Description
Heart Meringues are light, crisp cookies shaped into adorable hearts, perfect for Valentine’s Day, weddings, or special celebrations. These naturally gluten-free treats melt in your mouth and make a beautiful addition to dessert tables or gift boxes.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Red or pink gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 225°F (110°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking the meringues.
- Beat Egg Whites: In a clean, grease-free bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until they become foamy, which helps create the meringue’s structure.
- Add Cream of Tartar: Add the cream of tartar and continue beating the mixture until soft peaks form, stabilizing the foam.
- Add Sugar Gradually: Gradually add the granulated sugar, one tablespoon at a time, while beating continuously until stiff, glossy peaks form, indicating the meringue is ready.
- Mix in Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract evenly to add flavor to the meringue mixture.
- Color the Meringue: Add small amounts of red or pink gel food coloring until the desired shade is reached, being gentle to avoid deflating the meringue.
- Pipe Heart Shapes: Transfer the meringue mixture to a piping bag fitted with a round or heart tip and carefully pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake the piped meringues in the preheated oven for 1½ to 2 hours until they are completely dry and crisp.
- Cool in Oven: Turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool completely inside with the oven door closed to prevent cracking from rapid temperature change.
Notes
- Gel food coloring works best and won’t deflate the meringue.
- Avoid baking on humid days for best results as moisture can prevent meringues from drying properly.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Do not refrigerate as moisture from the fridge will soften the meringues.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
