~Colourful Meringue Kisses~

So I'm a little late with this blog but better late than never. Yesterday I made the most gorgeous meringue kisses. Now I know the name sounds crazy but actually there is an actual truth in the name as to how it came about. I was told by a friend and also found on Google that meringue kisses are a romantic treat for your loved one. It's a simple yet loving way to show affection (whilst being creative of course). They are often given as a present or like me taking them to your friends at RML (Read, Mark, Learn- A bible study group) so they can be your guinea pigs (as it were) in testing your bakes.

Prep Time: 25-30 minutes

Cooking time: 45-50 Minutes (I know some recipes say an hour but that's not always the case as it depends on your oven)

Ingredients:

2 Large Egg Whites (or 4 Medium Egg Whites)

100g Caster Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Gel Food Colouring (I used Red & Pink)

50g Double Cream

Note: You can make the meringue kisses a day in advance and once cooled you can keep them in a container in the fridge.

Method:

To make the Meringue:

1. Preheat the oven to 120°C/(100°C Fan)/Gas Mark 1-2

2. Crack the egg whites into a bowl (being careful not to add any yoke as it will deflate the meringue).

2. Whisk the egg whites until you get a soft peak. If you are brave enough tip the bowl upside down above your head, if the egg whites stay put you're ready for the next stage.

3. Whilst whisking, gradually add the caster sugar ensuring it is well combined with the egg whites. You can tell this by putting a blob of meringue in between your thumb and fore finger and massaging it. If it feels grainy, it's not completely combined. If it feels glossy it's done. Add the Vanilla Extract and whisk again until combined.

4. Line a baking tray with grease-proof paper (blob a little bit of meringue on each corner to keep the grease-proof paper stable).

5. Prepare your pipping bag with a star nozzle (or any nozzle you like or have) and add a line of gel food colouring into the pipping bag using the tube itself or using a clean new paintbrush.

6. Add a small portion of the meringue into the pipping bag and begin to pipe out little swirls adding a flick on the end.

7. Once you've pipped the meringue kisses onto the baking tray, bake them in the oven at 120 °C for 45-50 minutes (depending on your oven). The key thing to remember is don't open the oven door until the time for baking is up or you risk the meringue kisses deflating and loosing their shape.

8. Once baked take them out of the oven and let them completely cool on a cooling rack.

9. Whip up the double cream until you have a stiff but smooth peak. Add some Strawberry and Lemon flavouring as well as some vanilla extract and combine with the cream.

10. Using a spoon or pipping bag add a little of the cream to the back of one of the meringue kisses and add another meringue kiss and put the two together making a kiss like shape. Then serve immediately.