If you’re looking for a fun, creative pie to serve at a family gathering, you may want to try making a meringue pie. This pie has a delicate, fluffy meringue topping that makes it very appealing to the eye and tastes fantastic. It’s also easy to make and doesn’t require any special ingredients, so you can prepare this delicious dessert at home for yourself or for your family.
How to Make Meringue:
To make meringue, you’ll need egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla. You’ll want to beat the egg whites until they are foamy, then add sugar gradually, a tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. It will take about 6 minutes for the meringue to form.
You can use either a handheld or a stand mixer to make meringue, but be sure to whisk thoroughly to prevent air pockets from forming. You can also add a few drops of water to the egg whites to help them whip better.
Prep and Bake the Crust
For the crust, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl; mix well with a fork. Transfer to a pie dish and press into an even, flat circle, about 3 inches in diameter. Set aside.
Filling
To make the filling, heat the lemon juice and zest in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat until very hot, or just “seethe” a bit. (This is a normal reaction, and you don’t want to cook your filling for too long.) Once the lemon mixture is warm, stir in the eggs and butter. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes to prevent scrambling the eggs, then pour it into the baked pie crust.
If your pie filling is cold, you’ll need to place it in the fridge to keep it at room temperature before you top it with meringue. When the filling is at room temperature, you can spread the meringue onto it and then immediately place it in the oven.
When it’s ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. When the meringue is golden brown, remove it from the oven and place it on top of the pie filling. If you’re using a piping bag to make the meringue, pipe it in a tight spiral pattern on the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate, ensuring there are no gaps.
Once the meringue is on, bake it until it’s light golden brown, about 8 to 12 minutes. Once the meringue is done, remove it from the pie and let it cool completely.
How to Make French or Italian Meringue:
This meringue is an easy and simple combination of egg whites whipped with sugar. It’s the easiest type of meringue to make, but it can also be made with a few extra ingredients.
First, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until they are foamy. Then add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until the meringue forms stiff peaks and is glossy.