I love this dessert as it is very refreshing with the fruits and light with the meringue.  Don’t worry if it cracks a little, it all adds to the rustic look.  To me it important that desserts can be made and stored in advance which this one does.  The meringue can be made up to a month in advance and frozen until ready to roll and use – so ideal for a crowd as it serves eight people.

Ingredients

The Meringue

4 large egg whites (room temperature)

1 tsp lemon juice

200g white caster sugar

Icing sugar for dusting

Fruits of forest filling

300g frozen fruits of forest

30ml Cointreau (or orange juice)

100g white caster sugar

Pinch of ground cloves

½ tsp cornflour

The cream

300 ml double or whipping cream

50g icing sugar

Method

1. Heat oven to 180 degrees.  Butter and line a Swiss role tin 23 x 32 cms
2. Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice and a pinch of salt until it forms stiff peaks
3. Gradually add the caster sugar a dessert spoonful at a time until you have a thick glossy mixture
4. Spread into the tin and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.  The top should be a light brown colour and crisp to touch.  Leave to cool
5. Simmer the frozen fruits with the Cointreau, cast sugar and cloves for around 10 minutes but ensure the berries do not lose their shape.  Mix the cornflour with 2 tablespoons of water to make a paste, stir it into berry mix and cook for a further couple of minutes to thicken
6. Set the berry mixture aside to cool
7. Now start to assemble by sifting the icing sugar over a large piece of baking paper, then very carefully flip the meringue on to it.  With the short end facing you, score a line 2cm into the meringue
8. Whip the cream with the icing sugar until thick but not too stiff, and spread over the meringue – leave a border of around 2 cm round the edges.  Spoon half of

the fruit mixture on top of the cream

• Very carefully start to roll up the roulade from the scored short end
• When ready to serve, scatter a little more of the fruit on top and serve the remainder on the side for anyone who wants more!