Thursday, July 29, 2010

Meringue Cookies


I LOVE MERINGUE COOKIES!
Jason wasn't crazy about them and thought they tasted like marshmallows... I don't see a problem with that. It was a bit humid when I made them and they cooked much longer than the original recipe had said they would need. I was thinking for some reason that the outside should have a toasty color so I put them under the broiler for 2 minutes... BIG MISTAKE! The should be the white marshmallow color. They didn't live the broiler and the fire alarm did go off. I was able to eat one before the incident and took a picture before the melt down! These might be a better winter or fall cookie to bake :o)

CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUE COOKIES
http://www.joyofbaking.com/MeringueCookies.html

3 large egg whites (3 ounces or 90 grams)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup (150 grams) superfine or caster sugar (if you don't have superfine sugar simply take granulated white sugar and process it for about 30 seconds in a food processor)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In the bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, a little at a time, and continue to beat until the meringue holds very stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Note: The meringue is done when it holds stiff peaks and when you rub a little between your thumb and index finger it does not feel gritty. If it feels gritty the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between your fingers.

Before placing the cookies on the cookie sheet, place a little of the meringue on the underside of each corner of the parchment paper. This will prevent the paper from sliding. Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) tip. Pipe 2 1/2 inch (6 cm) rounds of meringue in rows on the prepared baking sheet. (I don't have the "piping" materials, i cut the corner of a plastic sandwich bag and squeezed it out) Alternatively, spoon mounds of meringue, using two spoons, onto the prepared sheets. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with a few shaved almonds, if desired.

Bake the meringues for approximately 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours(I baked for 2.5 hours), rotating the baking sheet from front to back (about half way through) to ensure even baking. The meringues are done when they are pale in color and fairly crisp. Turn off the oven, open the door a crack, and leave the meringues in the oven to finish drying overnight. (I didn't read this part in time either
)

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