WHITE FOREST MERINGUE ROULADE

This week I ’m bringing you a little bit of festive baking to get you in the mood for the big day. A make- ahead dessert is a handy recipe to have up your sleeve at this time of year – and this white chocolate meringue roulade freezes really well.

All you have to do is let it defrost for a day in the fridge before serving.

Homemade mince pies, warm from the oven are such a treat, I like mine with a dollop of thick brandy cream.

If you want to keep little hands busy, why not whip up a batch of gingerbread?

You can make simple star biscuits or something more elaborate like a sweetie- covered gingerbread house. Happy baking!

Try this ultimate make- ahead dessert for Christmas: meringue, white chocolate, cream and cherries are combined to make a luscious centrepiece

Butter, for the tin

100g white chocolate, 50g grated, 50g melted and cooled a little

4 large egg whites 1 tsp lemon juice

200g white caster sugar icing sugar, for dusting

300g frozen black cherries, saving a few whole ones to decorate 50ml orange juice

100g white caster sugar pinch of ground cloves ½ tsp cornflour 400ml double cream

50g icing sugar

½ tsp vanilla bean paste or extract

1

Heat oven to 180C/ 160C fan/ gas 4. Butter, then line a 23 x 32cm baking tray. Using an electric hand whisk, beat the egg whites, lemon juice and a pinch of salt until stiff.

2

Add 1 tbsp of the caster sugar, then whisk until the mixture makes stiff peaks. Repeat with the rest of the sugar, spoon by spoon, until the mix is thick and shiny. Spread into the tin, then bake for 15 mins or until crisp to the touch and lightly golden in places.

Leave to cool.

3

Simmer the cherries, orange juice, sugar and cloves for 10 mins, or until the cherries are soft but still holding their shape. Mix the cornflour with 2- 3 tsp cold water to make a paste, stir into the cherries and cook for a couple mins more until the juices thicken. Leave to cool.

4

To assemble, sift icing sugar over a large piece of parchment, then carefully flip the meringue onto it. Remove the tin and parchment. With a short end facing you, score a line 2cm into the meringue.

5

Whip the cream, icing sugar and vanilla until thick but not stiff, then spread over the meringue. Spoon over about half of the cherry sauce and scatter with the grated chocolate. Roll up the roulade, starting with the scored short end and using the paper underneath to help. Freeze the roulade for up to a month then defrost overnight. Freeze by setting on a parchment- lined tray then, once firm, wrap the parchment around it and cover with cling film. Freeze the remaining cherry sauce for up to a month.

6

To serve, drizzle with the melted white chocolate. Top with a few of the whole cherries and serve the remaining sauce on the side.