Holiday Meringue Miniatures

Name: Holiday Meringue Miniatures
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: about 7 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 large egg whites, room temperature; 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar; Dash salt; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup sugar; Red gel food coloring

My kids love these light, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ingredients

2 large egg whites, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
Dash salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
Red gel food coloring

Directions

Preheat oven to 225°. Beat egg whites with vinegar and salt on medium speed until foamy and doubled in volume. Beat in extracts. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form (this may take 10 minutes).
Place a 1/2-inch round tip into a pastry bag. Paint five stripes of red food coloring inside the length of the pastry bag. Transfer meringue to pastry bag; pipe dollops 1 inch apart onto parchments-lined baking sheets.
Bake 1 hour until set and dry. Turn off oven (do not open oven door); leave meringues in oven 1 hour. Remove and cool completely on baking sheets. Remove meringues from parchment paper; store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Test Kitchen tips

Feel free to mix up the extracts and food coloring.

These would be amazing as a cake topper piled on top.

Nutrition Facts

1 meringue: 5 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 19mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 free food.

Originally published as Holiday Meringue Miniatures in Taste of Home Christmas Annual 2018