Vegan meringue nests are a festive make-ahead dessert for the holidays
that are actually pretty simple to make but they look impressive.
This week is a busy week for TVV. I actually was supposed to post my food blogger cookie swap recipe yesterday but I totally didn’t post it because I got too busy with work, but I’ll post to tomorrow. It’s a BOMB snickerdoodle recipe though, so you should probably watch out for it tomorrow (in your inbox, in your IG feed, y’know, however you find yourself here these days). Today’s post is a part of the Vegan Mystery Box Challenge!
VMBC is hosted by Sam from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken and Andrew from One Ingredient Chef. Basically, Sam and Andrew pick some ingredients—Chopped-style—and challenge a ton of other bloggers to get creative and make something with it. This challenge included cranberries, coconut milk, and pistachios!
This year, the vegan world was exploding with possibilities thanks to aquafaba, aka chickpea water (like the stuff most people just pour off from the can). Earlier this summer, I experimented with this super awesome meringue adapted from Goose Wohlt, the genius behind the discover that is aquafaba.
There are so many things I want to try! Macarons (remember when I was obsessed with these things pre-vegan days?!), lemon meringue pie, marshmallows, swiss meringue buttercream, mousse, choux pastry!! So many things that weren’t possible for vegans are now perfectly plant-based. AHH I’M SO EXCITED. Burrito Boy always kind of laughs at me every time I get frazzled with excitement about veganizing foods I love.
These meringue nests are elegant, wonderfully crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. The cranberry coconut whip is rich and just sweet enough when combined with the meringues, and then you sprinkle some pistachios on top. It’s a texture bomb of awesome: crisp, light, crunchy, chewy, and creamy!
With Christmas coming up, lots of people are planning their holiday feasts and desserts, and these vegan meringue nests are something you can make up to 3 or 4 days ahead of time. During feast when the desserts come rolling around, you don’t need to worry about making room in the oven for these. Cranberry sauce is already on the menu (another thing that’s easy to make ahead), so just grab a couple tablespoons of it, a can of coconut milk and a handful of pistachios and you’re good to go.
Check out the other VMBC posts! So much vegan goodness!
- Vegan Cranberry Pistachio Loaf by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
- Magic Fruit Cake Bars with White Chocolate Drizzle by One Ingredient Chef
- Cranberry Cheesecake & Pistachio Stuffed Vegan French Toast by Connoisseurus Veg
- Pistachio Crusted Cranberry Cashew Coconut Cheese by Lemon and Coconut
- Cranberry Pistachio and Mango Salad by Veggies Save the Day
- Cranberry Cointreau Coconut Ice Cream with Candied Pistachios by Vegan Yack Attack
- Cranberry Pistachio Donuts by Two City Vegans (Casey)
- Cranberry Pistachio Gingersnap Truffles by Two City Vegans (Alix)
- Warm Barley Bowl with Roasted Brussels, Sweet Potatoes and a Coconut Curry Dressing by Taste Space
- Whole Wheat Cranberry Pistachio Vegan Biscotti by Veggie Inspired Journey
- Coconut Pistachio Cashew Cheese Panini with Cranberry Jam by Peppers and Peaches
- Toasted Pistachio Rice Pudding with Candied Cranberries by The Lazy Vegan Baker
- Pistachio and Cranberry Cream Sandwich Cookies by Love Me Feed Me
- Vegan Coconut Quinoa Salad by Beets Not Meats
- Cranberry Orange & Pistachio Muffins With Vanilla Cream by A Virtual Vegan
- Gourmet Lazy Cabbage Rolls by Choose to Cook
- Sweet Potato Coconut Curry with Cranberries and Pistachios by The Tofu Diaries
- Lebanese Semolina Pudding (Layali Lubnan) by Lands and Flavors
- Vegan Chocolate Cranberry Cake by The Seasonal Diet by The Seasonal Diet
Stay tuned for my snickerdoodle recipe coming out tomorrow, friends.
Vegan Meringues Nests
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup aquafaba canned chickpea water, strained
- 1 can full fat coconut milk refrigerated overnight
- 3 tbsp of your favourite cranberry sauce*
- 1/4 cup crushed pistachios
Instructions
For the meringues:
- Using a small blender or food processor, pulse the white granulated sugar until fine but not powdery—like castor sugar. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 200ªF/95ºC.
- Using an electric beater or stand mixer, beat the aquafaba on low for about 2 minutes until foamy. Turn up to beat on high until you get stiff peaks.
- Stop the mixer and add in 1 tbsp of the ultrafine sugar. Start beating slowly to incorporate then increase speed to the highest until sugar is incorporated. Repeat until all sugar is added. Beat well until you have a very glossy meringue. Dip the tip of your finger in the meringue and rub it between your fingers—you should not feel any grains of sugar. Whip the meringue until all sugar is dissolved.
- Transfer mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (doesn't matter which star tip really, whichever you like).
- Onto a prepared baking sheet (with parchment paper or Silpats) pipe 2.5-3 inch circles of the meringue to make the cookies. For a more traditional "nest" shape, Start in the middle, pipe outwards and pipe a second layer on top of the outer layer to make the nest shape. I didn't do that, but you definitely can.
- Bake meringues for 1.5 hours at 200ªF, then turn off the heat, crack the oven, and let them cool and set inside the oven. Basically walk away for an hour or so. Once cool, remove from oven and remove from parchment paper or Silpats.
To prepare the cranberry coconut whip:
- Remove your can of coconut milk from the fridge and open it up.
- Pour out the liquid (add it to smoothies or baked goods) and scoop out the coconut cream.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cream with the cranberry sauce until combined.
To assemble just before serving:
- Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the whip over meringues and sprinkle some crushed pistachios on top. Enjoy with a fork or be a rebel like me and just eat it with your hands.
Notes
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen} says
Firstly, I love the mystery box idea, so fun! Secondly, I have been meaning to try this vegan meringue thing, I’m just stunned that old chickpea water can create something so beautiful and elegant!
janet @ the taste space says
I still haven’t tried aquafaba yet but your meringues look absolutely perfect. I’d get excited about them, too. I look forward to your snickerdoodle recipe, too.
casey says
One, I love your blog name. Two, WHAT THE HECK?! These look incredible. I have got to try aquafaba.
Lisa Le says
Thanks Casey =) Aquafaba is magical!
Amy | Lemon and Coconut says
They look FANTASTIC! I have yet to cook with aquafaba, need to go for it! :)
Lisa Le says
It’s so easy!! You’ll be swimming with ideas for what to make next—and then you’ll have to figure out what to do with all the chickpeas XD
Sam ~ it doesn't taste like chicken says
Oh these are so pretty!!!!!!!! Thanks for being part of the challenge Lisa, you’re a rockstar with this recipe!
Lisa Le says
Thanks for including me =) It was really fun!
Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade says
This is awesome, Lisa!!
Lisa Le says
Thanks Katie! <3
Brenda says
Can I put in a vote for marshmallows to be covered sooner than later? Having become a pretty devoted convert to making my own marshmallows, I’d love to be able to share the deliciousness with my favourite vegans.
Lisa Le says
Hahah I will try. I sucked at making non-vegan marshmallows though, I hope I won’t suck at vegan ones.
Brenda says
Would it help if I point you in the direction of a non-vegan recipe that I have used several times with great success as a starting point? If so, it’s this one: http://thecakeblog.com/2013/11/recipe-butters-famous-marshmallows.html
Jackie @ Vegan Yack Attack says
Girl, you are killing it with this beautiful dessert! I love that you did meringues!
Lisa Le says
Thanks Jackie!! <3 They were too good and perfect for this challenge =)
Jenn says
I want to jump through my screen and take a huge bite of that!! I can almost taste the crispy edges and sweet tangy cranberry cream from here. OMG! Drooling!!!
Lisa Le says
Hahaha thank you! <3 They're still so good. BB doesn't really like meringues, so I've been eating one (or 2) for dessert every night for the past week!
Natalie Tamara says
These looks awesome and so pretty too! I love the creativity that the challenge has inspired – who knew there were so many ways to eat these three ingredients!?
Natalie Tamara says
P.S. Pinning to give this a try later!
Lisa Le says
Thanks Natalie! I know right? People are so creative =)
Jenny D says
Aquafaba! I keep thinking about new ways to flavor the meringues and totally forget about making toppings. The cranberry cream sounds amazing. I’ve been making meringues all this week for xmas…And eating lots of chickpeas haha!