
Once cooled, carefully roll the meringue around your chosen filling – whipped cream and fruit compote work wonders. Slice and serve for a truly impressive treat.
Meringue Pie
One of the most classic uses for meringue is in a sumptuous pie.
Fill a pre-baked pastry crust with a creamy, tangy filling such as lemon curd or key lime.
Generously spoon or pipe the leftover meringue mixture on top. Bake the pie at 180°C (356°F) for 10 to 15 minutes, until the meringue is golden brown. Let it cool and enjoy a slice of pure satisfaction.
Baked Alaska
For a grand finale, consider making a baked Alaska using your leftover meringue.
Start with a layer of sponge cake topped with a generous scoop of ice cream.
Encase the entire dessert in the meringue, ensuring no gaps are left.
Finally, bake in a preheated oven at 220°C (428°F) for 3 to 5 minutes, until the meringue is golden. Serve immediately, and delight in the contrast of temperatures and textures.
Incorporating Prepared Meringue into Desserts
With Fruits
Using fresh fruits adds colour, texture, and a natural sweetness that wonderfully complements meringue.
A popular choice is Eton Mess.
Simply crush your meringues and layer them with whipped cream and fresh sliced strawberries or mixed berries.
Another wonderful option is a Lemon Meringue Tart. Bake a tangy lemon curd filling in a tart shell and then top it with your leftover meringue before giving it a quick bake for a crisp finish.
Featuring Nuts
Incorporating nuts into your meringue-based dessert adds depth and a delightful crunch.
For a sublime treat, try making a Pavlova Roulade.
Start by spreading a generous layer of whipped cream and chopped nuts of your choice (such as pistachios, hazelnuts, or almonds) over a flat meringue base.
Carefully roll it up, creating a stunning spiral of meringue, cream, and nuts, then slice and serve.
Using Chocolate
Chocolate and meringue are a match made in dessert heaven.
Enhance your meringue with the rich, indulgent taste of chocolate in a variety of ways.
One classic option is to crumble leftover meringue over a velvety Chocolate Pudding or incorporate it into a luscious Chocolate Mousse.
Alternatively, you can create individual Meringue Cups filled with chocolate ganache or chocolate-dipped fruit.
Simply form nests with your leftover meringue and, once set, fill them with your chosen chocolate delight.
By incorporating fruits, nuts, and chocolate into your meringue desserts, you can give new life to those leftover meringues and create delectable treats that are sure to become family favourites.
Creating Delicious Fillings
Leftover meringue presents a fantastic opportunity to create scrumptious fillings for various desserts and pastries. By playing with the creaminess and textures of your ingredients, you can whip up innovative and delightful concoctions.
One way to utilise your leftover meringue is to mix it into whipped cream.
Start by whipping heavy cream until it reaches soft peaks. Then, gently fold in the meringue, ensuring not to overmix, and you’ll have a light, airy mixture perfect for piping into your favourite pastries or as a topping for cakes.
Next, try pairing your meringue with lemon curd for a zesty surprise.
Combine the meringue into the lemon curd with a gentle motion, taking care not to deflate the delicate mixture. This filling works wonders when layered between sponges or added to pastry shells for a tangy, sweet dessert.
Moreover, you can create different sauces by incorporating your meringue into cream-based recipes.
For instance, fold the meringue into a homemade custard sauce or blend it with cream cheese, creating a delectable mixture that enhances your dessert’s richness and creaminess.
So, don’t let that leftover meringue go to waste!
Transform it into incredible fillings by experimenting with various combinations of cream, whipped cream, lemon curd, and heavy cream.
You’ll quickly discover versatile and yummy ways to elevate your pastries, making your desserts the talk of the table.
Customising Meringue
Leftover meringue offers a wonderful opportunity to get creative in the kitchen! With simple additions and alterations, you can create a variety of delightful treats to impress your friends and family.
Start by playing with food colouring.
A touch of colour can transform your meringue into an eye-catching dessert. Gently fold in a few drops of your choice of food colouring, being careful not to deflate the airy texture, until the desired shade is reached. You can also create multi-coloured treats by dividing the mixture and colouring each portion differently.
Flavouring is another excellent way to customise your meringue.
Choose from a variety of extracts like vanilla, almond, or mint to infuse your dessert with lovely aromas and flavours. For a zesty twist, try adding citrus zest or a subtle hint of spice with cinnamon or nutmeg.
Get creative with shapes by piping your coloured and flavoured meringue onto a baking sheet in a variety of forms, such as swirls, stars, or even hearts.
Alternatively, use a spoon to create large dollops and gently press the centre to create a well, perfect for filling with whipped cream or fresh fruit.
If you have an ice cube tray handy, you can use it to mould your meringue into fun shapes, such as little squares or stars.
Simply press the mixture into the tray compartments, smoothing the top with a palette knife before baking. This method works exceptionally well for serving bite-sized meringue treats at parties or gatherings.
For an elegant touch, use your leftover meringue to create stunning macarons.
Combine equal parts meringue with almond flour and icing sugar, then pipe the mixture into small circles on a lined baking sheet.
After baking and cooling, sandwich two of the discs together with the filling of your choice, such as buttercream, ganache, or jam.
Meringue-Based Sweets
Meringue Drops are a popular choice for a light and airy treat.
Pipe your meringue into small dollops onto a lined baking tray, then bake at a low temperature until crisp.
You can add various flavours to these delightful bites, such as vanilla, almond, or coffee.
Baked Meringues are a delightful mix of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Add a touch of nostalgia to your dessert with this sweet favourite.
You can top your baked meringues with fruits, like fresh strawberries or blueberries, and a dollop of whipped cream.
For extra indulgence, drizzle with melted chocolate.
Next up, we have Meringue Tarts.
Fill a blind-baked pastry case with your leftover meringue, then add your choice of luscious fillings. Popular options include lemon curd and chocolate ganache.
The result is a perfect harmony of textures, with the chewiness of the pastry complemented by the soft meringue.
Chocolate Meringues combine the lovely texture of meringue with rich, smooth, cocoa flavours.
Simply fold in cocoa powder (or melted chocolate) into your leftover meringue, then bake as you normally would.
You can even sandwich two chocolate meringues together with a velvety chocolate mousse or ganache.
Lastly, don’t overlook the potential of nuts in your meringue creations.
Fold in chopped pecans or cranberries for a delightful contrast of textures and flavours in your sweets.
The added crunch and tanginess of the nuts and fruit can transform plain meringue into something extraordinary.
Have fun experimenting with these meringue-based sweets and make the most out of your leftover meringue!
For more inspiration for using up sweet treats, check out what to do with leftover fudge, and what to do with leftover donuts.
