How To Make A Berry Meringue Wreath, Perfect For The Holiday Season!
Celebrate the holidays with an elegant meringue wreath. The secret behind this gorgeous, festive dessert is in its fruit. Fresh blueberries and raspberries give their flavor to this light, fluffy confection that can be adorned with ribbons or fresh mint.
The most luxurious of all desserts, meringue is a must this holiday season. A beautiful wreath, decorated with berries is the perfect way to end any family gathering. This dessert can also be broken down into mini versions for easy entertaining!
This delicious holiday meringue wreath is a great addition to any Christmas table. The raspberries and blueberries add color, while the mint will give the final green touch.
For this beautiful and delicious meringue wreath, make sure you have plenty of fresh fruit for your decorations. The berries are what really bring out their flavor in addition to being festive colors that will match any tree or dish on display during Christmas time!
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. You don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen cooking up something complicated. Make this beautiful and festive dessert that looks super sophisticated and fancy, but is very easy to make.
Can I make the meringue in advance?
Can I make the meringue in advance?Yes! My grandma and my mom used to make the meringue the day before to save time. You must bake it so it holds well. Just follow steps 1 through 4 in the recipe instructions.
Can I use store bought whipped topping?
Although I always prefer fresh whipped cream, you can use Cool Whip or your favorite store-bought whipped topping for this dessert.
My family likes everything super sweet. Can I add sugar to the whipped cream?
Yes, you can add a tablespoon of sugar to the whipped cream if your family prefers it. Mine is trying to cut down on added sugar, so I didn’t add any sweetener to my version.
If I cannot find raspberries, may I substitute them for strawberries?
Any mix of fresh berries will look and taste amazing, so feel free to substitute the raspberries for strawberries.
What can I do with the egg yolks?
Instead of discarding the egg yolks, you can refrigerate them and use them the next day for an egg wash when baking fresh bread (like challah) or cookies.
Is this meringue wreath gluten-free?
Yes! This is a wonderful gluten-free dessert option that everybody will love even if they are allergic or sensitive to grains.
How can I make sure the egg whites reach stiff peaks?
When making meringue, it is extremely important to avoid chilled eggs. They must be at room temperature. Also, make sure to separate the egg whites from the yolks. Even a tiny amount of yolk will affect the meringue.
Berry Meringue Wreath
Serves 10 to 12
Ingredients
For the meringue:
- 8 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
For the whipped topping:
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
For the berry topping:
- 1 (14 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F or 107 C. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using two bowls of different sizes, trace a wreath shape onto the parchment paper. Flip the parchment paper so the circle shows through the paper.
- Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites, discarding the egg yolks or reserving them for another recipe.
- At medium speed, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar, and salt until light and foamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar a small scoop at a time and continue beating until all of the sugar is incorporated and the batter forms stiff peaks, about 15 minutes.
- Place dollops of the meringue around the wreath shape, smoothing very slightly around the top. Place in the oven on the middle rack for 2 hours or until the outside of the meringue is dry. Rest at room temperature until completely cooled.
- To make the berry topping, fold the blueberries and raspberries into the cranberry sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Prepare the whipped topping by beating the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
- When ready to serve, spoon the whipped topping over the meringue and top with the berry sauce.
- Garnish with additional berries and mint leaves, if desired.
Garnish with additional berries and mint leaves, if desired.
Holiday Berry Meringue Wreath
Ingredients
- For the meringue:
- 8 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- For the whipped topping:
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- For the berry topping:
- 1 (14 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F or 107 C. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using two bowls of different sizes, trace a wreath shape onto the parchment paper. Flip the parchment paper so the circle shows through the paper.
- Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites, discarding the egg yolks or reserving them for another recipe.
- At medium speed, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar, and salt until light and foamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar a small scoop at a time and continue beating until all of the sugar is incorporated and the batter forms stiff peaks, about 15 minutes.
- Place dollops of the meringue around the wreath shape, smoothing very slightly around the top. Place in the oven on the middle rack for 2 hours or until the outside of the meringue is dry. Rest at room temperature until completely cooled.
- To make the berry topping, fold the blueberries and raspberries into the cranberry sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Prepare the whipped topping by beating the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
- When ready to serve, spoon the whipped topping over the meringue and top with the berry sauce.
- Garnish with additional berries and mint leaves, if desired.
More Christmas recipes
- Traditional Christmas Panettone Recipe
- Delicious Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Spectacular Christmas Nougat Hot Cocoa Bombs
