Patriotic Meringue Kisses (Printable)

Crisp tricolor meringue kisses: airy, sweet nibbles ideal for patriotic celebrations and party favors.

# What You Need:

→ Meringue Base

01 - 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Food Coloring

06 - Red gel food coloring
07 - Blue gel food coloring

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 200°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a perfectly clean mixing bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.
03 - Add granulated sugar one tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed after each addition. Continue until meringue forms stiff and glossy peaks, about five to seven minutes.
04 - Beat in salt and vanilla extract just until combined.
05 - Fit a piping bag with a large star or round tip. Using a food-safe brush, paint one red stripe, one blue stripe, and leave one section plain inside the bag to create the swirled effect.
06 - Carefully spoon the meringue mixture into the prepared piping bag, keeping color stripes intact. Pipe 1 to 1.5 inch wide kiss-shaped mounds onto the lined sheets, leaving one inch between each.
07 - Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until meringues are dry and crisp. Turn oven off and allow meringues to cool completely inside, with the door closed, for one hour.
08 - Gently peel meringues from parchment and transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to five days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crisp exterior and airy center instantly melt on your tongue (and look like confectionary fireworks).
  • Pride sneaks into your chest every time someone bites into one and beams at the playful swirls.
02 -
  • If there’s a trace of grease or yolk in your bowl, the meringue won’t rise, no matter how much you beat it.
  • I learned the hard way that regular liquid food coloring can deflate your meringue—use gel to keep the batter airy and vivid.
03 -
  • When separating eggs, do it one at a time into a small bowl, so a stray yolk doesn’t ruin the whole batch.
  • Piping even mounds is easier if you hold the bag vertically and give a small twist to finish each kiss.

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