Indulge yourself with a delightful treat that's perfect for any occasion. These Strawberry Meringue cookies are crisp, fluffy, and bursting with sweet strawberry flavor. With a blend of simple ingredients and a dash of creativity, you'll create these beautiful, delicious cookies that are sure to impress.
The key ingredient that may not be readily available in your pantry is the strawberry extract. This particular ingredient intensifies the strawberry flavor in the cookies. If you can't find it in your local supermarket, look for it in a specialty baking store or online. The food coloring is optional, primarily used to give the cookies a vibrant, appealing look.
Ingredients for Strawberry Meringue Cookies
Egg whites: These act as a raising agent, adding volume to your cookies through the process of whisking.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to your cookies and works with the egg whites to create the light, fluffy texture.
Salt: Used to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Cream of tartar: This stabilizes the egg whites, allowing them to maintain their structure when whipped.
Strawberry extract: Enhances the strawberry flavor in your cookies.
Gel paste food coloring: This is an optional ingredient that adds a vibrant color to your cookies.
One reader, Amandi Xiong says:
These strawberry meringue cookies are a delightful treat! The strawberry flavor is just right, and the cookies have a perfect crispy exterior with a soft, chewy inside. They are so pretty and taste amazing. I highly recommend trying this recipe!
Techniques Required for Perfect Strawberry Meringue Cookies
How to prepare meringue mixture: Whisk egg whites and sugar over a double boiler until sugar dissolves, then whip in an electric stand mixer until stiff, glossy peaks form.
How to color the pastry bag: Use a small paintbrush to paint vertical stripes of gel food coloring inside a large pastry bag before filling it with the meringue mixture.
How to pipe meringue: Fill a pastry bag with the meringue mixture and pipe 1 3/4-inch circles onto a lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
How to bake meringue: Bake the meringues in a preheated oven at 200 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes until they are dry to the touch, crisp on the outside, and tender on the inside.
How to store meringue cookies: Allow the meringues to cool completely and then transfer them to an airtight container for storage.
How To Make Strawberry Meringue Cookies
These irresistible strawberry meringue cookies will make you want for more once tasted. It is made with strawberry extract baked in flavorful cookies.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 3egg whites ,large, at room temperature
- ¾cupgranulated sugar
- ⅛tspsalt
- ⅛tspcream of tartar
- 1tspstrawberry extract
- red and maroon gel paste food coloring
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl which pairs with an electric stand mixer and set bowl over a pot of simmering water.
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Whisk mixture constantly until sugar dissolves and the mixture is warm to the touch for about 3 minutes. Mix in salt and cream of tartar.
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Transfer bowl to an electric stand mixer, add in the strawberry extract, and whip mixture on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture has nearly cooled for about 7 minutes.
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Meanwhile, using a small paintbrush, paint 3 vertical stripes of the gel food coloring, spaced fairly evenly apart along the inside of a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip.
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Fill a pastry bag with meringue mixture and pipe 1 3/4-inch circles onto silicone baking mat or parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
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Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes until meringues are dry to the touch, while crisp on the outside and tender and soft on the inside.
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Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Calories: 25.99kcal
- Fat: 0.01g
- Saturated Fat: 0.00g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0.00g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.00g
- Carbohydrates: 6.29g
- Fiber: 0.00g
- Sugar: 6.27g
- Protein: 0.36g
- Sodium: 17.66mg
- Calcium: 0.33mg
- Potassium: 8.32mg
- Iron: 0.01mg
- Vitamin A: 0.00µg
- Vitamin C: 0.09mg
Crucial Technique Tip for Strawberry Meringue Cookies
When painting the stripes of gel food coloring inside the pastry bag, try to make them as straight and evenly spaced as possible. This will ensure that each meringue cookie has a consistent and visually appealing pattern. Also, remember to be gentle while piping the meringue mixture onto the baking sheets. Applying too much pressure can cause the meringue to deflate, resulting in cookies that are dense rather than light and airy.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Strawberry Meringue Cookies
Prep ahead: Prepare the ingredients and equipment in advance to streamline the cooking process and minimize last-minute tasks.
Use a stand mixer: Utilize a stand mixer to efficiently whip the meringue, allowing you to focus on other preparation steps while it works.
Organize your workspace: Keep your kitchen organized and clean as you work to avoid unnecessary clutter and save time searching for tools and ingredients.
Bake multiple batches: Consider doubling the recipe and baking multiple batches at once to maximize oven usage and save time overall.
Plan your piping: Visualize the piping process before starting to ensure a smooth and efficient piping technique, resulting in consistent meringue shapes.
Substitute Ingredients For Strawberry Meringue Cookies Recipe
egg whites - Substitute with aquafaba: Aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas, can be whipped into a foam similar to egg whites and is a great vegan alternative for meringue.
granulated sugar - Substitute with caster sugar: Caster sugar has a finer texture than granulated sugar, which can result in a smoother meringue texture.
strawberry extract - Substitute with pureed strawberries: Pureed strawberries can provide a natural strawberry flavor and color to the meringue cookies.
Presenting Strawberry Meringue Cookies Beautifully
Elevate the meringue cookies: Arrange the meringue cookies on a pristine white plate, ensuring they are evenly spaced and visually appealing.
Garnish with fresh strawberries: Place a few ripe, vibrant strawberries strategically around the meringue cookies to add a pop of color and a burst of freshness.
Dust with powdered sugar: Lightly dust the plate with a fine sprinkle of powdered sugar to add a touch of elegance and a hint of sweetness to the presentation.
Add a dollop of whipped cream: Place a small dollop of freshly whipped cream on the plate to complement the lightness of the meringue cookies and enhance the overall visual appeal.
Sprinkle with edible flower petals: Delicately sprinkle the plate with colorful, edible flower petals to introduce a whimsical and artistic element to the presentation.
Serve on a mirrored platter: Present the meringue cookies on a mirrored platter to create a stunning reflection and enhance the visual impact of the dish.
Accompany with a drizzle of strawberry coulis: Add a drizzle of vibrant strawberry coulis to the plate, creating a beautiful and flavorful addition to the overall presentation.
Use a decorative pastry stencil: Place a decorative pastry stencil on the plate and dust with cocoa powder to create an intricate and visually captivating design around the meringue cookies.
Incorporate gold leaf accents: For an opulent touch, delicately place edible gold leaf accents on the plate to add a luxurious and sophisticated element to the presentation.
Serve on a bed of spun sugar: Create a delicate nest of spun sugar on the plate and nestle the meringue cookies within it for a visually stunning and ethereal presentation.
Essential Tools for Making Strawberry Meringue Cookies
- Electric stand mixer: An electric stand mixer is used to whip the egg whites and sugar to stiff, glossy peaks, making the meringue light and fluffy.
- Heatproof bowl: A heatproof bowl is necessary for heating the egg whites and sugar over simmering water to dissolve the sugar and create a stable meringue.
- Pastry bag: A pastry bag is used to pipe the meringue mixture onto baking sheets, creating the desired cookie shapes.
- 1/2-inch round tip: This tip is attached to the pastry bag to create the perfect size and shape for the meringue cookies.
- Small paintbrush: A small paintbrush is used to paint gel food coloring inside the pastry bag, creating colorful swirls in the meringue cookies.
- Silicone baking mat or parchment paper: These are used to line the baking sheets and prevent the meringue cookies from sticking during baking.
- Airtight container: An airtight container is used to store the meringue cookies once they have cooled, keeping them fresh and crisp.
Storing and Freezing Strawberry Meringue Cookies
- Once the meringue cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- To keep the cookies crisp and prevent them from becoming soggy, place a piece of parchment paper between each layer of cookies in the container.
- You can also freeze the strawberry meringue cookies for longer storage:
- Place the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
- Transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag, separating each layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Seal the container or bag tightly, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Freeze for up to 1 month.
- To thaw the frozen meringue cookies, remove them from the freezer and let them come to room temperature in their container, keeping it sealed to prevent moisture from entering.
- Once thawed, the cookies should be crisp and ready to serve. If they have lost some of their crispness, you can place them in a preheated 200°F (93°C) oven for 10-15 minutes to restore their texture.
Interesting Fact About Strawberry Meringue Cookies
The meringue cookies are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed by people with egg allergies. The recipe can be easily adapted to use egg replacers, such as aquafaba, which is the liquid from canned chickpeas. This makes the cookies suitable for those with dietary restrictions, allowing them to indulge in the sweet and airy goodness of meringue cookies.
Is Making Strawberry Meringue Cookies at Home Cost-Effective?
This strawberry meringue cookies recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The ingredients are simple and affordable, and the recipe yields a large batch of delicious cookies. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people would be around $5-$7, making it a budget-friendly treat. As a culinary chef, I would rate this recipe a solid 9. The use of strawberry extract adds a delightful flavor, and the cookies have a perfect balance of crispiness and softness. Overall, this recipe offers great value and a delightful treat for the family.
Are Strawberry Meringue Cookies Healthy or Unhealthy?
This strawberry meringue cookie recipe, while delightful and indulgent, is not particularly healthy. The main ingredients are egg whites and sugar, which are high in calories and carbohydrates but low in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The recipe also calls for artificial food coloring, which may have potential health risks.
However, there are a few ways to make this recipe healthier:
- Reduce the amount of sugar used in the recipe. You can experiment with using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar.
- Incorporate some whole grain flour or ground nuts into the meringue mixture to add fiber and protein.
- Use natural food coloring alternatives, such as beetroot powder or strawberry powder, instead of artificial food coloring.
- Serve the meringue cookies with fresh fruit, like sliced strawberries, to add some vitamins and fiber to the dessert.
- Enjoy these cookies in moderation as part of a balanced diet, rather than consuming them in large quantities.
Editor's Opinion on This Delightful Strawberry Meringue Cookie Recipe
This strawberry meringue cookies recipe offers a delightful blend of sweetness and fruity flavor. The addition of strawberry extract and food coloring adds a lovely touch, making these cookies visually appealing. The technique of painting the gel food coloring inside the pastry bag creates a beautiful marbled effect, elevating the presentation. The meringues are baked to perfection, resulting in a crisp exterior and a soft, tender interior. Overall, this recipe is a wonderful choice for those seeking a light and airy treat with a burst of strawberry essence.
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Why trust this Strawberry Meringue Cookies Recipe:
This recipe is a trusted favorite among our community, delivering delightful meringue cookies with a burst of strawberry flavor. The precise instructions ensure perfect results every time, while the use of strawberry extract guarantees an authentic and intense fruity taste. The addition of food coloring not only enhances the visual appeal but also showcases attention to detail. With a meticulous review process, our editors ensure that only the finest recipes, like this one, make it to our platform, providing users with confidence in the quality and reliability of each submission.
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