I have been wanting to try a meringue cookie forever now… I never have before! If there is ever an option of sugar cookies or chocolate I tend to pick that over meringue.
I am a silly silly girl. These cookies are much easier than I thought and such a unique and delicate texture! I am smitten. (Plus they are about 15 calories per cookie so you an eat a lot without feeling guilty. Plus they are naturally gluten free. Its win-win folks.)
And knowing I can change up the vanilla and use peppermint or orange or banana or strawberry or almond extract really opens up a world of possibility for these sweet confections.
Being a complete fan of all things Shabby Chic, I had to make a few girly White Christmas trees. I resisted the glitter and sprinkles. Well, until after this picture was taken that is!
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Cream of Tartar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
- Gel Food Coloring (Red and Green for Christmas cookies)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225°F.
- Beat egg whites in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. (If using a freestanding mixer, use wire whisk attachment.) Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium-high. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form. Beat in extract and food color until well blended. Gently stir in chips, if desired.
- Place meringue into pastry bag fitted with a 2D, 1G, or large star tip. Slowly pipe out in a circle for the small meringue cookie. For the tree, pipe out a small circle then continuously make smaller circles working your way up.
- Bake both sheets of meringues at the same time 45 minutes. Turn oven off. Let meringues stand in oven 1 hour or until completely cooled.
A couple friends were gracious enough to also make some wonderful Christmas cookies using McCormick Vanilla. (And look, McCormick even has Pure Madagascar Organic Vanilla! Not only do I love their Pure Vanilla Extract, but this Organic version is such a wonderful addition!)
This post is from the talented Andrea of Baking Doux. Such a fun cookie!!
These chewy butter cookies have a delightful vanilla flavor and aroma; a dusting of cinnamon makes them sensational.
Gena Divine of Bake All The Things will surely delight your taste buds
- check out all the yummy treats available in her Etsy shop!
This is from one of my favorite cake makers, Rose of Rose Bakes. They are chocolate drizzled pecan pie cookies. Um… what?? YUM! Her talent knows no bounds!
I am so honored she put away her cake pan long enough (well, maybe cause they burned to a crisp) to make these amazing cookies. Thank you sweet friend!
Hope you can try these sweet and easy meringues! Oh, and I promise I will attempt a post without red, green,and white. I may be stuck in a color rut. 
Love these! I posted meringues today too–great minds think alike!
Oh fun! Off to check them out!
These types of meringue used to be commonly available in small stores here, usually in bright pink, but I haven’t seen them in a while. Would love to make them to give away too.
Gorgeous!
Mmmmm… yes I will give these a try! My B-I-L recently was told he had to become GF. With the holidays upon us, this will be a sweet treat to make for family gatherings… one that he can enjoy along with the rest of us!
As always, your photos are lovely
xoxo
P
Thank you so much sweet Patti! Hope you and your whole family have a wonderfully blessed holiday.
Wow. These are so beautiful! I have never tried making these and now I am inspired.
Love these Amanda!!! So pretty for the holidays
SUPER DUPER AWESOME…
How many will one batch make?
If you are making flat discs about 24, if you are making the upright trees, about 12. Happy baking!
I had NO idea meringue cookies were so easy! AND only 15 calories each – sounds too good to be true. MUST try soon!
I would want to make these just for the colors.
Fabulous.
I’ve made meringue, but not a perfect as these
So fun! Love it!
15 calories per cookie? I’m sold.
Just don’t pay attention when I eat ALL OF THEM.
I still haven’t made meringue cookies but want to. And especially now. I love all of the red & green you have going on lately!
Wanna take those to the next level?
Crush some peppermint candies or candy canes and add them.
Like chocolate? Add in some chips — mini’s if you can find them.
No longer 15 calories, but just as good if not better!
Amanda, these are so simple yet stunning! I almost want to make some as decor!
Fat chance of them lasting that long though.
I’m still afraid of making them. Yours are so puffy and gorgeous!
I would love to try these, but I guarantee mine wouldn’t look 1/234th as good as yours!!
I’m made meringue cookies before, after a bout of making a version of Momofuku’s Crack Pie, but my cookies didn’t come out nearly as pretty as yours! I bet a tiny bit of peppermint oil would nicely make these more holiday-inspired, or even sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Thanks so much for this recipe. I have been wanting to bake a recipe like this for many years. I always wanted to make shortbread cookies . Shaped in a circle + cut out w/ a pizza cutter in pie slices and the inner corner have this pie like filling spooned on (1/3 of cookie)
Love these Amanda! I was always really afraid of meringues too until I finally bucked up and tried them… super simple! And delicious
I love these Christmas versions… so beautiful!
These are so pretty and festive! I love meringues but I’ve never tried making them before.
you know, I’ve never made meringues either! love the red and green!
fabulous!!! I like them very much…
thanks for sharing
Manu (Spain)
Aww gorgeous!! I don’t know why but I’ve never managed to bake these right! They ALWAYS, ALWAYS turn out to have a gummy kind of consistence, so I have to throw them out
I’ve tried countless recipes and ways to to them but they didn’t turn out right EVER.
Do you have any tips or hints on how I can improve my Meringues? Because I LOVE them!
These intimidate me for some reason, but I’m gonna give them a shot, if they work out I’m gonna make em for my son’s 1st b-day but I’m gonna color them blue! Wish me luck!
Do you bake then on parchment paper, nonstick foil or silpat?
I used parchment.
I’ve always been scared of making meringue. I thought they would be so difficult. You’ve convinced to give them a go
I have to get over my fear of things made of egg whites. I never seem to get them right – but these are so adorable, I might have to give it another go!
These cookies look amazing and I’ve always wanted to make meringue cookies in my kitchen. This might have to be my new cook for the family party this December.
I would love to make a whole dessert platter filled with pretty white meringue trees for a holiday party, how beautiful!
Oh, those are such gorgeous cookies, Amanda!
Perfection as always! How well do these hold up? If I need cookies for Tuesday, could I bake them Friday? How should they be stored.
Mine lasted at least three days very nicely. I would store in individual layers in an air-tight container. Happy baking!
So perfect Amanda…and even better with glitter and sprinkles.
Love making meringues.
these are so flippn’ cute that I may have to make these for Hannukah tonight!!! You continue to inspire!
How many does this recipe yield? Can’t wait to try them
Adorable!! My son dropped my last bag of neighbor Christmas treats and they busted all over the street
so I’ve been looking for a quick, easy substitute! For the trees, do you keep piping continuously or pipe the bottom circle, stop, next circle, stop, etc?
Oh bummer! I piped continuously with mine. Happy Holidays!
I love Meringue cookies! YUM. I was wondering if you have ever tried making them from leftover royal frosting. Not sure if it would work. I *think* you would have to add more egg whites to even out the sugar to egg ratio…. Just had some green royal icing leftover this week and thought it would be great if I could recycle them to these!
YOu sure can… you just need the right consistency. If you icing is runny it wont hold any shape.. you can try and add more powder sugar but ultimately, yes, more egg whites is best.
Add kool aid for colour and flavour!! Orange is the best it tastes like a creamcicle!!
Good idea!