These delightful Christmas tree meringue cookies are a festive treat that adds a touch of whimsy to your holiday celebrations. Made with simple ingredients like egg whites and sugar, they are light, airy, and can be decorated to resemble charming little Christmas trees.
This recipe is straightforward and perfect for baking with family. You can customize the colors and decorations to match your holiday theme.
Festive Meringue Christmas Trees
These delightful meringue cookies are a charming addition to any holiday gathering. Shaped like Christmas trees, they bring a whimsical touch that captures the spirit of the season.
With a light and airy texture, these cookies are not only visually appealing but also incredibly satisfying to eat. The process of making them is straightforward, making it a perfect activity for families to enjoy together during the festive season.
Each cookie can be customized with various colors and decorations, allowing you to match them with your holiday theme. The result is a stunning display that is sure to impress your guests.
Creating the Meringue Base
The foundation of these festive trees begins with a simple meringue made from egg whites and sugar.
Start by whipping the egg whites until they become foamy, then gradually add sugar while continuing to beat until the mixture reaches stiff peaks. This step is crucial for achieving the right texture that will hold its shape when piped.
Incorporating a touch of vanilla extract adds a delightful flavor, enhancing the overall experience of these sweet treats.
Coloring and Shaping the Trees
To create the iconic green color of Christmas trees, food coloring is added to the meringue.
Once the desired shade is achieved, the meringue is transferred to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. This allows for precise piping, creating the tree shape with a wider base that tapers to a point at the top.
Arranging these piped trees on a baking sheet is the next step, setting the stage for the baking process.
Baking to Perfection
Baking meringue cookies requires patience, as they need to dry out slowly in a low-temperature oven.
After placing the baking sheet in the oven, allow the cookies to bake for 1.5 to 2 hours. This slow drying process ensures that the meringues become crisp and can be easily lifted off the parchment paper.
Once baked, turning off the oven and letting the cookies cool inside helps to maintain their structure and prevents any cracking.
Decorating the Trees
Once cooled, the fun part begins—decorating the meringue trees!
Using edible glitter and colorful sprinkles, you can transform these simple cookies into festive masterpieces. Mini chocolate candies can also be added as ornaments, giving each tree a unique touch.
Arranging the decorated trees on a decorative plate creates an inviting centerpiece that captures the essence of the holiday spirit.
Serving and Storing
These meringue cookies are not only a treat for the eyes but also a light dessert that can be enjoyed by all.
With approximately 24 cookies per batch, they are perfect for sharing at holiday parties or gifting to friends and family.
To keep them fresh, store the cookies in an airtight container, ensuring they remain crisp and delightful for days to come.
Festive Meringue Christmas Trees
These meringue cookies are piped into tree shapes and baked until crisp. The recipe takes about 2 hours from start to finish and yields approximately 24 cookies.
Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Edible glitter or sprinkles for decoration
- Mini chocolate candies for ornaments (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whip Egg Whites: In a clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add the granulated sugar, one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat on high speed until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Color the Meringue: Divide the meringue into separate bowls if you want different colors. Add green food coloring to one bowl and mix until the desired shade is achieved.
- Pipe the Trees: Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe tree shapes onto the prepared baking sheet, starting with a wider base and tapering to a point at the top.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meringues are dry and can be easily lifted off the parchment paper. Turn off the oven and let the meringues cool inside for an additional hour.
- Decorate: Once cooled, decorate the meringue trees with edible glitter, sprinkles, and mini chocolate candies for ornaments if desired. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 25kcal
- Fat: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g