Mint meringue cookies are an easy treat that you can put together in just a few minutes, with minimal effort. Most people buy meringue cookies in the store (Trader Joe’s always has a big display by the registers), but you can make them at home for a fraction of the cost with a few ingredients you probably have on hand.
I saw these Christmas tree meringues last week and I thought they were a fun spin on a traditional cookie. To make the trees, you just need to pipe a cone shape with a large, open star tip. I topped each tree with a Wilton star sprinkle, but you could top them with a chocolate star too, or anything else. You could also go the extra mile and pipe little royal icing Christmas lights on the tree – I think that’d be a cute touch!
Christmas Tree Meringues
Ingredients:
4 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup sugar
Pinch of cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract
green gel food coloring
star sprinkles
royal icing
Preheat 200F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place egg white, sugar and cream of tarter in the bowl of a stand mixer set over a saucepan of simmering water. Constantly whisk until sugar as fully dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in peppermint extract.
Using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until they are a bright white, but still runny. Add in food coloring and continue to beat until stiff peaks have formed.
Place meringue in a piping bag fit with a large, open star tip. Pipe 1 inch cones at least one inch apart. Bake for 2 hours. After 2 hours, open the door slightly and let cookies cool in the oven.
Using a small amount of royal icing, attach sprinkles to the top of each tree. Store in an airtight container.
