Patriotic Meringue Kisses (Printable version)
Airy red, white and blue meringue kisses—crisp, piped mounds ideal for patriotic celebrations and gift tins.
# What you need:
→ Meringue Base
01 - 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Food Coloring
06 - Red gel food coloring
07 - Blue gel food coloring
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat the oven to 200°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a grease-free mixing bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.
03 - Gradually add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Beat in salt and vanilla extract until just incorporated.
05 - Fit a piping bag with a large star or round tip. Using a food-safe brush, paint three stripes inside the bag: one red, one blue, and leave one plain for white.
06 - Carefully spoon the meringue mixture into the prepared piping bag, taking care not to disturb the painted stripes.
07 - Pipe small kiss-shaped mounds, about 1 to 1.5 inches wide, onto the prepared sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the meringues are dry and crisp. Turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool inside with the door closed for 1 hour.
09 - Gently peel meringue kisses from the parchment and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- No one ever expects these cheerful bites to be so melt-in-your-mouth light.
- They're an easy way to add a little wow factor to any patriotic spread or summer gathering.
02 -
- Even a trace of grease or yolk will ruin your meringue, so take the time to wipe your tools.
- Letting the meringues cool in the oven prevents any sudden humidity from making them tacky or chewy.
03 -
- Separate eggs when they're cold, then let whites warm up before whipping for maximum volume.
- Piping a test swirl onto parchment first can help you perfect your color pattern before going all in.