Vanilla Meringue Kisses With Optional Chocolate Bits Or Nuts Recipes

MERINGUE KISSES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Beat egg whites until foamy. Sprinkle with cream of tartar and salt; beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until stiff peaks form, about 5-8 minutes. If desired, divide batter in half and fold in red and green food coloring. , Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 1-1/2-in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie and cover it with meringue, using a knife. , Bake at 275° for 30-35 minutes or until firm to the touch. Immediately remove to a wire rack to cool. If desired, sprinkle with cocoa. Store in an airtight container.

MERINGUE KISSES II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (130 degrees C). Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites until very stiff and dry. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar slowly and continue beating until mixture holds its shape.
• Add flavoring extract. Fold in another 1/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup finely crushed nut brittle or other crushed candy.
• Drop or form into desired shapes on parchment covered cookie sheet. You can sprinkle lightly with either more crushed candy or powdered confectioner sugar, if desired. Place in oven for 30-35 minutes until set and delicately brown.
• To remove baked kisses from paper if you have a problem, lay out a hot, wet towel and place paper with kisses on towel. Let stand about 1 minute and steam will loosen kisses. Slip them off the paper with a spatula.

NAN'S MERINGUE KISSES - EASY TO BE CREATIVE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250º degrees.
• Beat egg white & salt with mixer until frothy or fluffy. Add sugar very slowly while still using mixer.
• Beat until a stiff peak forms and sugar is dissolved.
• Fold in by hand vanilla.
• Spoon (teaspoonful) onto lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 40-45 minutes.
• Let cool slightly before removing to cooling rack.
• Store in airtight container.
• You can add (1/4 cup per batch or desired amount) chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, mint chips, etc. Fold these in last.
• You can also substitute the vanilla with any flavor extract. I have used cherry extract with chocolate chips. These were excellent.
• You can also add a couple drops of food coloring to the desired flavor of the kiss. If you use a drop of yellow with a drop of red to get an orange color you can use chocolate chips to have a Halloween kiss.
• I don't suggest using wet ingredients such as maraschino cherries, pineapple, etc.