If you’re searching for a light, festive treat that delights both the eyes and the palate, this Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe is your new holiday favorite. These delicate clouds of sweetness offer a crisp texture and melt-in-your-mouth finish, perfectly capturing the spirit of the season with their cheerful green hue and sparkling gold star sprinkles. They are simple to make, wonderfully crunchy, and guaranteed to brighten up any holiday gathering or cozy afternoon with a cup of tea.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Believe it or not, creating the perfect Christmas meringue cookies relies on just a handful of thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role—delivering stability, sweetness, and that classic fluffy texture and crisp finish that meringue lovers adore.
- 4 egg whites (room temperature): The foundation of your meringue, room temperature whites whip up to a much loftier peak than cold ones.
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar: A stabilizer that helps maintain the structure and prevents the egg whites from collapsing.
- 1 cup sugar: Sweetens the meringue while adding to its glossy, firm finish.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla: Adds warmth and depth, lifting the flavor from simple sweetness to irresistible.
- Green food coloring: Gives your cookies that unmistakable festive look—playful and elegant in equal measures.
- Gold star sprinkles: Tiny bursts of shimmer that make each cookie feel like a special gift.
- Rainbow non-pareils: Add a fun, colorful crunch that brings a joyful holiday vibe.
How to Make Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Start Whipping
Start by preheating your oven to 200 degrees and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This low temperature is essential for drying out the meringues gently without browning them. Then, in your stand mixer bowl, combine the egg whites and cream of tartar. Begin beating on medium speed until you see the mixture turn bubbly and frothy—this indicates that air is incorporating nicely.
Step 2: Gradually Add Sugar
Next, sprinkle in about half of your sugar while whipping continuously at medium speed for around two minutes. Doing this slowly ensures the sugar dissolves evenly, preventing grainy meringue. This stage is key to achieving that glossy sheen in the final cookie.
Step 3: Finish Whipping to Stiff Peaks
Add the remaining sugar along with the vanilla extract, continuing to whip for another couple of minutes on medium speed. Then crank your mixer up to high to whip the mixture into stiff, glossy peaks. This means when you lift the whisk, the peaks stand upright without drooping. Be careful not to overwhip because the mixture could deflate, costing you that perfect light texture.
Step 4: Color and Pipe Your Meringue
Stir in a few drops of green food coloring to the meringue, folding carefully to maintain volume while evenly distributing the color. Transfer your mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Now you get to have a little fun—pipe small, uniform stars or rosettes onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving space for steam to escape as they bake.
Step 5: Add Sprinkles and Bake
Sprinkle the top of each piped meringue lightly with gold star sprinkles and a few rainbow non-pareils for that festive pop. Bake the cookies low and slow for about 2 hours, allowing them to dry out completely and develop the iconic crisp exterior. Once baked, turn off the oven and let the cookies cool inside—this prevents cracks and helps finish the drying process perfectly.
How to Serve Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While the cookies are already decorated with stars and nonpareils, you can add an extra layer of charm by dusting them with a tiny sprinkle of edible glitter or powdered sugar just before serving. It makes them look like tiny winter snowflakes, perfect for that festive table setting.
Side Dishes
These meringue cookies pair incredibly well with a warm, comforting drink such as a rich eggnog, peppermint hot chocolate, or even a cup of spiced mulled wine. Their light crispness balances beautifully against creamy, warm beverages, creating a cozy biting contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking a handful of these Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe stars in a clear glass jar topped with a festive ribbon for a delightful gift idea. Alternatively, incorporate them into holiday dessert platters alongside fruit tarts and fudge for a textured, colorful centerpiece everyone will admire.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any uneaten meringue cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep their crispness intact. Moisture is their biggest enemy, so avoid humid spots to prevent them from getting sticky or chewy.
Freezing
You can freeze meringue cookies by placing them in an airtight container layered between parchment paper. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature to preserve their delicate crunch and flavor.
Reheating
Meringue cookies are best enjoyed as-is, but if you want to refresh their crispness slightly after storage, pop them briefly in a warm oven (around 200 degrees) for 5 minutes. This gentle heat helps evaporate any absorbed moisture without browning or melting them.
FAQs
Can I use fresh eggs straight from the fridge for this Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe?
For best results, always use egg whites that are at room temperature. They whip up easier and achieve a better volume and texture. If your eggs are cold, just leave them out for about 30 minutes before starting.
What can I substitute for cream of tartar?
If you don’t have cream of tartar, you can use a small pinch of white vinegar or lemon juice as a stabilizer. Both help strengthen the egg white foam and prevent collapse.
Is it possible to make these meringue cookies without a stand mixer?
Yes, but it will take some serious arm power! Use a hand mixer with a whisk attachment and be patient while whipping the egg whites to stiff peaks. It’s definitely doable, just a bit more time-consuming.
Can I make meringue cookies in different colors for variety?
Absolutely! Divide your meringue mixture into portions and mix in different food coloring hues before piping for a rainbow effect. It makes for a fun and vibrant holiday display.
How do I avoid cracks in my meringue cookies?
Slow, low-temperature baking and cooling the cookies in the turned-off oven help minimize cracks. Avoid opening the oven door during baking to maintain steady heat and prevent sudden temperature changes.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly magical about the simplicity and elegance of this Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe. It’s a joyful way to add a homemade, heartfelt touch to your holiday celebrations. I encourage you to gather your ingredients, start whipping, and enjoy the wonderful process of turning simple egg whites and sugar into little festive masterpieces. Once you taste that crisp, airy sweetness, you’ll understand why they are a beloved holiday treat for so many.
Print
Christmas Meringue Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These festive Christmas Meringue Cookies are light, airy, and delightfully sweet treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Made from simple ingredients including egg whites, sugar, and vanilla, they feature a crisp outer shell with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Decorated with green food coloring, gold star sprinkles, and rainbow non-pareils, these cookies add a charming colorful touch to your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Meringue Base
- 4 egg whites (room temperature)
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decorations
- Green food coloring
- Gold star sprinkles
- Rainbow non-pareils
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to prepare for baking the meringue cookies.
- Start Whipping Egg Whites: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar. Mix on medium speed until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy, which helps to stabilize the meringue.
- Add First Half of Sugar: Gradually add about half of the sugar while continuing to whip on medium speed for approximately 2 minutes. This helps dissolve the sugar and start to form a stable meringue.
- Add Remaining Sugar and Vanilla: Add the remaining sugar along with the vanilla extract. Continue mixing on medium speed for another 2 minutes to fully incorporate these ingredients.
- Whip to Stiff Peaks: Increase the mixer speed to high and whip the meringue until stiff peaks form, which should take about 2 more minutes. Be careful not to overwhip, as this can cause the meringue to deflate.
- Color and Decorate the Meringue: Add green food coloring to a portion or all of the meringue as desired and gently fold it in. Transfer the meringue mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip for decorative shaping.
- Pipe Meringue Shapes: Pipe the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet into festive shapes or small dollops. Sprinkle gold star sprinkles and rainbow non-pareils on top for a colorful, festive appearance.
- Bake the Meringues: Bake the piped meringues at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours. This low-temperature baking dries out the meringues, giving them their characteristic crispness while keeping the inside slightly chewy.
- Cool and Store: Once baked, turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside the oven with the door slightly ajar to prevent cracking. Store in an airtight container once cooled to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Ensure egg whites are at room temperature before whipping for maximum volume.
- Do not overwhip the meringue to avoid deflation and loss of volume.
- Use a clean, grease-free bowl and utensils to achieve proper meringue peaks.
- Decorate promptly after piping to ensure sprinkles stick effectively.
- The low baking temperature is key to drying out the cookies without browning them.
- Store meringue cookies in an airtight container to keep them crisp.
