Meringue Cookie Recipe

These cookies make my day. They’re light, airy, crunchy andmelt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re easy and can be flavored so many waysthey are one of my go-to cookies for a quick Christmas Cookie platter. You canfind some other variations at the bottom of the recipe. I used to buy MeringueCookies at the store, but got tired of having to pick out the broken ones andspending the money. I found this recipe in my Southern Living Christmas Cookie book and have enjoyed making theseever since!

Ingredients:

2 egg whites, room temperature

½ teaspoon peppermint extract

½ cup sugar

6 drops green or red food coloring (optional)

1 package dark chocolate morsels

Process:

Combine egg whites (room temperature) and peppermintextract; beat until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time,beating until stiff peaks form. DO NOT UNDERBEAT. Fold in food coloring, ifdesired. **Folding: you must fold (bring spoon from bottom of bowl up the sideand fold over while rotating bowl) in order to not break the meringue. If thereare light streaks of white still visible, it is FINE**

Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls, or pipe with large star tip, 2 inches apart ongreased cookie sheets. Bake at 200 for 1 hour or until dry and set. Cookiesshould NOT brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

While cookies are cooling, melt chocolate morsels overdouble boiler. When smooth, reduce heat to low/warm. Dip top of cookies inchocolate. When removing cookies from chocolate, twist your wrist to createdecorative curl of chocolate. Return to wire racks for chocolate to set.

Serve with steaming mugs of coffee or cocoa.

**Change up the flavor**

Add ½ teaspoon orange extract and 1 tsp fresh grated orangezest

Add ½ teaspoon almond extract and dip in chocolate flavoredwith a bit of espresso powder

Mix 3 tablespoons high-quality cocoa with the sugar and addas directed in recipe

Mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon with sugar and add as directed inrecipe

Fold in 6 oz package of miniature chocolate morsels with thefood coloring to any flavor you like!

Another variation on the mint meringue that I like to use isto buy raspberry flavored chocolate morsels and dip in the raspberry chocolate