These Strawberry Dessert Cups have layers of fresh strawberries and a smooth and stable strawberry meringue with a light and airy texture. The meringue is made exactly like the classic Italian meringue, except instead of using sugar syrup, you use a syrup made out of sugar and strawberries. 

This recipe requires just four simple ingredients, including sugar, strawberries, egg whites, and lemon juice or cream of tartar. It’s perfect if you want to treat yourself to a delicious dessert without spending any time baking. 

Ingredients (6 dessert cups)

• 350 g (3/4 lbs or 12.35 oz) fresh strawberries 
• 200 g (1 cup) sugar 
• 2 egg whites 
• juice from 1/3 of a lemon OR 1/2 tsp cream of tartar 

Directions

Wash and cut half of the strawberries into small pieces. Mash them roughly using a potato / vegetable masher. Place them in a heavy-bottom sauce pan together with the sugar and mix everything. Set this aside for 10 minutes until the sugar starts melting a bit and the juice from the strawberries gets released.

Then, bring to a boil and simmer on medium-low heat until the strawberry syrup reaches 240°F (115°C). 

Remove the foamy scum that forms on top. 

In the meantime, place your egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.  When your strawberry syrup reaches about 220°F (105°C), start mixing your egg whites until they become foamy. Then, add the lemon juice or cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form (the peaks should slowly collapse once you lift the beaters up).

With the mixer running on low, carefully and slowly drizzle in the hot strawberry syrup. Be careful not to burn yourself as the syrup will be very hot. Increase speed to high and whip until desired stiffness is achieved. 

Slice your remaining strawberries. 

Pipe a layer of strawberry meringue and place a layer of fresh strawberries. Repeat this process until you fill each cup. 

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