Bless This Mess › Recipes › Desserts › Cookies › Christmas Cookies
By Melissa
4.75 from 4 votes
on Dec 05, 2019, Updated Mar 15, 2024
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These easy Candy Cane Meringue Cookies will make holiday snacking fun and festive! They’re crunchy and sweet cookies with the perfect balance of chocolate and peppermint!
Table of Contents
- Candy Cane Meringue Cookies
- What Are Meringue Cookies?
- How long do meringue cookies last?
- Can I put meringue cookies in the fridge or freezer?
- Why are my meringue cookies chewy?
- Why did my meringue cookies crack?
- Candy Cane Meringue Cookies Recipe
Candy Cane Meringue Cookies
The holidays are the best time to try your hand at some more creative and out there baking projects. And these cute and crunchy candy cane meringue cookies should bump up to the top of your baking to-do list. They are so fun and whimsical, and remind me of a sweet treat you’d see in one of those holiday cartoon movies like Rudolph or the original Grinch.
What Are Meringue Cookies?
They’re like little snow drops of sweetness, peppermint, and a hint of chocolate. If you’re a mint and chocolate kind of person like I am, you have GOT to try these. They’re easy to make, but a bit time-consuming because they bake for an hour and then cool in the turned-off oven for one to two hours. That slow cooling period is super important for meringue cookies to allow them not to crack. Luckily, since it’s all hands-off time, you can be doing other things while you wait for them! I can’t wait for you to bake and bite into these all holiday season long!
How long do meringue cookies last?
Meringue cookies will last for up to two weeks stored in an airtight container after they’ve completely cooled!
Can I put meringue cookies in the fridge or freezer?
You can store them in the fridge, as long as they are kept in an airtight container. The way to keep them nice and crispy is not allowing any humidity to hit them.
You can also freeze meringue cookies, but when you defrost them, be careful that they don’t absorb any moisture and soften the meringue. Layer them in an airtight container between parchment papers, and freeze for up to a month.
Why are my meringue cookies chewy?
Sugar actually pulls moisture from the air and into the cookies, so leaving the cookies in the oven for at least an hour (or two, if you live in a humid or rainy climate) is important to get them nice an crisp. If they’re still chewy, bake them for another 10 minutes at 225 degrees F.
Why did my meringue cookies crack?
Meringue cookies are very sensitive to the air — both its humidity and temperature — so make sure you leave them in the turned-off oven after baking for at least an hour. They’ll crack if they cool too quickly, so better safe than sorry… The longer time left in the oven, the better!
4.75 from 4 votes
Candy Cane Meringue Cookies
By: Melissa Griffiths
These easy Candy Cane Meringue Cookies will make holiday snacking fun and festive! They’re crunchy and sweet cookies with the perfect balance of chocolate and peppermint!
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 2 hours hrs
Total: 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Servings: 48 cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg whites
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 2-3 candy canes or peppermint sticks, finely crushed
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F., and adjust two racks so that they are in the upper-middle and lower-middle position.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt, and whisk to combine.
Whip the egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar together with an electric mixer on medium-low speed, until the mixture is foamy, about 1 minute.
Increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and whip until the whites are soft and “billowy.”
Gradually, add the sugar mixture while the mixer is running, and whip until the whites are glossy and form stiff peaks, 1 to 3 minutes.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Use a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip to make 1 1/4-inch wide meringue kisses on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about an inch apart.
Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Bake the meringue cookies for 1 hour. Turn off the oven, and let the meringues sit in the oven for an additional 1 hour (or 2 hours, if in humid or rainy conditions). Remove the cookies from the oven, and let the cool before serving, about 10 minutes.
Keep meringues crispy by storing extras in an airtight container if you live in a humid area.
Notes
- Be sure that there is NO egg yolk in your whites — even a little will stop your egg whites from whipping up properly.
- Along that line, make sure your bowl and mixer are free from grease; this will also cause your egg whites not to whip up correctly (egg whites hate fat).
- This is a great recipe to have on hand for when you have made something that is egg-yolk heavy, like pudding or creme brûlée.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 of 48 cookies, Calories: 23kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Sodium: 11mg, Potassium: 13mg, Fiber: 0.001g, Sugar: 4g, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.01mg
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