More recipes from Tracy at The Secret Ingredient are available on her blog:
www.TheSecretIngredientOnline.blogspot.com
Ingredients:
Makes 2 dozen cookies
- 2 Oz egg whites (from 2 large eggs), at room temperature
- 1/2 Cup superfine sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 Teaspoon mint extract
- 1/4 Cup crushed peppermint candies (or candy canes)
- Parchment paper
Preheat oven to 275 degrees and place rack on middle setting. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Beat egg whites on medium-high speed with an electric mixer, until soft peaks form (about 2 minutes).
Add the cream of tartar, then the sugar, a little at a time, and raise the speed of the mixer to high.
Add the mint extract and continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form (about 5 minutes). To determine if you have achieved "stiff peaks", dip a wire whisk into the mixture, pull it straight out and upward, and then turn the whisk right side up. If the egg whites hold their peak (and they don't bend over sideways), then you have stiff peaks. The mixture should be very voluminous and look like fluffy whipped cream. Don't overbeat....the mixture should look glossy, not dry.
Using a 2 oz ice cream scoop (or 2 spoons), place rounded mounds of meringue (about 2 tablespoons per cookie) onto prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
Bake for 45 minutes, until firm to the touch, turn oven off and allow the cookies to slowly cool as the oven cools (at least another hour). They will be crisp on the outside, with a slightly soft center. When they are finished, they will release from the parchment very easily.
Cool completely on a wire rack before storing in an airtight container on the countertop.
Note: Superfine sugar is sometimes sold as "castor" or "caster" sugar and is available in the baking section of most supermarkets. You can make your own superfine sugar by processing regular granulated sugar in a food processor for approximately 30 seconds.
Note: High humidity can sometimes affect the results of this recipe. Dry days are best to make meringues.
