Candy Cane Meringue Kisses

These "kisses" are perfect for Christmas, because they look like candy canes, but they're also perfect for Valentine's Day.  Happy kissing!

Here's what they look like--cute, huh?
Want to learn how to make them?  It's easy---follow along.

The recipe is a basic meringue recipe:
4 egg whites (save the yolks for another recipe)
1 cup granulated sugar
(so the recipe is 1/4 c of sugar for each egg white--you can make as much or as little as you'd like).
Four egg whites made three large jelly roll pans.

Set the egg whites aside for about 15 minutes so they're not cold from the refrigerator.

You'll also need:
 *  Red gel or cream food coloring to make the candy stripes
*  A small brush
*  Pastry bag
*  Star tip on the pastry bag
*  Edible glitter in white and/or red (optional)

Very important:  Be sure there is NO yolk in the egg whites!

Cut enough parchment paper to line your baking sheets.

Preheat oven to 210˚

I like the convenience of disposable pastry bags.
Push the "coupler" into the bag as far as you can (it probably won't fit through the open tip)
Mark the bag where the coupler stops, remove the coupler, and cut the tip there
(be carefeul to not cut it too far up, or it won't seal)
Put the coupler back in the bag and push it through so only the threads are out of the bag
Place the star tip up against the coupler, and hold both in place with the twist seal.

Pour egg whites into mixing bowl.
Beat on high, adding the sugar slowly until all the sugar has been added and the
meringue looks firm and shiny and beautiful.
When the meringue is stiff enough that it no longer drips from the beaters,
it's done!

To prepare the pastry bag:
This step should be done once the meringue is ready to be piped, as the pastry bag can't be put down
once the "stripes" are painted.
Pour some cream food coloring into a small bowl.
Dip a small paint brush into the food coloring and carefully reach into the bag
and "paint" three evenly spaced "stripes" from the tip of the bag to 4 or 5 inches from the top.
Notice that they don't have to be perfect, but the meringues will look great!

Using a spatula, add the meringue to the pastry bag.

Fold the top of the bag several times to release the air in the bag and
to move the meringue down.

Squeeze a small "kiss" on each corner of your baking sheet(s), then place the parchment paper
on your baking sheets.  This will hold your sheets in place.

If all the meringue doesn't fit in the pastry bag, simply paint more stripes in the same
areas where the first were and refill the bag with meringue.

Sprinkle with glitter if desired.

Place in oven for 2 to 3 hours, until they are completely dry and feel hard to the touch, but
don't let them start to change color!
Meringues should be perfectly white when done.

I hope you and your family will enjoy many, many kisses--
now, at Christmas, on Valentine's Day, and
on any day.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them!  They encourage me and inspire me.  And if you like what you see a lot J, maybe you’d like to +1 this post too!  Thank you!

I will be joining these fun parties; please stop by to see all the great things there!

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From my Chickadee Nest to yours~

    Zuni