Description
Delicate peppermint meringues dance with festive holiday cheer, whisking sweet memories into light, airy clouds of minty delight. Cool winter gatherings become magical when you share these crisp, melt-in-mouth treats that sparkle with peppermint’s cool essence.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
Stabilizing Ingredient:
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) cream of tartar
Flavoring and Optional Decorative Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) peppermint extract
- Red gel food coloring (optional, for swirls)
Instructions
- Sanitize and prepare a pristine mixing vessel, ensuring it’s completely free from moisture and residual oils.
- Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar using an electric mixer, gradually increasing momentum until soft, billowy peaks emerge with gentle cloud-like texture.
- Incorporate sugar incrementally, maintaining vigorous mixing technique, allowing each tablespoon to dissolve completely before adding the next portion.
- Elevate mixer speed to maximum intensity, transforming the mixture into a luminous, stiff meringue with robust, defined peaks that stand upright when beater is lifted.
- Delicately fold peppermint extract into the voluminous mixture, using gentle sweeping motions to distribute essence without deflating the delicate foam.
- Carefully transfer the peppermint-infused meringue into a piping bag fitted with a decorative star tip, creating elegant swirled shapes on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Position trays in a preheated oven calibrated to 225F (110C), allowing meringues to gently dehydrate and solidify with minimal color transformation.
- Bake for approximately 90 minutes, ensuring meringues develop a crisp exterior while maintaining a light, airy interior structure.
- Once complete, turn off oven and allow meringues to cool gradually inside, preventing sudden temperature shifts that might compromise their delicate composition.
Notes
- Ensure your mixing bowl and whisk are completely grease-free to help egg whites whip up perfectly and create stable meringue structure.
- Use room temperature egg whites for faster and more stable volume when beating, allowing better air incorporation.
- Add food-grade peppermint extract sparingly to prevent overwhelming the delicate meringue flavor, starting with a small amount and adjusting to taste.
- Create festive holiday look by using red or green food coloring in gentle swirls for a peppermint candy cane aesthetic, maintaining the light and airy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg