Meringue Cookies

Meringue Cookies

Quick answer

Total time
90 min
Level
Easy
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
6

About this dish

Meringue cookies begin with egg whites whipped into a fine, even foam with salt and lemon juice, then strengthened with sugar added in several small portions.

Read more

A clean, grease-free bowl is essential because residue can keep the whites from reaching full volume. Continue whipping until the sugar grains are no longer visible, the meringue looks glossy, and the peaks stand firmly. Fold in the vanilla gently so the air already incorporated into the whites is not lost. For the cocoa portion, add cocoa powder to part of the finished meringue and stop as soon as the color is even. Pipe small pieces of similar size on the lined tray; consistent sizing allows the centers to dry at the same rate. The oven is kept low so the cookies lose moisture without taking on a dark baked color. If they begin to brown, briefly release some heat. Cool the cookies completely on the tray and test that the exterior breaks crisply under light pressure. Transfer them directly to an airtight container once cool, since exposure to humidity can soften the shells and make the surfaces sticky.

Ingredients

servings
IngredientAmountUnit
sugar140 ggShop
lemon juice1 tsptspShop
salt1 tsptspShop
Shop All Ingredients

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Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps
  1. 1
    Season

    Place 3 egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp lemon juice.

    Whip on medium speed until the foam turns fine and even, because any grease can stop the meringue from rising properly.

  2. 2
    Season

    Add the 140 g sugar in 4 or 5 small additions while continuing to whip.

    Stop only when the sugar grains are no longer visible, the meringue looks glossy, and the peaks stand firm without bending over.

  3. 3
    Prep

    Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and fold gently so the foam does not collapse.

    For a cocoa version, mix 8 g cocoa powder into part of the meringue just until the color is even, without overmixing.

  4. 4
    Heat

    Line a tray and transfer the meringue to a piping bag, then pipe small portions.

    Keep the pieces similar in size so they dry evenly at 100C and do not leave some centers soft while others overbake.

  5. 5
    Heat

    Bake at 100C for 70 minutes, treating the oven like a dryer rather than a hot bake.

    If the cookies start taking on too much color, briefly open the door to release heat and keep the shells pale.

  6. 6
    Heat

    After baking, let the cookies cool completely on the tray.

    When the outside breaks crisply under light pressure, move them straight to an airtight container so humidity does not make them sticky and dull their snap.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique
Sugar added in several portions builds a glossy meringue with firm peaks
Finish cue
Keep the pieces similar in size so they dry evenly at 100C and do not leave some centers soft while others overbake.
Storage and reheating
After baking, let the cookies cool completely on the tray.

Cooking decision evidence

Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.

This recipe

90min, 6 ingredients

Category median

55min, 8 ingredients

Based on 248 recipes

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Tips

Any grease in the bowl can prevent proper meringue volume.

Estimated nutrition (per serving)

Calories
145
kcal
Protein
2
g
Carbs
34
g
Fat
0
g