Feathersweet Fancies; Peppermint Meringues

Here’s a great simple sweet treat to make over break!  Nothing says the winter holidays quite like peppermint!

You will need!

Ingredients

• 3 large large egg whites
• 3/4 cu sugar
• 1 drop peppermint concentrate , or 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
• Red gel-paste food coloring

Equipment needed

• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Bowls
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Pastry/icing bag with a star tip
• Mixer 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Fit a pastry bag with a small open-star tip (such as Wilton M1). Set this all aside.
2. Place egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer.
3. Set a bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir gently until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
5. Mix in the peppermint concentrate.
6. Using a new small paintbrush, paint 2 or 3 stripes of red food coloring inside the pastry bag. If you just want white meringues you can skip this
7. Fill the bag with 1 to 2 cups of meringue.
8. Pipe small star shapes onto prepared baking sheets.
9. Refill the bag as necessary, adding food coloring each time.
10. Bake cookies until crisp but not brown, about 1 hour 40 minutes.
11. Shut the oven off and leave in the oven for 30 minutes.
12. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks then place in a sealed container.