Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (2024)

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by Malinda Linnebur

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These classic Peppermint Meringue Cookies are perfect for your Christmas cookie tray! Meringue drops are light, airy, festive, and easy to make.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (1)

Peppermint Meringues

These peppermint meringuecookies are the perfect treat if you are looking for something light, airy, and a little different from the usual chocolate treats.

They are crispy, have the perfect amount of peppermint flavor, and are simple to make.

I was in the mood for something different, and that is when this meringue cookie recipe was born! I wanted to make sure these meringue drops weren’t the average cookie you may see every year.

Some other great cookies I have are these PeanutButter Ritz Cracker Cookies, Chocolate Chip Pecan Shortbread Cookies, and these Swedish Butter Cookies (one of my favorite cookies!).

Why You’ll Love This Meringue Cookie Recipe

  • Only 5 ingredients + food coloring
  • The perfect amount of mint flavor
  • Simple enough for a beginner
  • Delicious flavor
  • Great texture
  • Stunning presentation
Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (2)

Mint Meringue Cookies Ingredients

  • Egg whites
  • Cream of Tarter
  • Pure Peppermint Extract
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Red Food Coloring

How To Make Peppermint Meringues

PREP: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Add parchment paper to two baking sheets.

MERINGUE: Combine the egg whites with the cream of tartar, peppermint, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix until soft peaks form, then slowly add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat well after each addition. Beat until stiff peaks form.

PIPE COOKIES: Place a pastry bag with a star tip inside of a large cup, folding the excess over the edge. Use a paintbrush to paint small stripes of red food coloring up the sides of the pastry bag. Then spoon the meringue into the bag. Pipe 1″ meringue drops on the baking sheets about 1″ apart.

BAKE: Bake the peppermint meringue cookies for 1 1/2 hours or until the cookies appear firm and dry when they are touched. Cool on a wire rack. Serve and enjoy!


About these Peppermint Meringue Cookies:

  • Make sure the bowl, beater, and spatula you are using are squeaky clean.Any oily residue will prevent your meringue from reaching stiff peaks.
  • When separating the yolks from the whites, be very careful not to get any yolk in the white, or the meringue won’t reach stiff peaks.
  • One thing you can do with the leftover egg yolks is to freeze them.The Kitchn has an article on how to freeze egg whites and yolks.They also have this article with recipes to use up leftover egg yolks that you might want to check out.
  • This meringue cookie recipe is easy, but it does require a little bit of patience.Add the sugar in a little bit at a time and allow it to mix in well before adding in more. This allows the peppermint meringues to be the perfect texture, so it’s worth it!
  • You could also make these for baby showers, wedding showers, or even weddings.Just leave it white or paint the stripe blue or pink to suit your needs.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do peppermint meringue cookies last?

They will last up to 1 week stored in an airtight container. Additionally, they will last up to 1 month in the freezer and should be thawed before serving.

Can I still make mint meringue cookies without a pastry bag?

Absolutely! You can simply drop them by the spoonful instead.

Can I use egg whites in the carton?

No, you will need to use fresh egg whites for the meringue to set up properly. The cartons tend to be pasteurized, and they won’t develop stiff peaks as well.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (4)

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Course: Candy, cookie

Cuisine: American

Keyword: meringue cookies, peppermint

These Peppermint Meringue Cookies are light, airy, and have just the right amount of peppermint.

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours

Servings: 42 cookies

Calories: 17kcal

Author: Malinda Linnebur

Print Recipe Save Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup (166g) granulated sugar
  • Red food coloring (the gel kind works best), optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

  • In a large bowl beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, peppermint, and salt with a mixer on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time beating on high. Beat well after each addition. Beat until stiff peaks form.

  • Place a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip inside a large cup and fold excess over top of the cup. This will help hold the pastry bag in place making it easier to paint the stripes and fill with meringue. If desired, using a small paintbrush paint small stipes up the sides of the pastry bag. Carefully spoon the meringue into the bag. Pipe 1″ diameter cookies onto prepared baking sheet about 1″ apart.

  • Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until meringues appear dry and firm when lightly touched. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Notes

  1. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  2. If you don’t have a pastry bag you can also drop the meringues by small spoonfuls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 4g

Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (5)

You might also like...

  • Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Swedish Butter Cookies

  • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Mint Chocolate Thumbprints

Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much peppermint extract to use in meringue? ›

Ingredients ½ 1x 2x
  1. 3 (105 grams) large egg whites.
  2. ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar.
  3. ½ teaspoon peppermint extract.
  4. red and green gel-paste food coloring.
Dec 9, 2020

What is the secret to meringue? ›

How to Make Meringue Successfully
  • When making meringues, always cook egg whites to avoid salmonella poisoning.
  • Don't use packaged egg whites to make meringue. ...
  • Use fresh egg whites. ...
  • Use eggs at room temperature. ...
  • Never let any yolk get into the whites.
  • Don't overbeat egg whites.

What is the most stable meringue for cookies? ›

Italian meringue has a soft and creamy texture that is considered the most stable of the three types. Because it holds its shape so well, you can typically find Italian meringue piped on desserts like baked Alaska or pastries.

What makes meringues chewy in the middle? ›

Chewy meringues, or pavlovas, have cornflour and vinegar added, which helps create that chewy centre.

Can you use too much peppermint extract? ›

If taken in very large doses, peppermint oil can be toxic. It contains a known toxic compound called pulegone.

How much peppermint extract to use instead of vanilla? ›

You can also play around with other extracts, like peppermint or almond extract. (Note that these extracts are much more potent than vanilla—substitute ¼ tsp.

What must be avoided when making meringue? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meringue
  1. Adding Sugar Too Quickly.
  2. Skipping Cream of Tartar.
  3. Mixing in a Dirty Bowl.
  4. Using Cold Eggs.
  5. Overbeating the Egg Whites.
  6. Squeezing the Air Out.
  7. Baking at Too Low a Temperature.
Mar 19, 2024

Why do you put vinegar in meringue? ›

Acid. Whether it be vinegar, lemon juice, cream of tartar, or a combination, an acid will greatly improve the structure of meringue. Acid not only helps meringue whip up and aerate more quickly, it also keeps it stable. Without acid, meringue is more likely to collapse either during or after mixing.

Is meringue better with cream of tartar or lemon? ›

The bottom line: For smooth, stiff beaten egg whites that keep their shape, don't skip the cream of tartar. If you don't have cream of tartar, substituting 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar per egg white works almost as well. To avoid meringues that weep, don't skip the cream of tartar...

Can you overmix meringue cookies? ›

A warning — if you add your sugar too slowly the mix will get too fluffy and the texture of the meringues will be too open. Over whip the egg whites and you risk making them too firm and they will risk losing the moisture that they hold.

Do you put cream of tartar in meringue? ›

cream of tartar is your meringue “MVP”!

A good rule of thumb is to add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar for every 2 egg whites, and add it just before you add your sugar!

Is cream of tartar necessary for meringue? ›

With their crispy exteriors and their marshmallow-like interiors, who doesn't love a meringue? And thanks to a little cream of tartar, your egg whites will whip up perfectly every time. Cream of tartar helps to stabilize the meringue batter, so it bakes into an airy, lofty cake.

Why is my meringue like marshmallows? ›

It doesn't have to be perfect, but if there are too many undissolved pieces of sugar, it means it's not fully dissolved into the protein layer of the egg whites. When this happens, your meringues won't come out crisp and they might seep liquid during baking as the sugar melts out of the meringue.

How to know when meringue is done whipping? ›

To check if the meringue is done whipping, grab the whisk and swirl on the bottom of the bowl. You should feel some resistance against the whisk.

Should meringues be chewy or crunchy? ›

Meringue cookies, or forgotten cookies, are bite-sized, lighter-than-air cookies made from whipped egg whites and sugar. They bake at a low temperature for an extended time until they are crisp on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. You will know you have a good meringue if it: Whips to stiff peaks.

Can you add extracts to meringue? ›

Not even a smidge or then it will not reach stiff peaks. -I recommend adding a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor. -If you are using coloring make sure not to use too much because while baking it might disintegrate your eggs leaving you with super thin meringue! That's it!

How do you use peppermint extract in baking? ›

You can use peppermint extract as you might with vanilla extract by adding a small amount to baked goods or chilled desserts, such as ice cream. In my opinion, peppermint extract has a sharper flavor than vanilla, so I usually start with a smaller quantity and adjust as needed.

How do you use peppermint extract? ›

Pure Peppermint Extract
  1. Sweet ideas: cookies, bark, candy canes, ice cream, tea, fruit salads, cakes, icings.
  2. Savory ideas: sauces lamb, pork and poultry.
  3. Beverage ideas: hot toddies, teas, cocoa, pattinis, vodka co*cktails.
  4. Chef's notes: Peppermint has the reputation of being one of the oldest medicinal herbs.

How much peppermint extract do I need for a cup of tea? ›

Peppermint Herbal Tea<

1 small bunch of peppermint leaves (or 1 drop of peppermint oil or 2 to 3 drops of peppermint extract) Enough boiling water to fill a teapot. Honey, optional.

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