Delightful & Easy Peppermint Meringue Cookies: Your Perfect Holiday Treat!

These classic Peppermint Meringue Cookies are the ultimate festive addition to your Christmas cookie tray, holiday gatherings, or simply as a light and airy treat! Meringue drops are not only beautiful and elegant but also surprisingly simple to make, offering a delightful crisp texture and a refreshing burst of peppermint flavor. They are the perfect way to add a touch of magic to your holiday baking, making them a truly special and memorable dessert.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies: A Fresh Take on Holiday Baking

Are you searching for a holiday treat that stands out from the usual chocolate and gingerbread? These peppermint meringue cookies are exactly what you need! They offer a delightful contrast with their ethereal lightness, crisp texture, and invigorating peppermint flavor. Unlike heavy, rich desserts, these meringue drops are a breath of fresh air, providing a perfectly balanced sweetness that won’t overwhelm your palate.

Their delicate structure melts in your mouth, leaving behind a cool, minty sensation that’s simply irresistible. This recipe was born from a desire to create something truly unique and festive, ensuring your holiday cookie spread features a showstopper that’s both elegant and easy to prepare. You’ll find them not only delicious but also visually stunning, especially with their signature red stripes.

Explore More Irresistible Cookie Recipes

If you love discovering new and exciting cookie recipes, be sure to check out some of my other favorites that are perfect for any occasion:

• These Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Cookies offer a delightful sweet and salty crunch.
• For a rich and buttery indulgence, try my Chocolate Chip Pecan Shortbread Cookies.
• And, for a truly classic and tender treat, these Swedish Butter Cookies are one of my all-time favorites!

Why You’ll Adore This Peppermint Meringue Cookie Recipe

These peppermint meringue cookies aren’t just a dessert; they’re an experience. Here’s why you’ll want to make them your go-to holiday treat:

• Only 5 Ingredients (Plus Food Coloring): Simplicity is key! With just a handful of readily available ingredients, you can whip up these impressive cookies without a trip to a specialty store. This makes them perfect for busy holiday schedules.
• The Perfect Amount of Mint Flavor: We strike the ideal balance with pure peppermint extract, ensuring a refreshing minty taste that’s present but never overpowering. Each bite delivers a cool, invigorating sensation.
• Simple Enough for a Beginner Baker: Don’t be intimidated by meringue! While it requires a bit of patience and attention to detail, the steps are straightforward. Our detailed instructions will guide even novice bakers to success.
• Delicious Flavor Profile: The delicate sweetness of the meringue combined with the crisp coolness of peppermint creates a flavor combination that is both classic and incredibly satisfying.
• Exquisite Texture: These cookies boast a unique texture – wonderfully crispy on the outside, yet light and airy on the inside, dissolving delightfully on your tongue. They’re a refreshing change from chewy or dense cookies.
• Stunning Presentation: With their pristine white base and vibrant red stripes, these meringues are naturally eye-catching. They add an elegant and festive touch to any dessert table or gift box, truly looking like edible works of art.

Essential Mint Meringue Cookies Ingredients

Creating perfect peppermint meringues starts with understanding each ingredient’s role:

• Egg Whites: These are the foundation of your meringue. For the best results, use large, fresh egg whites, ideally at room temperature, as they whip up with more volume and stability.
• Cream of Tartar: A crucial stabilizing agent that helps the egg whites hold their structure, ensuring stiff peaks and a glossy, stable meringue.
• Pure Peppermint Extract: The star flavor! Opt for a pure extract over an imitation one for a true, vibrant peppermint taste.
• Granulated Sugar: This provides sweetness and also helps to stabilize the meringue by dissolving into the egg whites, creating a strong, shiny structure. Fine granulated sugar works best for quicker dissolution.
• Red Food Coloring (Optional): While optional, a touch of red food coloring (gel works best for intensity without adding much liquid) creates those beautiful, festive stripes that make these cookies so appealing.

How To Make Peppermint Meringues: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfect, festive peppermint meringue cookies every time. Remember, precision and patience are your best friends when making meringue!

STEP 1: PREP Your Workspace and Oven
Preheat your oven to a low 200 degrees F (93 degrees C). This low temperature is crucial for drying out the meringues rather than baking them, preventing browning and cracking. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Parchment paper is essential as it prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. Set these prepared sheets aside, ready for piping.

STEP 2: Create the Meringue Magic
In a very large, impeccably clean mixing bowl, combine the fresh egg whites with the cream of tartar, pure peppermint extract, and a tiny pinch of salt. It’s critical that your bowl, beaters, and any utensils used are completely free of grease or oil, as even a tiny amount can prevent the egg whites from whipping properly. Begin mixing on medium speed until soft peaks form. This means when you lift the beaters, the meringue will hold a soft, gentle peak that curls over. Once soft peaks are achieved, slowly, gradually add the granulated sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Beat well after each addition, allowing the sugar to fully dissolve into the egg whites before adding more. This slow addition helps create a strong, stable, and glossy meringue. Continue beating on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. When you lift the beaters, the meringue should hold its shape firmly and shine beautifully. You should also be able to rub a small amount between your fingers and feel no grittiness from undissolved sugar.

STEP 3: PIPE Your Festive Cookies
Prepare your pastry bag with a large star tip. To make filling easier, place the pastry bag inside a large cup or tall glass, folding the excess bag over the rim of the cup. This creates a stable holder. If you desire the signature festive look, use a small, clean paintbrush to paint thin stripes of red gel food coloring up the inside sides of the pastry bag. Spoon the prepared meringue carefully into the bag, trying not to disturb the red stripes too much. Twist the top of the bag to seal the meringue. Pipe 1-inch diameter meringue drops onto your parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. The star tip will give them a lovely, decorative shape. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can simply use two spoons to carefully drop small dollops of meringue onto the baking sheet.

STEP 4: BAKE and Cool to Perfection
Carefully transfer your baking sheets to the preheated oven. Bake the peppermint meringue cookies for approximately 1 1/2 hours, or until they appear firm and dry to the touch. They should lift easily from the parchment paper without sticking. Resist the urge to open the oven door frequently, as sudden temperature changes can cause cracking. Once baked, turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside with the door slightly ajar for another 30 minutes to an hour. This gradual cooling helps prevent them from cracking or weeping. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy your beautifully crafted, light, and airy treats!

Expert Tips for Perfect Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Achieving flawless meringues is easier with these crucial tips:

• Ensure Squeaky Clean Equipment: This cannot be stressed enough! Any trace of fat or oil on your mixing bowl, beaters, or spatula will prevent the egg whites from whipping to stiff peaks. To be safe, you can wipe your bowl and beaters with a paper towel dampened with lemon juice or vinegar before starting.
• Careful Egg Separation: When separating egg yolks from whites, exercise extreme caution. Even a tiny speck of egg yolk in the whites will contaminate them and make it impossible for the meringue to achieve stiff peaks. It’s often helpful to separate eggs one by one into a small separate bowl before adding them to your main mixing bowl.
• Don’t Waste Leftover Egg Yolks: If you find yourself with extra egg yolks, don’t throw them away! Egg yolks freeze well and can be used in many other recipes. The Kitchn has an excellent article on how to freeze egg whites and yolks effectively. They also provide another helpful article with various recipes to use up leftover egg yolks, which is highly recommended for resourceful baking.
• Patience is a Virtue with Sugar: This meringue cookie recipe is straightforward, but it does demand a little patience, especially during the sugar addition phase. Add the granulated sugar slowly, a tablespoon at a time, and allow it to incorporate and dissolve thoroughly before adding the next batch. This gradual process ensures the sugar fully integrates into the egg whites, creating a stable, glossy, and perfectly textured meringue that holds its shape beautifully. Rushing this step can lead to a gritty or unstable meringue.
• Versatile for Any Celebration: While perfect for Christmas, these meringue cookies are incredibly versatile! You could easily adapt them for baby showers (think pastel pink or blue stripes), wedding showers, or even elegant wedding dessert tables. Just adjust the food coloring or leave them pure white for a classic look. Consider adding a touch of edible glitter for extra sparkle!

Frequently Asked Questions About Peppermint Meringue Cookies