Holiday Berry Meringue Wreath
This edible wreath is almost too pretty to eat (but seriously, you should dive in -- it's delicious.) Crisp and crunchy meringue lies beneath a ruby red cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate sauce.
Dovetailing Tip: Prepare the mint infused vodka today so that it will be ready for the Candy Cane Cooler on day 3.
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Ingredients:
| 8 | large egg whites, at room temperature |
| 1 teaspoon | cream of tartar |
| 1/2 teaspoon | fine salt |
| 3 1/2 cups | confectioners' sugar |
| 1 -10 ounce | bag fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed and drained if frozen |
| 1/3 cup | granulated sugar, plus more to taste |
| juice of 1/2 lemon | |
| 4 cups | fresh raspberries |
| 1/2 cup | pomegranate seeds |
| leaves from 1 bunch fresh mint | |
| 1 cup | heavy cream |
Directions:
Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 225 degrees F. Line the back of a baking sheet with parchment. Use a 12-inch bowl as a stencil: Flip it upside down and trace a 12-inch circle onto the parchment. Use a 9-inch bowl to trace a circle inside the 12- inch one. This is the outline of your wreath.
For the wreath: Combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the very clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 minute more. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff, shiny peaks form, 13 to 15 minutes.
Build the wreath: Using the template on the parchment as your guide, drop dollops of meringue in a line along the inside of the 12-inch circle. Use a rubber spatula to help clean off your spoon between dollops. Following the 9-inch circle and slightly overlapping the outer ring of meringue, make an inner ring of meringue dollops to fill in the rest of the template. Flatten the meringue slightly with the back of the spoon, making sure to keep a lot of peaks. Bake the meringue until it is dry, crisp, and pearly white on the outside, about 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the cranberry sauce: Bring the cranberries, sugar and lemon juice to a simmer in medium saucepan and cook until the cranberries are soft and just begin to burst and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Gently fold in the raspberries and pomegranate seeds. Whip the heavy cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.
Before serving, spread the whipped cream on the meringue. Spoon over the cranberry sauce and sprinkle with mint leaves.
Source: foodnetwork.com
