Chocolate Meringue Easter Nests

Easter being so early this year is really throwing me off. I like to do a lot of baking around this time of year as there are so many fantastic foods to enjoy. I think I'll be carrying on with Easter baking in April so I can have enough time to enjoy it all! I made a giant version of these chocolate meringue nests last year for a family dinner, I never ended up blogging about it but I knew that when Easter came around again I wanted to re-create the recipe as individual nests, and I'm so glad I did!

I started by finely grating 100g dark chocolate and then stirred 4 tbsp cocoa powder into it.

I whisked up 6 egg whites and 1 tsp cream of tartar in a food mixer until soft peaks formed.

Keeping the mixer going, I added 1 tsp vanilla extract and poured in 434g caster sugar. Always measure your egg whites and then double the amount of sugar to get the perfect meringue. Once stiff peaks formed - turn the bowl upside for the true test of this! - I turned the mixer off.

I folded the chocolate and cocoa powder mix into the meringue.

I put the meringue into a piping bag with a star nozzle and piped out nest shapes onto a lined baking tray. I got 12 in total.

I baked the meringue nests on 140C (120C Fan)/275F/Gas Mark 1 for 40 minutes.

I whipped up a 300ml pot of double cream and also grabbed a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs.

I spooned some of the cream into the middle of each nest, added 3 Mini Eggs, and then drizzled over some melted dark chocolate to finish.

The meringues were so chocolatey and melt in the mouth, and I think we all know how well freshly whipped cream goes with crisp meringue! I thought they looked really cute. You could also top them with mini creme eggs, caramel eggs, oreo eggs... whichever you prefer!

I'm entering these into myself and Cakeyboi's monthly challenge Treat Petite, where the theme is Easter & Spring.

Into Tin & Thyme's challenge (this month hosted by Lancashire Food) We Should Cocoa, the theme is eggs.

Into Belleau Kitchen's challenge Simply Eggcellent, where the theme is a Celebration of Eggs.

Into The No Waste Food Challenge hosted by Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary as I used leftover egg whites that I had frozen for the meringue.

Into Fab Food 4 All & Fuss Free Flavour's challenge Credit Crunch Munch hosted by Travels for Taste this month, for the same reason as above.

And finally into The More Than Occassional Baker and Caroline Makes... challenge Alphabakes. The letter this month is 'C' for chocolate in this recipe.
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Chocolate Meringue Easter NestsMarch-20-2016Ingredients

• 100g Dark chocolate
• 4 tbsp Cocoa powder
• 6 Egg whites
• 1 tsp Cream of tartar
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• Double the weight of the egg whites Caster sugar
• 300ml Double cream
• Mini Eggs
• 6 squares Dark chocolate, melted

InstructionsFinely grate the dark chocolate and stir the cocoa powder into itWhisk up the egg whites and 1cream of tartar in a food mixer until soft peaks formKeeping the mixer going, add the vanilla extract and pour in the caster sugar. Once stiff peaks form turn the mixer offFold the chocolate and cocoa powder mix into the meringuePut the meringue into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe out nest shapes onto a lined baking trayBake the meringue nests on 140C (120C Fan)/275F/Gas Mark 1 for 40 minutesWhip up the double cream, spoon it into the middle of each nest, add 3 Mini Eggs, and then drizzle over some melted dark chocolate to finish