Easy Dessert - Lemon Meringue Roulade

If you're looking for a light dessert that's big on flavour,  then look no further.  It's dead easy and looks mighty impressive.  Perfect to serve at Christmas or as a summery pudding.

This recipe taken from the British Lion Eggs website is now a firm family tradition at both Christmas and Easter.

·                           4 large egg whites

·                           225g/8oz caster sugar

·                           1 tsp almond essence

·                           1 tsp raspberry or white wine vinegar

·                           50g/2oz ground almonds

·                           1-2 tbsp icing sugar, sifted

·                           6 tbsp lemon curd

·                           300ml/1/2pt crème fraiche

·                           1 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

·                           A few fresh raspberries to decorate

·                           Raspberry or mango coulis to serve

1.       Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas Mark 3, 10 minutes before baking. Line a Swiss roll tin with a single sheet of greaseproof or baking paper and reserve.

2.       Whisk the egg whites until stiff and standing in peaks then gradually whisk in the sugar 1 spoonful at a time. When all the sugar has been added, carefully stir in the almond essence, vinegar and then the ground almonds. Mix lightly together.

3.       Turn into the lined Swiss roll tin smooth the top and tap the tin lightly on the work surface to remove any air bubbles. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top is pale golden and feels firm and set. Remove from the oven and leave until cold.

4.       When ready to serve, whip the crème fraiche until thick, reserve. Invert the cooled roulade onto a large sheet of greaseproof or baking paper, sprinkle with the icing sugar and carefully strip off the lining paper. Spread with the lemon curd and then the crème fraiche. Leave for a few minutes to allow the roulade to soften then carefully roll up. (You will find that the roulade cracks slightly on rolling.)

5.       Place on a serving platter, sprinkle with the toasted almonds and decorate with the raspberries and serve.

Cooks note:  don't worry if the meringue cracks when you roll it up - it just adds to the "yule log" effect.  Plus a bit of icing sugar sprinkled over through a sieve covers up a multitude of sins.