Plum and cherry meringue tray bake

Plum and cherry meringue tray bakeImage by Nigel Lough

Ingredients (9)

  • 225g store-bought madeira cake, cut into 1cm-thick slices
  • 700g tub whole plums in juice
  • 415g can stoneless black cherries in syrup
  • 2 egg whites
  • 100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar, plus 2 tsp, extra
  • 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
  • 2 tsp cornflour
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 300ml double cream

Method

  • Step 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Randomly place the cake slices in the base of a 23 x 33cm roasting pan or baking dish. Drain the plums and cherries, reserving the liquid from the cherries. Scatter the plums and cherries over the cake slices and drizzle with 2 tablespoons reserved cherry liquid
  • Step 2 Use electric beaters to beat the egg whites in a bowl until just-firm peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick and glossy. Dollop the meringue over the fruit and sprinkle with pistachios. Bake for 5-8 minutes or until the meringue just starts to turn golden and the fruit is warmed through.
  • Step 3 For the cherry sauce, combine the cornflour with 1 tbs water in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Stir in the vanilla, extra 2 tsp sugar and remaining reserved cherry syrup (about 185ml / 3/4 cup). Stir over medium heat for 2 minutes or until the mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
  • Step 4 Serve the warm bake topped with cream and cherry sauce.