Il Cucinologo
EN

Tricolor Meringues

17/11/2023

Tricolor meringues can be a fun and delicious way to add a touch of color to a dessert or a sweet table. Here is the recipe, which I adapted to create the tricolor version inspired by the colors of the Italian flag.

Ingredients

  • 4 egg whites at room temperature
  • 250 grams of powdered sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • A few drops of lemon juice
  • Food coloring (red and green)
  • Granulated sugar, optional for decoration

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 90 °C and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  2. In a clean and dry bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt and a few drops of lemon juice, which will help stabilize the meringue.
  3. When the egg whites start to become frothy, add the powdered sugar little by little, continuing to beat until you obtain a smooth and glossy meringue.
  4. Divide the meringue into three equal bowls.
  5. In one bowl, add a few drops of red food coloring; in another, a few drops of green food coloring, and leave the third part white.
  6. Mix gently to obtain homogeneous colors, being careful not to deflate the meringue.
  7. Prepare a piping bag with a star tip and fill separately with the three colored meringues.
  8. Pipe small meringues onto the prepared baking sheet alternating the colors to create the tricolor effect. Keep the meringues a few centimeters apart from each other, as they will puff up a little during baking.
  9. If desired, sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.
  10. Bake the meringues and let them cook for about 1-1.5 hours, or until they are dry to the touch and come off easily from the paper.
  11. Turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside with the door slightly ajar for at least an hour to help them firm up further.
  12. Remove the meringues from the oven and let them cool completely before handling them.

Remember that meringue is sensitive to humidity, so store them in an airtight container until serving time.

Fun Facts

Meringues presumably have Swiss origins, in the village of Meiringen, and were later popularized in France. Their texture can vary from crunchy to soft and chewy, depending on the baking and temperature. Tricolor meringues are a festive variant to celebrate special occasions, such as Italian Republic Day or sporting events where one wants to show national pride.