
Pie Crust – Meringue Pie Shell

HEAT oven to 225°F. BEAT egg whites and cream of tartar in mixer bowl with whisk attachment on high speed until foamy. While beating constantly, ADD sugar, 2 Tbsp. at a time, beating after each addition until sugar is dissolved before adding the next. (RUB a bit of meringue between thumb and forefinger; it should feel completely smooth.) CONTINUE beating until whites are glossy and stand in stiff peaks. BEAT in vanilla.
SPREAD meringue on bottom and sides of greased 9-inch pie plate with back of spoon, building up edge to form a rim.
BAKE in 225°F oven until firm and wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. TURN off oven. LET dry in oven, with door closed, until cool and crisp, at least 1 hour. STORE in pie plate in tightly sealed container at room temperature. FILL just before serving.
large EGG whites, room temperature |
3
|
cream of tartar |
1/4 tsp.
|
sugar |
3/4 cup
|
vanilla |
1/2 tsp.
|
For individual meringue tart shells: Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Using about 1/3 cup for each shell, spoon meringue onto sheets. Use back of spoon to build up edges to form rims. (Baking sheets can be lightly greased and floured; meringue can be piped from pastry bag.)
Chewier texture: This recipe produces a crisp white meringue. If you prefer a more chewy inner texture, reduce baking time to about 40 minutes. Turn oven off and let meringue cool with the door closed.
Lightly browned: If you prefer your meringue with some color, increase the oven temperature to 250°F and bake for 50 minutes. Turn oven off and let meringue cool with the door closed.
Angel pies consist of a crisp meringue shell and a creamy filling. The classic filling is lemon or lime, but any cooked custard, ice cream or whipped cream mixed with fresh fruit will work.
Calories | 81 |
Total fat | 0 g |
Saturated fat | 0 g |
Polyunsaturated fat | 0 g |
Monounsaturated fat | 0 g |
Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Sodium | 21 mg |
Carbohydrates | 19 g |
Fiber | 0 g |
Sugar | 19 g |
Protein | 1 g |
Vitamin A | 0 mcg |
Vitamin D | 0 mcg |
Folate | 0 mcg |
Choline | 0 mg |
Calcium | 1 mg |
Iron | 0 mg |
Potassium | 36 mg |
To ensure food safety, eggs should be cooked until both the yolk and the white are firm. Consuming raw or undercooked eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially for those with certain medical conditions. For recipes that call for eggs that are raw or undercooked when the dish is served, use either pasteurized shell eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella, or use pasteurized egg products.