Mini meringue nests - where do i buy them ?

[Kayleigh]

I need to buy some meringue nests and would prefer smaller ones. Am sure they exist as i've seen mini nests somewhere while i've been out & about and I've definitely been given them before to eat. So where can i buy them ?

M&S do little tubs with quite a few in them. They were yummy - lovely and chewy inside and cruchy on outside!

MARKS AND SPENCER

I've been told you can get them in M & S and are made of just egg white and sugar which are the only ingredients that should be in it. I know you can get other meringue nests from most supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's etc but are made of the most bizarre ingredients far removed from what they should consist of and taste like cardboard.

i've seen the m&s ones and they aren't actual nests. They are more a swirl. I really need the nest shape as I want to put whipped cream inside and then top with berries.

Not seen mini nests on the supermarkets at all - we looked around Easter time and found none at all in Asda, Sainsburys, Tescos or Safeways. Sorry , not much help really.

You could make your own???

ooh that's a bit radical Hulababy, don't want them that badly

LOL. Not done it but it is supposed to be very easy to make. I keep meaning to make my own and always give in and buy!

Our local bakers always have them- not much help I realise , but maybe try any small independent cake shops?

Oh make then they are easy )I am baker extroardinaire afetr my cheesecake the other day!!) - remember to put a drop of white wine vinegar in to keep them all gooey and soft in the middle though - actually I prefer pavlova and thats even easier to make and looks soooo posh and like you have made such a big effort - I will be making one for DPs birthday could always run you one up too!! (you must come and collect it though!! )

Ooh Twinkie - I love pavlova too. My friend made a fab strawberry pavlova when we visited recently, home made. Meringue was all gooey inside, and loads of fresh cream and strawberries - mmmmmm!!!

Noooo passionfruit is the nicest or passionfruit and raspberry - I am getting all lightheaded at the thought of it - may have to make one - oh but no special reason and can't really make one and eat it all myself!!

Make them! I made loads of these recently for a party and everybody went on endlessly about how great they were; somewhat to my surprise, because they are so easy.

60g sugar per 1 large eggwhite.

Whisk eggwhite till stands up in stiff peaks. Beat in sugar. Put in little heaps on baking tray lined with that brown baking paper you can get in Sainsburys. Make an indentation in the middle of each little peak with the back of a spoon.

Bake in slow oven ?140 C ish for ?40 mins (depends on oven and size of meringues). Turn off oven but leave meringues in until cool. They keep for ever in an airtight cake tin. Fill when you need them with wipped cream, strawberries, raspberries etc. Don't fill them too long before eating or they go a bit crumbly.

Experiment by making a small batch first. My first ones came out too big as I underestimated how much they would spread.

Happy baking!

ooohh I'm a little bit tempted I must say
Frogs how many egg whites would i need for a batch of say 30 smallish nests. i want to do them about the 1/3 of the size of the ones you buy normally.

I would second frogs and her recipe, but I'd do them in a bit of a cooler oven a bit longer, unless you want them chewy in the middle (I prefer them drier).
3 egg whites and 180g sugar should be about right, if you have any orange flower water or vanilla chuck in a tsp of one or other at the end as well, adds to the deliciousness. Also a tsp of vinegar helps the crispiness but now I'm probably getting a bit too perfectionist...!

I tend to make them in batches, a tray or two at a time when I get round to it, so can't give you an exact figure.

I would experiment by making one or two egg-white's worth, to get the right combination of crispy/chewy/size. Mine are a bit chewy in the middle, which is what we like round here.

You can also use golden caster sugar, which gives a slightly caramel-coloured meringue, which contrasts nicely with the whiteness of the cream...

Must go, am in serious danger of drooling all over keyboard.

I cannot see the point of mini meringues, I like them big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Depends what you mean by mini - do you want tiny ones or ones about 4" in which case, Tesco do them. If really mini, then I have no idea....