Easter has come early this year and work has been busy, which means that I haven’t had a huge amount of time to prepare for it, cook anything special or bake a couple of batches of hot cross buns. Luckily enough, the theme for my baking class last night was “The best chocolate cake ever” so that provided me with a last-minute chocolate offering for the weekend ahead. The hot cross buns aren’t going to get a look in as we are off to Cornwall for the week and there is packing to be done.
As a last-minute thought, and because I happened to defrost a box of four egg whites this week which didn’t get used in my cookery tutorial, I decided to use them to create a speedy Easter dessert – these Easter caramel meringue nests.
The caramel comes in the form of a caramel drizzle as well as caramel flavoured meringues, made by using light muscovado sugar. The only other ingredients are several packets of mini eggs and some freshly whipped vanilla cream. If you haven’t made meringues before, give them a go. They are as easy to make as whipping cream. All you need is an electric whisk or a food mixer. Just remember to whisk them on high speed. I find this creates the best result. It works a treat when making a meringue roulade too.
The recipe makes a large batch of meringues which could be enjoyed throughout the Easter weekend. Just fill as many as you want to eat and keep the rest in a tin or tupperware. Another idea would be to flavour your whipped cream. I like using Baileys, coffee extract or salted caramel sauce. The choice is yours, Happy Easter!
Here are some other excellent Easter treats from around the web:
Creme egg chocolate caramel shortbread – Kerry Cooks
Easter chocolate bunny bum cake – Maison Cupcake
Creme egg meringue nests – Emily’s Recipes and Reviews
Creme egg mini chocolate cheesecakes – Feeding boys
Creme egg, peanut butter & Nutella cake – Recipes from a pantry
I am linking up to Treat Petite (The Baking Explorer & Cake Boi), We Should Cocoa ( Lancashire Food and Tin & Thyme), Simply Eggcellent (Belleau Kitchen), Tea Time Treats (The Hedge Combers and Lavender & Lovage) and Aphabakes (The more than occasional baker and Caroline Makes).
Easter Caramel Meringue Nests
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 100 g caster sugar
- 125 g light brown muscovado sugar
- 300 ml doule cream whipped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
- Several packets of Mini eggs
- Caster sugar for making your own caramel
Instructions
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Pre heat the oven to 120 degrees and line 2 large baking trays with baking parchment
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Place the egg whites into the clean bowl of your food mixer and whisk on high speed using the whisk attachment until the egg whites become stiff
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With the motor running, add the caster and muscovado sugars, a spoon at a time, until all the sugar has been incorporated. The meringue should now be stiff and glossy
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Turn the mixer off and fold in the vanilla extract
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Place large spoonfuls of the meringue onto the baking trays, making a dip in the centre with a spoon as this is where your cream will go. You might want to shape them into circles too, so they resemble nests.
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Place the meringues into the oven for 1 hour, then turn off the heat and let the meringues cool in the oven with the door ajar before removing
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Put the cooled meringues onto a serving plate, fill the hollowed out centre with whipped cream and top with mini eggs and caramel (see below)
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For the caramel:
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Place a layer of caster sugar into a wide frying pan and turn the heat to medium and allow the sugar to melt. Do not stir the mixture, just give the pan a shake when the sugar begins to turn to liquid.
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When the sugar turns into a liquid, golden in colour, give the pan a swirl so that all the remaining sugar is able to turn to caramel, again without stirring
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Once all of the sugar is completely dissolved, use a spoon to drizzle it over the finished meringues
Recipe Notes
Easter caramel meringue nests, a speedy Easter dessert idea.
Gorgeous Easter meringues and I shall try your caramel sauce as I always struggle with this:-)
Caramel is so hard to do, I think small batcjes may be the answer.
Thanks for linking up to we should cocoa, these are very cute. Have a good time in Cornwall
Thanks Linzi and Happy Easter!
These are so adorable! My kids would love these, I am sure.
I think they will mine did!
so pretty and such a simple idea too really. There’s a lot of chocolate cake around this time of year so it’s nice to see something a little lighter than usual. Thanks for linking to Simply Eggcellent and have a very happy Easter x
Thanks Dom, Happy Easter to you!
These look stunning Laura! I love the mix of caramel and meringue! Thanks for entering into Treat Petite.
These are so cute and I’m totally sold on the idea of adding Bailey’s to the cream.
Bailey’s ice cream is a must!
They look gorgeous Laura – love the caramel drizzled over. Happy Easter!
Thanks, Happy Easter to you too Jan!
Definitely my kind of treat, and love the colour from using muscovado sugar!
Yes, me too Kavey, the meringues are a lovely caramelly brown colour 🙂
These are gorgeous – charming but sophisticated enough to serve to adults as well as children.
Thanks Sally, hope you have a great Easter 🙂
This looks easy enough for even a meringue and caramel dunce like me to make. So cute too! Pinned for next year 🙂
Definitely have a try at meringues Kelllie, they are well worth it!
Very Cute Laura. I love mini eggs so I’m not sure mine would make it onto these beautiful nests.
I know, mini eggs are the best!
How very cute and what a great idea for whipping up a very effective Easter treat. The added caramel gets a big thumbs up from me. Hope you’re week in Cornwall is kind to you. It’s not been to bad weatherise – compared to the last five months anyway! Thanks for joining in with #WeShouldCocoa.
Cornwall has been great thanks Choclette, hope you had a very chocolate filled Easter too x
These look lovely! The eggs are a great addition and I like the sound of the caramel. Yum!
Thanks Kate, caramel is well worth maki g avary now and then. Especially at Easter!
These look so pretty and perfect for Easter! Also great for gluten free guests. Thanks for entering AlphaBakes.