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Peppermint Meringue Kisses Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 64 reviews

Light, airy, and delightfully peppermint-flavored meringue kisses that are crisp on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect as a festive treat or a refreshing dessert accompaniment packed with peppermint extract and decorated with red stripes resembling classic candy canes.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 pinch salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 6 large egg whites (room temperature)
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Additional

  • Red gel food coloring

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets. Preheat the oven to 200℉ (93℃) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and bake evenly.
  2. Create a Double Boiler Setup. Pour about 1 inch of water into a medium saucepan and bring it to a slight simmer. This will be used to gently warm the egg whites and sugar mixture for stabilization.
  3. Combine Egg Whites and Sugar. In a heatproof mixing bowl attached to a stand mixer, add the egg whites and granulated sugar. Whisk together until combined smoothly to start the warming process over the simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water.
  4. Heat and Whisk the Mixture. Whisk the egg whites and sugar constantly over the double boiler until the mixture reaches 140℉ (60℃) to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is safe to eat. Remove the bowl from the heat afterward.
  5. Whip to Soft Peaks. Fit the bowl onto the stand mixer with the whisk attachment and whip the mixture until soft peaks form. This step aerates the meringue base and begins to create the fluffy structure.
  6. Add Flavorings and Continue Whipping. Add the lemon juice, salt, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the mixture. Continue whipping at high speed until stiff peaks form, and the meringue pulls away from the bowl sides. This will take approximately 10-15 minutes and is essential for the perfect texture.
  7. Prepare Piping Bags with Color. Fit a piping bag with a round or large star tip. Using a toothpick, draw 3 lines of red gel food coloring inside the piping bag to create peppermint candy stripes within the piped meringue.
  8. Spoon and Fill Piping Bag. Carefully transfer the meringue into the prepared piping bag, filling it about halfway to two-thirds full to allow easy piping without overfilling.
  9. Anchor Parchment Paper. Pipe 4 small dots of meringue under the four corners of each parchment-lined baking sheet and gently press down. This prevents the parchment paper from moving or curling while baking.
  10. Pipe Meringue Kisses. Pipe quarter-sized dots of meringue onto the baking sheets, slowly lifting the bag as you pipe to create the traditional kiss shape. Leave about half an inch between kisses and fill the sheets generously, maintaining good spacing.
  11. Bake the Meringue Kisses. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until the meringue kisses are crisp to the touch on the outside. After baking, turn off the oven and allow the pans to cool completely inside the oven to prevent cracking or collapsing from sudden temperature changes.
  12. Remove and Store. Once cooled to room temperature, remove the meringue kisses gently from the parchment paper. Store them in an airtight container to maintain crispness. Avoid refrigerating or leaving them uncovered as humidity will cause the meringues to become sticky and lose their texture.

Notes

  • Use room temperature egg whites to achieve maximum volume when whipping.
  • Double boiler heating ensures the sugar is fully dissolved and the meringue is safe to eat.
  • Whipping to stiff peaks is critical for holding the kiss shape during baking.
  • Do not refrigerate meringue kisses; store in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • Use gel food coloring to prevent adding extra liquid which can deflate the meringue.
  • Cooling the meringues in the oven with the door closed prevents cracking and preserves texture.

Keywords: Peppermint Meringue Kisses, peppermint candies, holiday dessert, meringue recipe, peppermint flavor, festive treat, Christmas dessert

Find it online: https://spatulaqueen.com/peppermint-meringue-kisses-recipe/