Christmas dessert?

Question

I am planning on preparing Meringue Nests for dessert on Christmas Day but am having trouble with deciding what it is best to fill them with. I initially planned on fresh fruit salad and a choice of cream or ice cream{whatever people want}. Would strawberries alone be better or tinned fruit? Your opinions please!

I should add that this is for my family and they have more or less requested the meringue part, so I just want advice about the filling. Answers are helpful so far. Keep them coming!

I planned on fresh alright but my mother thinks canned is a better idea. God knows why!

Answer 1

Ice cream, seasonal fruit, or

simply fill with the whipped cream and then the fresh fruit. Or,
(b)) line the meringue nest with half the cream. Pile the fruit on top and hide it like buried treasure under a second layer of whipped cream. Decorate the top with flaked almonds, and even a few telltale pieces of fruit.

Serve meringue nest with scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with raspberry sauce.

Answer 2

I read a recipe yesterday for meringue nests with puffed candy ice cream, and a butterscotch sauce which looked really good. It's in the January issue of delicious I think (not yet on the web) and looked quite easy to make.

If you really want fruit though, I wouldn't go for strawberries as they are out of season. How about some of the first of the seasons forced rhubarb - its really nice and pink (if you can find it) and would be nice stewed, then cooled and added to the meringue with some whipped cream.

Answer 3

Some years ago, I was asked to donate food for a Christmas charity buffet, and I did meringue nests, filled them with fresh whipped cream, and topped them with star fruit. I used tinned, but that can be hard to find, it is perhaps easier to use fresh. The star fruit looked very seasonal.

Answer 4

I love this sauce with berries,,,if you use red rasberries, it will look more Christmasy, but you can use any berry and jam your family likes..

3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 16-ounce package frozen unsweetened mixed berries(do not thaw)
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Whisk jam, sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and jam melts. Boil until sauce thickens and is reduced to generous 3/4 cup, whisking often, about 7 minutes. Add berries and cardamom; stir gently. Remove from heat; let stand 1 hour to thaw fruit. Cover; chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Now to put the dessert together, by putting a scoop of ice cream in the meringue nest,,,then pour the sauce over,,,,these are so pretty and festive looking...

Answer 5

I like the idea of lemon curd, also. But I think I would want to do something more Christmasy. (Is that a word?) Lemon is too spring/summer for me. So I would probably do something like a pudding or a mousse. Or perhaps you could do a fresh mixed berry compote, cooked down and thickened with a little corn starch. You can garnish with a mint sprig. Or even a fresh berry on the top.

Answer 6

for ease on Christmas day when you probably won't have a great deal of time i would use tinned fruit. personally i would fill the nest with Mandarin segments and a spoonful of cream sprinkled with crushed ginger biscuits.

the combination of the orange and the ginger is really nice.

enjoy whatever you decide.
Merry Christmas
x

Answer 7

Since meringues are relatively tasteless I would suggest something tangy, like a lemon curd topped with whipped cream or kiwis and strawberries for that "Christmas" touch.

Answer 8

Top with tinned black cherries, then for adults drizzle with Kirsch. Serve with vanilla icecream or cream. Festive and easy.

You have to try this, the combination of meringue and cherries is just perfect.

Answer 9

Why not buy a jar of sweet mincemeat, warm and spoon that into the nests, serve with fresh cream too - makes it a bit more festive than a pavlova

Answer 10

Fresh fruit all the way, no doubt. Just make sure your fruit is going to be ripe on the day, you know supermarket fruit: 2 weeks hard and the next day rotten.