Welcome to the realm of ghostly meringues, where culinary artistry meets ethereal elegance. These delicate confections, with their crisp exteriors and marshmallow-like interiors, are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. Whether you are a seasoned baker looking to expand your repertoire or a novice cook eager to impress your loved ones, this article will guide you through the enchanting world of ghostly meringues. Dive into the secrets of creating these ethereal treats, exploring essential techniques, ingredient nuances, and creative presentation ideas. Discover the art of crafting perfect meringues that resemble ghostly apparitions, sure to leave a lasting impression on all who encounter them.
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MERINGUES
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 3h25m
Yield about 20 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Place the egg whites and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer); beat on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and increase the speed to medium high; beat in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, then add the extract or zest. Continue beating until the meringue is thick, glossy and holds stiff peaks, about 6 minutes.
- For colored cookies, swirl a few drops of food coloring into the meringue or use a small paintbrush to paint 3 long stripes of food coloring up the inside of a pastry bag. For chocolate chip versions, gently fold the mini chocolate chips into the mixture.
- Drop or pipe the meringue as desired, about 2 inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Bake 1 hour, then turn off the oven and let the meringues stand in the oven until dry, about 2 hours. Top with or dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle with nonpareils.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 32 calorie, Fat 0 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Cholesterol 0 milligrams, Sodium 23 milligrams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Protein 1 grams, Sugar 8 grams
PEPPERMINT MERINGUES
These minty, pink-striped meringues are easy to make and use a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie comes out striped as you pipe it. You can use this same trick with frosting for cupcakes.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 3h30m
Yield about 42 meringues
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint.
- Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes. Fill the bag with the meringue; try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to smudge the food coloring (though some smudging is inevitable). Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
VANILLA MERINGUES
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Use an electric mixer to beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla. When whites begin to hold stiff peaks, gradually add half the sugar. When peaks become glossy, gently fold in remaining sugar.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and use a pastry bag with a star tip or a resealable plastic bag with a corner cut out to form small mounds of meringue mixture, each about an inch wide and tall.
- Bake meringues until hard, about 2 hours. Meringues are ready when they release from the parchment paper. Turn oven off, prop door open and allow meringues to sit in oven for another hour or so.
- For pink vanilla meringues: After adding the first 1/4 cup sugar, add a drop or two of pink or red food coloring to mixture. Continue with Step 1.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 18, Sodium 17 milligrams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Sugar 4 grams
CHOCOLATE MERINGUES
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 4h
Yield approximately 50 meringues
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and shiny and the sugar granules cannot be felt in the whites. Beat in the vanilla, reduce speed to low and add cocoa until combined. With a spatula put the egg white mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch meringue "kisses" on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the middle of oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave the meringues in it for at least 2 more hours or until meringues are completely dry.
Tips:
- Use the freshest egg whites possible. Older egg whites will not whip up as well and may result in a meringue that is not as stiff or glossy.
- Make sure the egg whites are at room temperature before whipping. This will help them to whip up more easily and quickly.
- Use a clean bowl and whisk. Any grease or residue on the bowl or whisk can prevent the egg whites from whipping up properly.
- Whip the egg whites gradually, starting on low speed and increasing the speed as the egg whites begin to foam. This will help to prevent the egg whites from over-whipping and becoming grainy.
- Add the sugar gradually, one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to whip the egg whites. This will help to prevent the meringue from becoming too sweet or grainy.
- Whip the egg whites until they are stiff and glossy. The peaks should be firm and hold their shape when the whisk is lifted out of the bowl.
- Use the meringue immediately or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Conclusion:
With a little practice, you can easily make delicious and impressive meringues at home. These tips will help you to create perfect meringues every time. Whether you are making a classic meringue pie, a fancy French macaron, or a simple meringue cookie, you are sure to enjoy the results. So what are you waiting for? Start baking!
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