I wanted to make a special dessert to share with my daughter today. It is not often I have her here staying with me and so I wanted to treat her to something she wouldn't get very often at home.
But, as well, this is a dessert that is so simple to make that she could make it herself at home. My daughter is somewhat challenged or what they call special needs. I write all of my recipes in a way that she can understand them and cook them herself.
This three ingredient Lemon Meringue Pie Smash is a particularly simple dessert to make and something I know she would enjoy making at home for herself and Tim, her husband. Although she is special needs, she is also very capable. I am very proud of her.
Lemon desserts are some of our favorite desserts to make. My whole family loves them. I have very fond memories of my mother's lemon meringue pies. Before she went back to work she used to make a hot cooked meal for us every day, and sometimes that would include dessert. If it was a really good day it would be a lemon meringue pie.
Mom always made a separate little pot of the lemon filling for my baby brother who was five years younger than myself. She did not think that small children could easily digest pastry and so she would make this special little dessert just for him. Moms. I miss my mother every single day.
This simple dessert I am sharing today uses only three ingredients. Lemon Curd. Meringue nests and softly whipped cream.
Putting it together is a simple as layering those ingredients attractively in a clear glass. I used glasses with a bit of a pattern on them to make them look really special.
Not only is it a very easy and simple dessert to make, but it is a dessert that you can put together in the morning and then place in the refrigerator to chill until you are ready to serve it. Desserts that you can easily make ahead are the best kind and perfect for entertaining!
Its also very easy to throw together at the last minute. If you keep these ingredients in your larder (the meringues and lemon curd) and have cream in the refrigerator you are never more than a few minutes away from a delectably delicious lemon dessert!
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THREE INGREDIENT LEMON MERINGUE PIE SMASH
Only three simple ingredients. This is a real doddle.
- 1 box of Meringue Nests (there are usually six in a box)
- 1 jar of good quality lemon curd
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whipping cream
- 6 clear glasses
Generally speaking you can find the meringue nests in the baking section at the grocery store. They are ready made crisp meringues. You can also make your own from scratch if you are keen. I would make them the day before.
You can find an excellent recipe here on Charlotte's Lively Kitchen. I have made meringues before on here, but they are not the crisp kind. Mine are more marshmallow like in the centers, which is not what you want for this dessert.
Use a really good quality lemon curd. I used one that I had purchased in an online British grocery supply store. It was made with gin and was quite lovely. You can also make your own from scratch. I have an excellent recipe here.
Its not really all that difficult to make from scratch, but there are so many good quality curds available in the shops these days, that when you are looking at convenience you can't really go wrong. They are usually found in the section of the shops that holds jams and preserves. Another good quality curd is Bonne Maman.
HOW TO MAKE THREE INGREDIENT LEMON MERINGUE PIE SMASH
Nothing could be easier. Seriously. This goes together very quickly. You can also make it several hours ahead of time and keep it chilled in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
Run a fork through the lemon curd to loosen it up. Set aside.Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Use a well chilled scrupulously clean bowl and beaters. Take care not to overbeat it, or you may end up with butter!
Begin by crumbling 1/2 of a meringue nest in the bottom of the glass. Top with a portion of whipped cream. Tap the glasses gently on the table to settle the cream.
Cover the cream with a layer of lemon curd. Repeat the layers once, again tapping to make sure the layers settle.Finish off with a dollop of whipped cream. If desired you can finely grate a bit of lemon zest over top to garnish. Serve cold.These will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for several hours prior to serving.
Rich, indulgent and so simple to make, this delicious dessert spells winner all round! If you can crack open a jar, break a few meringues and whip a bit of cream, then this dessert will be a real doddle for you.
I loved this. It went together in a flash and was seriously delicious. Lemon meringue pie without all of the fuss of making a pie crust! You can't go wrong!!
If you are a fan of the quick and easy almost instant dessert you might also be interested in the following!
LEMON (OR LIME) POSSET - Three simple ingredients (cream, sugar and lemon or lime juice) and a saucepan are all you need to create this simple and incredibly rich dessert. This is a simple as heating the cream and sugar together to melt the cream and then whisking in the juice. Creamy and incredibly indulgent. This is dinner party fare.
TRADITIONAL ETON MESS - Another delicious three ingredient dessert composed of whipped cream, broken meringues and fresh berries. Perfect for entertaining, it is quick, easy, and delicious, it always goes down a real treat whether you are serving one person, two people or a dozen people. I have NEVER had anyone turn up their nose at this!
Yield: 6Author: Marie Rayner
3-Ingredient Lemon Meringue Pie Smash
Prep time: 15 MinTotal time: 15 MinNothing could be easier than this simple dessert which makes good use of storecupboard ingredients in the most delicious way! This is almost instant lemon mering pie gratification!Ingredients
- 1 box of Meringue Nests (there are usually six in a box)
- 1 jar of good quality lemon curd
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whipping cream
- 6 clear glasses
Instructions
- Run a fork through the lemon curd to loosen it up. Set aside.
- Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Use a well chilled scrupulously clean bowl and beaters. Take care not to overbeat it, or you may end up with butter!
- Begin by crumbling 1/2 of a meringue nest in the bottom of the glass. Top with a portion of whipped cream. Tap the glasses gently on the table to settle the cream.
- Cover the cream with a layer of lemon curd. Repeat the layers once, again tapping to make sure the layers settle.
- Finish off with a dollop of whipped cream. If desired you can finely grate a bit of lemon zest over top to garnish. Serve cold.
- These will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for several hours prior to serving.
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