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Garlic & Zest

Gourmet Cooking at Home!

Simple Meringue Recipe

Simple Meringue Recipe
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If you love vanilla meringue cookies from the store or bakery, you’ll really love this Simple Meringue Recipe. Now you can make these easy meringues at home with a handful of ingredients for about a dollar per batch!  BAM!

 

eggs, cream of tartar and measuring spoons with whisk attachment for simple meringue recipe.

My mother used to make vanilla meringue cookies often when I was a kid.  They were light, very crispy and a little sweet.  Her simple meringue recipe is one I use all the time as the starting point for other meringue-based treats.  Sometimes as a base for fresh berries or with a custard or curd. Hers were always free-formed.  One never looked like another.   In a world where uniformity is king, these easy meringues were beautifully different.

 

adding cream of tartar to beaten egg whites for vanilla meringue cookies.

My husband, Scott’s experiences with meringue were isolated to the fluffy topping on lemon or chocolate pies.  When I mentioned that I’d made a batch of vanilla meringue cookies, he didn’t seem interested.  In fact, he was decidedly dis-interested.  Oh well.  I didn’t even offer him one that first night, because it was clear he didn’t want it.

 

eggs beaten to glossy peaks for simple meringue recipe.

I was annoyed.  How could he not like this?  They crunch when you bite into them and then practically dissolve with just a faint sweetness as soon as the light-as-a-feather egg white hits your tongue.  They’re like magic.

 

meringue on a beater attachment.

Reasons To Love Vanilla Meringue Cookies:

And this simple meringue recipe is a sweet treat with virtually no guilt… They’re gluten free, fat free — heck, if I didn’t add sugar, you wouldn’t even know they were there…

 

Meringue on the head of a whisk.

The next night, our friend Nola joined us for dinner and before we sat down to eat, I brought out the meringues for her to sample.  Scott peered at the offering and said, “That’s a meringue?”  

 

vanilla meringue cookies dropped onto parchment paper.

“Yes,” I shrugged.
“I didn’t know they were like that — I thought it was like the meringue on a pie.”
“No, this is like a cookie.”
Suddenly he was interested…  “They’re so light and crunchy — and they just melt in your mouth.  Why didn’t you tell me?”  I just shook my head.

 

cloud-like easy meringues on parchment paper.

The trick to making crispy, vanilla meringue cookies is a cool, dry day  (that’s hard to find in Florida)  because meringues don’t like humidity.  They’ll get soft and mushy quick — and that’s something Scott doesn’t like.  It also requires some patience to let them cook slowly and without interruption in a very low oven for a few hours.  

 

simple meringue recipe after the cookies have baked.

Cool the easy meringues on the baking sheet and transfer them to an airtight storage container.  They’ll keep for 2-3 days, if they don’t get eaten first.

 

vanilla meringue cookies with a bite taken out. inside texture of easy meringues.

 


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Print Pin
4.34 from 3 votes

Meringues

A crispy, light dessert.  Make them on a cool day with low humidity.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword cookies, meringue
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 89kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
  • Line two sheet pans with parchment paper or use a brown paper grocery bag. Set aside.
  • Add the egg whites to a mixing bowl. Using electric beaters, beat the egg whites until frothy and foamy. Sprinkle in the cream of tartar and beat on high speed for 1 minute. Sprinkle on the powdered sugar and beat on high for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes, until soft and glossy. Sprinkle on the granulated sugar and beat on high until stiff peaks form, another 2 or so minutes.
  • Drop spoonfuls of meringue onto the parchment paper or brown paper bag, about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 2 hours until meringues have dried out and set. Remove from oven and cool.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Meringues are persnickety if the air is humid. If you live in Florida, like me, choose a day when the humidity is at a minimum and preferably cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 30mg | Sugar: 22g

Pin “Simple Meringue Recipe” For Later:

This simple meringue recipe gives you light as a feather vanilla meringue cookies. These easy meringues literally melt in your mouth! Naturally gluten free! #easymeringues #vanillameringuecookies #simplemeringuerecipe #eggwhites #glutenfree #glutenfreecookies

 

 

More Easy Cookies:

oatmeal chews
Oatmeal Chews
Chocolate Mint Meringue Kisses
Chewy Coconut Macaroons

Meringues
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Cookies/Bars// Desserts// Snacks// Vegan/Vegetarian10 Comments

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Comments

  1. Veena Azmanov says

    December 24, 2016 at 2:32 PM

    Oh love meringues… love how they just melt in your mouth. Much lighter and so much cheaper too ! Thanks

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 25, 2016 at 8:23 AM

      That’s probably why we had them so often growing up — funny, because I never thought of it like that, but you’re probably right!

      Reply
  2. Holly says

    December 24, 2016 at 1:10 PM

    Mmm meringues! What a great idea for a lighter cookie option. I love the your mother had the idea of putting flavoring in them with berries or curds. i can just imagine how delicious some lemon curd would be – yum!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 25, 2016 at 8:22 AM

      Thanks, Holly – I’m glad you like them. These are a delicious light cookie.

      Reply
  3. Platter Talk says

    December 24, 2016 at 1:03 PM

    Very nice, simple idea. I think I’ll drizzle a little dark chocolate and add a few chopped hazelnuts when I do these. Thanks for the idea. It’s nice to have a treat that doesn’t cost $20 to make!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 25, 2016 at 8:20 AM

      Chocolate and hazelnuts sound great — I have a chocolate mint version, too!

      Reply
  4. marshasbakingaddiction says

    December 24, 2016 at 10:34 AM

    I LOVE meringue cookies! They’re melt-in-your-mouth gorgeous, and yours look so good! Such an easy recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 24, 2016 at 10:46 AM

      Thank you, Marsha – yes, I love a meringue, too!

      Reply
  5. Alyssa says

    December 24, 2016 at 9:18 AM

    I’d like to float these in a hot cooca!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 24, 2016 at 9:26 AM

      They wouldn’t float — they’d dissolve immediately.

      Reply

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Meet Lisa

Lisa

Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

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