Easy Italian Meringue

Explore the art of making the perfect Italian meringue with this foolproof, easy-to-follow recipe. With all my expert tips, you'll achieve that glossy and fluffy perfection, making it a perfect addition to all your pastries and desserts.

this recipe

What is Italian Meringue?

Italian meringue is a versatile and silky-smooth meringue made by gradually adding hot sugar syrup to whipped egg whites. This technique results in a stable, glossy, and fluffy meringue that's commonly used as a topping for pies, cakes, or desserts or incorporated into various confections.

Among the three different types of meringue — French meringue, Swiss meringue, and Italian meringue — Italian meringue is known for being the most challenging.

While French meringue is made by directly mixing sugar with egg whites, Swiss meringue involves pasteurizing the egg whites with sugar in a double boiler before whipping them.

Despite its challenging preparation, Italian meringue is highly valued for its incredibly light and stable texture, making it perfect for lemon tarts, in my lemon meringue cake, macaron shells, or elegant dessert decorations.

Why you'll love this recipe

• Fluffy and Stable Texture: One of the reasons we love Italian meringue is its ability to achieve a stable and fluffy texture that's perfect for various desserts. It holds its shape exceptionally well, making it ideal for piping onto pies, cakes, and other sweets.
• Versatile Flavor: Italian meringue offers a neutral, versatile flavor that complements a wide range of desserts. It doesn't overpower the taste of the underlying treats, allowing other flavors to shine through.
• Beautiful Gloss: Italian meringue's glossy appearance is another reason it's adored. Its shiny, smooth finish adds an elegant touch to desserts, making them visually appealing.
• Balanced Sweetness: Italian meringue strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and texture. It's not overly sweet, which is appreciated by those who enjoy desserts without an overwhelming sugary taste.

More Frosting Recipes

How to use meringue in pastry?

• Buttercream frosting: Italian meringue serves as an excellent base for frostings and icings, adding a light, airy texture and a touch of sweetness like this classic Italian buttercream very popular with another popular meringue buttercream, the Swiss meringue buttercream.
• Macarons: Italian meringue is the secret to achieving those perfect, smooth macaron shells. It stabilizes the meringue, allowing for better incorporation of almond flour and powdered sugar, resulting in a consistent and smooth batter.
• Soufflés: Italian meringue can be folded into various soufflé mixtures, such as chocolate, lemon, or fruit, to add height and a delightful, airy texture. This makes your soufflés rise beautifully and maintain their structure.
• Tarts and Pies: Spread a layer of Italian meringue over lemon meringue tart or lemon meringue pie, and then quickly brown it with a kitchen torch for a stunning and delicious finish.
• Baked Alaska: For a show-stopping dessert, encase ice cream with Italian meringue and quickly torch the meringue for a beautiful contrast of hot and cold.
• Mousse: Italian meringue can be incorporated into chocolate or fruit mousses to achieve a light and airy texture.
• Meringue cookies and pavlova: Perfect for crafting both baked meringue cookies and creating the classic pavlova dessert.

Ingredients for this recipe

Here are the ingredients needed to make an Italian meringue at home for your desserts, scroll down to see the quantities in the recipe card.

• Eggs: Use fresh egg whites (not cold) rather than several days aged eggs for a very stable and voluminous meringue, especially at room temperature.
• Syrup: A mixture of white granulated sugar and water to make the sugar syrup cooked in a small bowl (244°F - 248°F / 118°C-121°C).

What to do with the leftover egg yolks: Put those extra egg yolks from your Italian meringue to good use! Whip up custards, lemon curd, mayo, or even enhance your scrambled eggs for a delightful treat. 

Must-have materials for this recipe

Mastering Italian meringue isn't just about technique and timing; it's also about having the right equipment to get the best results and for that glossy and fluffy perfection.

1. Stand Mixer: A stand mixer is crucial for whisking the egg whites and sugar together continuously while you work on the sugar syrup. You can also use a hand mixer, but the process may take a little longer.
2. Candy Thermometer: A candy thermometer ensures precise monitoring of the sugar syrup's temperature, which is critical for achieving the right consistency.
3. Saucepan: You'll need a saucepan to prepare the sugar syrup. Choose one with high sides to prevent boiling sugar from spilling over.

Stand mixer

Buy Now →

Kitchen torch

Buy Now →

Kitchen Thermometer

Buy Now →

How to Make Easy Italian Meringue Recipe

Beat the egg whites

• Place room-temperature egg whites in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Mix at medium speed while preparing the sugar syrup until egg whites are just frothy with soft peaks forming.

Make sugar syrup

• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. 
• Heat the pan over medium-high heat and bring the sugar mixture to a boil while checking the temperature with a cooking thermometer, which should read at least 244°F / 118°C.

Add the syrup

• Turn down the speed of the stand mixer to low speed and slowly pour the hot sugar syrup over the sides of the bowl containing the egg white mixture.
• Then turn to high speed and process until the meringue is shiny, firm and completely cooled (about 15 minutes).
• Use the Italian meringue immediately in your desserts to make your Italian meringue buttercream or leave it at room temperature and whisk it again before using to give it a smooth texture.

Storage instructions

At room temperature: The cooked sugar syrup incorporated into the egg whites allows the meringue to be stored at room temperature, in a clean bowl covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 48 hours.

Cooked meringue can also be stored at room temperature for about 2 weeks in a humidity-free storage box. 

In the fridge: It can be kept for up to 5 days in the fridge covered with plastic wrap. Due to the humidity, it may become watery in the fridge, so it is best to use it immediately.

Can I make Italian meringue ahead of time?

Yes, you can make Italian meringue ahead of time and store it for later use. Italian meringue can be prepared in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When you're ready to use it, simply give it a good whisk to restore its texture and then use it for topping pies, cakes, or desserts.

Tips for this recipe

• Use clean utensils: Ensure your utensils are free from any fatty residues that can hinder egg whites from rising properly. Clean your bowl thoroughly under hot soapy water or wipe it with a cloth soaked in white vinegar.
• Fresh eggs at room temperature: Fresh eggs at room temperature create a more stable meringue compared to aged eggs, which may rise quickly but lack stability, causing the meringue to collapse.
• Froth the whites: When beating the egg whites before adding the cooked sugar, avoid overbeating them. Aim for foamy egg whites, not stiff peaks, at this stage.
• Add acidity: Incorporate a touch of acidity, such as fresh lemon juice, white vinegar, or cream of tartar, to stabilize the whipped egg whites and achieve a voluminous meringue that holds up well even after baking.
• Use a sugar thermometer: To make the sugar syrup accurately, a thermometer is indispensable. It ensures precise temperature control and consistent results in your Italian meringue.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a meringue without a thermometer?

The cooked syrup should have a temperature between 118°C and 121°C, ideally, you use a candy thermometer to easily measure the temperature. But if you don't have one, here is a tip to know when the sugar syrup is at the right temperature:

First, let the granulated sugar and water cook for about 4 minutes over medium heat, then check from time to time by dipping a fork into the pan and dropping a small amount of hot syrup into a glass of cold water.

If the sugar forms a ball of malleable sugar (soft ball stage) then it's ready, if the sugar forms a filament then it's undercooked and if you have a hard ball then it's overcooked.

How to flavor Italian meringue

Flavoring Italian meringue is a delightful way to enhance its taste. You can add flavor to Italian meringue in various ways:

• Extracts: Incorporate flavored extracts such as vanilla, almond, or citrus extracts into the meringue during the whipping process. 
• Zest: For a natural and vibrant flavor, grate the zest of citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, or limes directly into the meringue. 
• Spices: Ground spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom can infuse the meringue with warm and comforting flavors. 
• Fruit Purees: Fold in fruit purees like raspberry, strawberry, or passion fruit into the meringue to introduce fruity and tart notes. 
• Chocolate: Melted and cooled chocolate can be added to the meringue for a rich and indulgent chocolate flavor. 
• Coffee or Espresso: Dissolve instant coffee or espresso powder in a small amount of hot water and then drizzle it into the meringue. 

Can I color Italian meringue?

To color Italian meringue, use gel food coloring. Dip a toothpick in the gel coloring, swirl it into the meringue while whipping, and adjust as needed for the desired color.

Can I freeze Italian Meringue?

Yes, you can freeze Italian meringue. Simply transfer it to an airtight container, making sure it's sealed well to prevent freezer burn. When you're ready to use it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator, and then rewhip it briefly to restore its texture before using it in your recipe.

For Meringue Lover's

Did you Make This recipe?

Don't forget to rate it and leave me a review in the comments! And to not miss any recipes follow @sweetlycakes on Instagram and tag me to share it if you make this recipe 😊!

Print