The Home Economics Bit
Did you know?
Meringue is traditionally made using just two ingredients: whipped egg whites and sugar. Flavourings (e.g. vanilla extract), colourings and stabilisers (e.g. cornflour) may also be added, depending on the recipe.

Gluten Free Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Light and fluffy gluten free cupcakes filled with homemade lemon curd, and topped with a delicate meringue swirl.
Ingredients
- 125 g caster sugar
- 125 g butter softened
- 125 g gluten free self raising flour sifted
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the lemon curd
- 2 lemons zest and juice
- 100 g caster sugar
- 50 g butter
- 2 eggs beaten
For the meringue
- 2 egg whites
- 100 g caster sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
- Line a 12-hole bun tin with paper cases.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Sift in half the gluten free self raising flour and pour in half the egg. Mix.
- Add the remaining egg and flour, and the vanilla essence. Mix.
- Spoon mixture evenly into the bun cases.
- Place into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
- Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
For the lemon curd
- Put the lemon zest, juice, sugar and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the butter has melted.
- Using a small whisk or a fork, stir in the beaten egg. Keep gently whisking the mixture over the heat for around 10 mins until thickened like custard.
For the meringue
- To make the meringue, whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until stiff.
- Gradually add the sugar as you continue whisking on full speed, until you have a stiff glossy mixture.
To assemble
- Fill the cooled lemon curd into a piping bag.
- Using a piping nozzel, pipe approx. 1 tbsp of lemon curd into each cupcake.
- Pipe a swirl of meringue on top of each cupcake.
- Use a chef’s blowtorch to brown the meringues or slide them under the grill until just golden brown.
Notes
Leftover lemon curd will keep in a sterilised jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.