Spring is here and we welcome it with open arms! I happened upon these whimsical, delightful pastel meringues. Immediately, Mother’s Day sprang to mind – little kisses with chewy centers and soft colors.. the perfect gift to show your mom how much you love and appreciate her.
SERVINGS12CHANGE SERVING SIZE |
COOK TIME1.5hrs |
PREP TIME15mins |
READY IN2hrs |
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites large
- 3/4 cup sugar
- salt just a pinch
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 vanilla bean seeds removed, or 1/2 tsp clear vanilla or almond extract
- Add-Ins
- 1/4 cup pistachios finely chopped, plus more for sprinkling
- 1/2 cup raspberries or craisins or dried cherries, freeze-dried, minced plus more for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup chocolate shavings and the zest of one small orange plus more for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut plus more for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup almond(s) toasted and sliced, plus more for sprinkling
- gel food coloring green, orange, and pink
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 215 degrees F.
- Line baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
- Place egg whites, sugar and vanilla bean seeds in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk to combine.
- Add a couple of inches of water to a medium saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Then place the mixing bowl on top of the saucepan to create a double-boiler.
- Heat for about 3-5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch.
- Return mixing bowl back to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until glossy stiff peaks form (about 5-7 minutes or until the bowl of the mixer is cool to the touch).
- Halfway through mixing, add in the cream of tartar and salt.
- With about 1 minute left, add in gel food coloring.
- Stop mixer and removed bowl from stand. Add in whichever “extra” ingredient you would like: dried raspberries or cranberries, pistachios, chocolate shavings and orange zest, coconut or almonds, and gently fold with a rubber spatula to combine.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, or teaspoon, place dollops of meringue on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Then sprinkle with your toppings used in the meringue: pistachios, raspberries, craisins, chocolate shavings and orange zest, almonds, or coconut.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 1- 1 1/2 hours, or until the outsides are crisp and dry and the insides are chewy.
- Serve immediately after cooling or store in an air-tight container away from any humidity.
