Snow Puffed Meringues Food

MERINGUE TREES WITH SNOW

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat together the egg whites and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
• While the mixer is still running, add the green food coloring and mix until combined. Put the meringue into a disposable piping bag fitted with a large star piping tip. Holding the bag at a 90-degree angle to the baking sheet, pipe a large star and then two smaller stars on top to create a tree; repeat until all the meringue is gone.
• Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour.
• Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours.
• Once the meringues have cooled, dust the tops with confectioners' sugar to resemble snow.
• Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

SNOW-PUFFED MERINGUES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 225°. Add vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until foamy. 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. Fold in confectioners' sugar., Place meringue in a pastry bag fitted with a #1M open star tip. Pipe 1-1/2-in. rosettes onto parchment-lined baking sheets., Bake until firm to the touch, 45-50 minutes. Turn off oven (do not open oven door); leave meringues in oven 1-1/2 hours. Remove from oven; cool completely on baking sheets., Remove meringues from parchment. Pipe or spread Nutella onto bottoms of half the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

MERINGUE SNOWMEN

Steps:

• Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 225 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fit a large pastry bag with a plain 1/3-inch diameter round pastry tip.
• Combine the egg whites, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer set over a pan of simmering water over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is too warm to comfortably hold your finger in it for more than a couple of seconds, about 1 1/2 minutes. (The mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the whites should read 140 degrees F.) Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy, glossy and only slightly warm to the touch, about 4 minutes.
• Fill the prepared pastry bag with the meringue. On the lined baking sheet, pipe a 1 1/3-inch dollop for the snowman's base, then pipe a smaller mound on top and then another smaller mound on top of that to form the base, torso and head of the snowman, lifting the tip at the end to leave a peak of meringue on the head (this will be the snowman's hat). Pipe about forty snowmen in this manner, leaving at least 1 inch between them. Bake until the snowmen are dry enough to easily release from the parchment, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn off the oven and let the snowmen sit inside it for another 3 hours or overnight to dry completely.
• Fit a small pastry bag with a #1 or #2 plain pastry tip. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, until just melted. Dip the tips of the snowmen's heads in the chocolate to form chocolate "hats". Transfer the remaining chocolate to the pastry bag, and pipe faces and buttons on the snowmen.

CHERRY MERINGUE PUFFS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, place egg whites; set aside until room temperature, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper or foil; set aside.
• Heat oven to 300°F. Beat egg whites, vinegar and salt with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and gelatin until stiff peaks form, scraping bowl occasionally. Spoon half of the mixture into large decorating bag fitted with large star tip #824 (at least 1/2-inch opening). Pipe puffs about 1 inch wide and 1 inch high onto cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining mixture.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until dry but not brown. Turn off oven; let stand in oven 15 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1 1/3 cups of the baking chips uncovered on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring after 35 seconds, until melted and smooth. Peel cookies from paper or foil; dip bottoms into melted chocolate, and place on waxed paper. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place remaining baking chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on High 45 to 50 seconds, turning bag over after 25 seconds. Squeeze bag until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip off one corner of bag, and drizzle over cooled puffs. Let stand until drizzle hardens, about 10 minutes.

FROSTY SNOWMAN MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and almond extract with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high speed until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is almost dissolved.
• Spoon meringue mixture into large decorating bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip. For each snowman, squeeze and release bag in place to form 2-inch ball on cookie sheets. Lift bag; squeeze and release bag to form middle layer of snowman. Lift bag; squeeze and release bag to form top section of snowman. Insert pretzel stick pieces into sides of snowmen for arms. Place chocolate chips on snowmen for eyes, candy corn tips for noses and 3 miniature candies on each snowman for buttons.
• Bake 2 hours or until set and dry but not brown. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven with door closed 8 hours. Decorate with fruit snacks for caps.

MERINGUE SNOWMEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites and salt, slowly adding 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Continue to whisk until mixture is stiff. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in remaining granulated sugar and confectioners' sugar.
• Transfer meringue to a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch round tip. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, pipe a 3-inch mound of meringue to form a snowman's body. To form the arms, pipe meringue on top of the body in the shape of sideways C (with the curve at the snowman's back). For the head, pipe a 1 1/2-inch mound of meringue on top of the center of the body, inside the curve of the arms. Repeat to form seven more snowmen. Sprinkle snowmen with pearl sugar.
• In a small bowl, combine remaining meringue and a few drops of red food coloring. Transfer to a parchment cone or a small pastry bag fitted with a #2 tip, and pipe a red nose onto each snowman.
• Bake snowmen until the outside is set but the inside is still soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool. When cool, pick up the snowmen one by one, and scoop out the insides of the body with a spoon; discard. Return hollow snowmen to oven, and bake until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Watch the snowmen to be sure they remain white; once they are firm (or if they begin to color), remove them from the oven, and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, roll 7 ounces of almond paste to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a 3/4-inch-diameter cutter, cut out 8 circles for hats. With a toothpick, pick up each circle, and dip it into melted chocolate. Transfer circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Swirl them slightly as they hit the parchment, spreading the dripping chocolate around to form a brim for each hat. Repeat with remaining hats, and let cool completely. Reserve 1/4 cup of the melted chocolate for decorating.
• In a large bowl, make mousse filling by combining remaining chocolate and heavy cream. Transfer chocolate mousse to a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch round tip. Pick up the cooled snowmen, and fill the bodies with mousse. Carefully replace filled snowmen onto parchment.
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to remaining 4 ounces of almond paste; knead until completely combined. Roll to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into eight 8-by-1/2-inch strips to form scarves.
• Place scarves around snowmen's necks, and top heads with cooled hats. Transfer reserved chocolate to a small parchment cone or pastry bag fitted with a #1 tip; pipe eyes, mouths, and buttons on each snowman. Serve immediately.

MERINGUE SNOWMAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites and salt, slowly adding 1/4 cup of granulated sugar.
• Whisk until stiff.
• Fold in remaining granulated sugar and confectioners' sugar.
• Transfer meringue to a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch round tip.
• On a parchment-lined baking sheet, pipe a 3-inch mound of meringue to form a snowman's body.
• Pipe meringue into a"c-shape" on top of body, forming arms.
• Pipe a 1 1/2-inch mound in center of arms to form a head.
• Repeat to form 7 more snowmen.
• Sprinkle snowmen with pearl sugar.
• In a small bowl, combine remaining meringue and a few drops of red food coloring.
• Transfer to a small parchment cone or a small pastry bag fitted with a#2 tip.
• Pipe a red nose onto each snowman.
• Bake snowmen until the outside is set yet the inside is still soft, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool.
• When cool, remove the inside of each snowman with a spoon and discard.
• Return to oven and bake until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Make sure the snowmen remain white and do not begin to color.
• Once firm, remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, roll 7 ounces almond paste to a thickness of 1/2-inch.
• Using a 3/4-inch cutter, cut out 8 circles.
• Using a toothpick, dip each almond paste circle into melted chocolate.
• Transfer circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Swirl to form the border of hat.
• Repeat with remaining circles and let cool completely.
• Reserve 1/4 cup chocolate for decorating.
• In a large bowl, combine remaining chocolate and heavy cream.
• Transfer chocolate mousse to a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch round tip.
• Pipe mousse into cooled snowmen.
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to remaining 4 ounces almond paste.
• Knead until completely combined.
• Roll to 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut into 8 (8 by 1/2-inch) strips to form scarves.
• Place scarves around snowmen and top with cooled hats.
• Transfer reserved chocolate to a small parchment cone or pastry bag fitted with a#1 tip.
• Pipe eyes, mouths, and buttons on each snowman.
• Serve immediately.

MERINGUE PUFFS

Steps:

• Beat 2 egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Add sugar, cream of tartar, and salt; beat until stiff.
• Fold in chocolate chips and pecans.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
• Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes.

MERINGUE TEASERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Cover cookie sheets with foil.
• Beat egg whites in small bowl until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar until meringue forms stiff peaks. Add food coloring, if using. Add vanilla and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Drop meringue by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Place in preheated oven. Turn oven off. Do not open door for at least 6 hours or overnight.