Peppermint Meringues

Peppermint Meringues are easy, tasty confections made from egg whites, sugar and peppermint extract. Crisp on the outside with a slight chew on the inside, they make a delicious gluten-free dessert to add to you holiday table or sweet homemade food gift idea. They're light, airy swirls of sugar that pair perfectly with a mug of hot chocolate or your morning cup of coffee. Plus, they're easy to make with one simple trick: Paint vertical stripes of red food coloring inside a pastry bag before spooning in the meringue. As you pipe out each candy, it will have minty red stripes! 

Don't have a pastry bag on hand? No problem. To make meringue cookies without a pastry bag, use a resealable bag instead. Simply fill a large zipper-top plastic bag with the meringue mixture, squeeze out most of the air, and snip off a corner. The shapes will not pipe out as neatly, but they will be every bit as delicious. 

Tips for the best Peppermint Meringues

Don't skip the cream of tartar. This miracle ingredient helps stabilize the egg whites to create smooth peaks that hold their shape.

To form soft peaks when whipping egg whites, start the electric mixer on low speed, then gradually increase its speed to high until glossy soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. You'll know it's ready if you turn your whisk upside down and the peaks are just starting to hold. The tip of the peak should flop back over onto itself rather than stick up straight.

For a colorful twist, try these with green food coloring, or experiment with different flavored extracts like almond or orange.