Friday, December 5, 2014

Meringue Cookies with Chocolate and Nuts

“Today is a good day for a good day.” – Joanna Gaines, Fixer Upper, HGTV.  I love the optimism of this statement: that every day is an opportunity to have a good day.  And today – Friday, December 5 – was a GREAT day!  Life is a blessing.  So for all the good days, life, blessings, and family, I give you kisses.
Meringue Cookies

Ingredients
  1. 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
  2. 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  3. 2/3 c superfine granulated sugar
  4. 1 tsp vanilla extract
  5. 1 c semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet chocolate
  6. 1 c finely chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until fluffy but not at all dry. (Be careful not to over beat.) Add the sugar gradually, about 3 tablespoons at a time. When 1/2 of the sugar has been added, add the vanilla extract. Continue beating and adding remaining sugar in batches, until all of the sugar is dissolved and the meringue is very shiny and tight. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Working one teaspoon at a time, push a teaspoonful of meringue from the tip of 1 teaspoon with the back of another teaspoon onto the lined baking sheets, leaving 1-inch of space between cookies. Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off. Leave the cookies (undisturbed) in the oven for at least 2 hours and up to overnight, or until cookies are crisp and dry.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oh, Mrs Mann. Today WAS a great day. The best part about it, though, was that it promised MORE great days ahead. Thanks for the kisses to celebrate. We can hardly wait for the hugs that go with them.