Meringue Cookies Peppermint Chocolate Chip Food

MERINGUE COOKIES {PEPPERMINT & CHOCOLATE CHIP}

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Place one rack in the upper-middle and one in the lower-middle position of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl if using hand mixer), combine egg whites, vanilla extract, and cream of tartar. Use the whisk attachment for the stand mixer.
• With the mixture set on medium-low setting, whip the mixture until foamy, about 1 minute. While continuing to whip, gradually add the sugar mixture.
• Turn the mixer to medium speed. Continue to whip the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks, 4 to 5 minutes. This may take less or more time depending on the humidity. Make sure that stiff peaks do form, but do not overwhip or they will become dry.
• Gently fold in three-quarters of the crushed candy canes.
• Using a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip, form meringues on the prepared baking sheets. They should have a little peak, resembling the shape of Hershey's kisses, and should each be about 1 1/4-inches wide.
• Using your finger, gently poke 1 chocolate chip into the middle of each meringue. Gently patch the hole with meringue. Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy canes on top of the meringues.
• Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 1 ¼ hours, switching the placement of the baking sheets and from front to back halfway through baking.
• Turn off the oven and let the meringues rest in the oven until dry, about 1 ¼ hours (more time may be necessary in humid weather).
• Remove the meringues from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Serve.
• Make sure the meringues are completely cooled before storing in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUE COOKIES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 6 minutes. Beat in cocoa. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts if desired., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert # 806 round pastry tip. Fill the bag with meringue. Pipe 1-1/2-in. hearts 2 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 300° for 20-25 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.

PEPPERMINT MERINGUE COOKIES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
• In bowl, egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt, beat to soft peaks.
• Gradually beat in sugar. Beat until mixture forms stiff shiny peaks.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons for crushed candy for sprinkling on top.
• Gently fold remaining candy into egg white mixture.
• Drop egg mixture by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheets.
• Sprinkle tops of cookies with the reserved candy.
• Bake at 300 degrees until cookies just begin to brown and feel crisp when touched (they should be very light) about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Cool in pans on wire racks.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar (1 tablespoon every five seconds), and continue to beat until meringue is stiff and glossy, about 1 1/2 minutes more. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
• Drop meringue by scant 1/4 cups onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until dry and just golden brown, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Let cool on baking sheets.

CHOCOLATE CHIP PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Beat together the butter, shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar.
• Beat in the eggs, vanilla and almond extract.
• Combine the baking soda, salt and flour in a small bowl. Gradually beat this mixture into the creamed mixture.
• Beat well.
• Stir in the chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
• Drop onto lightly greased cookie sheets by tsps; keeping 2" apart.
• Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes or until lightly golden brown around edges.