Meringue Heart for Sweethearts

Meringue Red Heart to Share

(from MyLifetime.com)
Serves 2

Ingredients

• 3 medium egg whites
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 6 ounces caster sugar
• For the filling
• 5 fluid ounces double cream
• 2 ounces icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon crushed raspberries
• To decorate
• 2 ounces fresh red berries
• 3 tablespoons redcurrant jelly (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 225°F. Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites with the lemon juice and a third of the sugar until they form firm peaks. Add another third of the sugar and continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes. Add the remaining sugar and mix just enough to incorporate it into the meringue. 


2. Lightly oil a baking tray and then line it with baking parchment, pressing it down well. Using a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain nozzle, pipe out a heart shape about 6 inches long and 4-5 inches across. Fill in the center by continuing to follow the shape of the heart until it is full. Starting on the outside rim of the heart, pipe another single line on top of the one you originally piped but pull the end away from the heart as shown in the picture, so it tapers away. Repeat the process a third time, making sure you pipe directly on top of the 2 lines you have already piped. You are building an outside edge that is higher than the middle of the heart. (You will probably have quite a lot of meringue left over after making the heart, but it's not practical to whisk up less than this quantity of meringue; make another heart with the surplus, if you like, as they store well.)


3. Bake the heart in the center of the oven for 40-50 minutes, until the outside is set. You should be able to slide a palette knife under the heart and lift it up from the paper. Do not overbake the base or it will be totally dry in the center. Leave to cool on the tray.


4. Whip the cream with the icing sugar and crushed raspberries until firm. Spoon or pipe the cream into the heart. Decorate the heart with the red berries, making sure all the cream is hidden. 


5. If you want to glaze the berries, heat the redcurrant jelly in a small pan with a tablespoon of water and brush it over the berries to make them shine.