Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies
Meringue Cookies are a breeze to make and these Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies will be a family favorite!
Have you tried macarons? You know…they are ALL the rage. I have and I’m left nonplussed. I thought maybe it was me, you know, a novice at the craft. The French cookie that requires seemingly perfect ingredients, perfect proportions and I’m sure, perfect altitude. I have and none measure up to these meringue favorites; Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies.
I tried, I really did but even if I mastered the first two, the last was never going to be. I live at 5,280 feet and if altitude comes to bear at all, well, I’m in trouble. My first attempt was to make some Chocolate Nutella Macarons and though I got the ‘feet’ that are so important to the perfect end result, my ‘magma’ flow of meringue was apparently not quite right and I ended up with a cute little twirl on top.
My second attempt, Boysenberry Buttercream Macarons had another whole set of issues and I decided this effort which is timely and expensive was just not for me. Enter Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies!
I decided I didn’t have to abandon meringue entirely because I’ve always loved plain and simple meringue cookies. The crunchy exterior belies the billowy soft interior that literally seems to melt in your mouth. I haven’t made meringue cookies in several years and was inspired to do some again by, of all things, a chocolate chip cookie. That’s right!
I saw a friend do a post recently combining chocolate chips in toffee meringue cookies and was reminded of how much I love meringue cookies and maybe just as important…how successful they have always been for me; no stressing and no feet required! Even at a mile high, they’ve never been a problem.
Meringues cookies are so easy to make; it’s no different than the meringue you put on a pie. Making them green was just as easy and the star and the ‘ornaments’ came together quickly; they are simplesome melted white chocolate that I piped and in the case of the star, dusted with gold glitter.
The proof was, as they say, ‘in the pudding’ and they gave that great light taste I love with just a hint of white chocolate; just as elegant to eat as they look on the table. They are surprising addictive and a bonus is that if you have friends or family with gluten intolerance, theee is no flour in sight.
I have to admit I had some fun playing with the finished cookie. I have my own vintage set of holiday houses (well, 30+ years old at least) and I thought it would be fun to use one of my favorites as a prop.
I don’t get the set out every year but now that I did this I wanted more. If you stop by, take a peek; maybe you’ll find a hidden treat! I actually plan to add enough to the setting that my favorite kids can come by and discover a treat among the houses.
Honestly I might say I make these each year because they are so cute in my Christmas Village. And then the Christmas Tree Meringues start to disappear and truth be told I’m the biggest culprit. Oops!
PIN IT! ‘Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies’
Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 large egg whites room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ cup superfine sugar (I just put regular sugar in my processor for a minute to get it finer
- Green food color I used paste but liquid works fine too
- 6 oz white chocolate chips
- Gold edible glitter for decoration mine is from King Arthur
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat the whites until they hold soft peaks.
- Add the sugar, a little at a time, and continue to beat on medium-high speed until the meringue holds very stiff peaks. Beat in the food coloring; the meringue might deflate a bit so just continue beating until the meringue holds stiff peaks again.
- Pipe meringues in a tree shape using a large, serrated piping tip.
- Bake the meringues for 2 hours, rotating the baking sheet from front to back about half way through to ensure even baking. They should not be brown but crisp on the outside. Cool completely.
- Melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler (I actually just put a bowl in a small saucepan). Fit a pastry bag or a ziploc baggie with a small, rounded edge piping cone and fill with melted white chocolate.
- Pipe stars on silpat or parchment paper. Sprinkle with glitter and allow to cool. Peel the stars from the silpat once cool and attach to the trees with a dab of white chocolate.
- Pipe dots of white chocolate directly onto tree in a random pattern.
salve salve…
Tudo bom com você?
Eu tava até agora pesquisando sobre isso! Foi até assim que achei
essa página…
Queria saber:
onde eu encontro sobre esse tema na net?
seja como for, valeu mesmo por todos esses textos que compartilha de graça!
Abração pra ti!
Those are adorable!
lovely…it is something that I can do this coming holiday
Let me know if you make them!
They look exquisite!!
Thanks Ansh and sorry for the late reply…I love replying to comments but my time lately has been eaten up elsewhere it seems! Hope to see you again soon.
I love these – they are so festive looking!
Thanks Jamie…I’m making more…everyone just loved them; sort of had a hard time eating them even!
so pretty….love the way you decorated them with white chocolate
Thank you…it’s not heavy but really does up the flavor a bit too. Next? Meringues with toffee bits…bell shaped maybe? 🙂
Beautiful, Barb!! In my opinion, you don’t need those finicky macarons. 🙂
Perhaps this will be the year I try meringue cookies. Because my macarons don’t turn out quite right, either.
[K]
These are…a piece of cake IMHO. When I’m not doing trees, my favorite is to put some toffee pieces in them. Melty meringue and buttery toffee. Yummalicious!
wow how festive!! love them
So simple but just gorgeous!!!
These are so fun, love them!
Thanks Rachel; they have been a big hit; guess I need to make something else now too. Wreaths I’m thinking?
This would make a beautiful addition to the Christmas table. The meringues look like cute little Christmas trees.
I just added a new photo where I’ve tried using them for trees just for fun in my setup of Christmas houses. Now I have to make a bunch more just for decor!
Wow!! Barb these are downright simple elegance. I’m in love! I can’t quite put my finger on it- maybe because they look a tad vintage- that I just adore them, and am now going to make. Impressive, my friend 😉
Aw thanks sweetie; coming from you? Wow, I feel that is high praise indeed; your are the star of creative cakes and more. They were fun…and the best part? Easy.
These look so beautiful, and so very festive! I love your Christmas decorations as well. Congrats for braving meringue at high altitude– you are a rockstar!
A rockstar or an idiot? I’ve just had to get used to it; some things are fine and when they are not? Punt. I’ve got a fair number of cakes with fruit on top to cover an unexpected depression. 🙂
These are SO CUTE! I love them. Perfect treat for the holidays!
Thanks Chrissy; they’ve been so well received I think I’ve added them to my have to list of Christmas cookies.
Yum Barb! And so freakin cute!
Thanks Heather…I just got another pic I’m adding of them on either side of the house. I’m going to put some in the display; anyone guesses…they get the treat!
I loved these and tried to make them and could not get it thick for peaks to form. My mixture never got any
Thicker. Any idea what I did wrong? Must have it for over 10 min w/no results.
Thanks….. they are adorable, I hope I can figure out what I am doing wrong.
Darlene my first thought was that you got a speck of yolk in with the egg whites…just one little tiny bit and they will not whip into meringue no matter how long you beat it. I typically leave my eggs out for a bit before whipping them out of habit, if you try it again, try having your whites at room temp. It’s recommended for any meringue that you use a glass or metal bowl to beat them as plastic could hold some oil…any oil residue or speck of yolk spells doomed meringue. Hope that helps; I’ve never had them not whip up but I’ve heard all of those things can contribute to them failing.
these are sooooooo cute Barb – just adorable!
Since i’ve started reading your culinary blog i terrorized my girlfriend everyday to cook me what i see here. 🙂
These are so flippin’ awesome!!!! You rock my friend. I need Christmas tree meringues in my life. My girls are going to love these!
What goes around does come around and in good ways too right? You were a part of the inspiration so glad to give some back!
These could not be any prettier. I love the shade of green you did and those tiny glittering stars are the perfect tree topper. I noticed your little Christmas house over to the right of the photo, love those!
I’ve never been brave enough to attempt macarons and do admire those that do. I checked on your links (the second one does not work) but the Chocolate Nutella ones you made certainly look pretty good to me, especially given that they were your first attempt. I tend to think that if you did not have the altitude issues to contend with that you would be producing macarons that everyone, including the French couldn’t help but admire.
Oops, I’ll check that link but I really hate the boysenberry ones! Ah…lets those that love them aspire to make them…the day I taste one I love I might change my tune but so far none have done it for me to make it worth another attempt. In my mind Paula, they simply are not all they’re ‘cracked’ up to be!
These were more fun and if they get your seal of approval? Well, that’s all I need my friend!
Those are adorable Barb!! I love that they’re little Christmas trees 😀 Making Meringue Cookies during the holidays is one of my fav’s 😀
Then you MUST do these I think Shari…really so easy. I’ve done them without ornamentation even and they’re still cute.
I do not like macaroons but I love Child’s bakery macaroons. I’m glad their South location closed, I was sneaking in to buy them way too many times. I must admit, I’ve never met a meringue cookie that I like. However, these look so pretty Barb. As always, beautiful photos. See you Saturday.
If you’re talking macaroons like in the coconut cookie…the best I’ve ever had were at Nordstrom’s Cafe. Of course now that I want one, they no longer make them. HUGE beautiful cookies. Well, more a small cake. See you Saturday, looking forward to it!
These do look wonderfully elegant. I can’t think of a more perfect holiday cookie.
And, you know what, I’m still not sure how I feel about macarons. I have had a few that are excellent, and some that aren’t. I just need to try my own.
I do think I’ve tried enough to know…they just don’t do it for me like they do some folks. I think the Hermes connection to Paris matters to some. To me? I could care less; I don’t try to make ‘cool’ cookies; I try to make cookies people will love. 🙂
These look adorable, Barb! And I love the backdrop and the figurines – the whole scene has a very nice, mellow, but festive feel.
I have to admit that I have never tasted macarons in my life and I don’t intend to make them until the craze is over (I always refused to do trendy things, and as I never was the first, I came on the heels of many events, but with no regrets:)
Meringues are simple, but satisfying. I have never made them with chocolate chips, but that can only make them better:)
Do you still have all your houses? Are they going to go with your daughters once they are ready?
Shh…I tried them because Jamie is my friend, but like you…I tend to buck a trend before I will follow one; preferring to dance to my own drummer I guess huh?
I have all the houses but they will not be going anywhere until my children have a greater respect for tradition; right now, they don’t and the houses are too special to not be appreciated even if they are a lot of work to get displayed. So there. 🙂
I hear you about the macarons – so much trouble and time and expense and then what? A puddle on the cookie sheet. I’ll stick to meringues any day. Usually make wreath shaped ones at Christmas, but love the tree idea. Just may have to try that myself.
LOVE these…
I can’t wait to try them.
We have a Christmas breakfast every year, with 8 of my friends.
I’m making my centerpiece with a train and Christmas village houses, this year. I Ithink this will be a great addition to the scene. .
Thanks for all of the great ideas
I have a Christmas Village I put together too; takes up a whole table; some of the pieces are in that post. The neighbor kids know I’ll put some edible treats in it for them so I hear you; these are perfect!
I love pavlova and that’s where it ends for me and egg whites. I know I must be the only food blogger in the world that does not like macarons. I tried and they are too sweet for me. But they are cute and your little tree cookies are adorable. I like that they had an inspiration.
These little Christmas tree meringues are lovely! So festive, & I love how elegant they look!
gorgeous post!
Cute!
I love eating meringue cookies but I’ve never been brave enough to make them. I remember my grandmother making them at Christmas, though, so this would be the time of year to try!
Your trees are such a beautiful shade of green and look perfect with your little Christmas house.
They are actually so easy…it’s just meringue; and often just dolloped on a cookie sheet and baked. No big secret or tips for success…you really should try them.
How beautiful are these cookies, Barbara? I love meringues, and these are just over-the-top pretty. Love love love.
Thanks Sabrina; your sweet words are so appreciated. Wish I could share.
Perfect meringues. They’re so cute and festive, and you’re so creative! Being a salt vs. sweet, I’m not crazy for macarons and will never attempt to make my own, although I admire those who work so diligently to master them 🙂
Thanks Priscilla…I love them all but I love these for their texture and they are so light. That I still have twelve left is a miracle. in itself.
Completely charming Barb and so festive! I think it’s kismit we are both at altitude and both picked a meringue cookie for the swap! How random is that? I think if making these little trees does not put one in the holiday spirit there is no holiday spirit to be had. Darling.
I know! I have often made your Forgotten cookies for holiday gift baskets but this did give me a chance for some ‘decorating’ and it was a fun few moment in this very crazy season that I did enjoy.
These are lovely! I so far haven’t managed to achieve low carb meringues but I am working on it and when I do, I will make these!
Wondering now how you would do that since sugar is a big part of them. Please let me know when you do…would be great to note on the post.
These are the cutest meringue cookies I have ever seen! never would have thought to pipe them like that. They are some of the most adorable Christmas cookies ever. Gorgeous work!
Thanks Mary, so appreciate the sweet compliments.
These are GORGEOUS!!! What a great idea! I do make macarons (I fought and fought and interviewed a macaron cookbook author, took a class, reviewed three cafes in NYC, I was NOT to be defeated but DARN it cost me a lot in failures. And I think on top of the perfect altitude you have to have a little French attitude in making them behave… anyway…) but LOVE THESE SO MUCH MORE! And what a fun treat for kiddies. Going to make these for my cousins’ kids for Christmas eve. Great swap!
I’m usually pretty stubborn and determined too but if I’m honest? I had some recently that were excellent at a very fancy hotel restaurant and I realized one very evident truth. Just didn’t love them enough to want to make another attempt! It wasn’t just me? Whew.
Why bother any more with macarons when your meringues turn out perfectly:) I love these precious little meringue trees. They are just beautiful and the color is so pretty. I would love to see your vintage houses. 🙂
If I get them out (and am now more inspired) I will take a photo just for you, how’s that?
I’m not much of a regular cookie maker, but I do make meringues fairly often. And, honestly, these are some of the most gorgeous meringue cookies I’ve ever seen. Just beautiful and perfect for the season.
Lana, thank you…such a sweet compliment; it means a lot to me.
Those look so pretty! I’ll bet they just melt in your mouth!
I love meringues, and those are just perfect! One of my students made the exact same thing last year and some little snowmen too!
No snowmen here…this was enough, thank you very much! Besides I have all these cute porcelain figures, they would be uber jealous.
These meringue Christmas trees are just so beautiful. I absolutely love them and I’m sure they would make any Christmas table merry and bright. Fantastic post!
Thanks Kate…expect you to whipping up a couple of batches of these stat, here me? 🙂
Oh my goodness these are so pretty. I have a meringue cookie saved to try for Christmas, they just look so yummy. Think I shall make your version instead. So cute and festive. Would make a lovely display on any table. I could see my kids and their cousins gobbling them right up.
I ‘almost’ included some toffee bits in them but worried I wouldn’t get them to swirl right or the bumps would not look great, but I’m trying it here, without photos because they are great with toffee too.
These are so pretty and very festive! They make me happy 🙂
If you are happy, then I am too…mission accomplished!
They are so cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks a bunch Rosa; always good to see your face here!
Everyone’s take on the Swap is absolutely brilliant! These meringue trees are so perfect for this holiday season- great work as always, Barb! Thanks for sharing and giving us so much inspiration with each post!
Isn’t it fun to see what everyone does? Really does urge us to be creative in our own way.
Barb, these are soooo pretty! I love the Christmassy look. Beautiful! And my family just announced they were sick and tired of macarons but I know they won’t eat meringues so what’s a girl to do? I still think they (yours) make beautiful little holiday treats!
You will have to resort to plain old chocolate chip…you should try the Brown Butter Molasses Chocolate Chip; they are TO DIE FOR.
creative culinary is the perfect description for your blog! this is CREATIVE! I am so impressed and these cookies look amazing!
Thanks Alex, what a sweet compliment, very much appreciated.
Those trees look great, much better than macrons! What a great spin on the swap.
Thanks so much; I’ve actually nestled a couple into my house landscape I put up each year1
Barbara, these are so adorable and perfect for Christmas! I love them! They are not only a dessert but a decoration as well. I will be making these to take as a holiday hostess gift. Thanks 🙂
These are cute, elegant, edgy, retro and modern looking all at once, you’ve hit a home run Barb! I absolutely adore your merigues. And I learned something new too…. have to admit I had to Google cream of tartar 🙂 It will be a few few weeks until I will have time to try these needing two weeks in the oven (busy weekends ahead with various holiday commitments) but before Christmas i WILL try these. Yum!
These are beautiful Barb! I love your honesty too…I have never tried to make a french mac before, and your notes make me not want to at all!!! The photos are gorgeous as usual, love your Christmas houses…so festive you are!
These are beautiful!
Barb,
Hah!!! Just another reason why we get along – I love meringue cookies too!! These little trees are adorable – I’ve never worked with the edible giltter before and I may just have to make these so I can try it!! Love the vintage houses too – I have a Dickens village that I put up every year – thought about skipping it one year and did not hear the end of it from my boys… so, up it went again this year!!
Barb, your meringues are gorgeous! I’m going to have to try my hand at them as well. I too haven’t made them for a few years now.
Deb
Really so easy…the hardest part is the two hour wait for the cookies to bake.
I love these beautiful little bite sized Christmas trees. I’ve never attempted macarons because frankly they terrify me! I’d love to try making these .
These are so easy really. If you’ve ever done meringue at all…it’s the same stuff just in a shape and not on top of a pie. I say go for it!
What a brilliant idea with the white chocolate stars. I would have never thought of this idea for making little candy treats…thank you for the inspiration 🙂 I love the tree idea too with the cookie…an open canvas for decorating!
Exactly…I wanted mine to look like MY trees but that decorating is an open to interpretation as all of our trees must surely be.
I hate to hear that your macaron attempts weren’t successful as I plan to give them a try soon. I figure that I just might get lucky and have a good batch to satisfy my craving. Everytime I breeze past my Omni photos those macarons call out to me. I am so glad to know that if I fail I have your gorgeous little tried and true recipe to try.
The truth is, the Omni experience actually sealed the deal. While tasty, I know how much trial goes into them and still not sure they are tasty enough for me to deal with the exasperation and worry about ‘feet’ – I’ll stick with the meringues!
Holy cuteness!! I want these. Barb, thanks as always for sharing your creativity and whimsy with us, and especially for participating in the swap. I love how broadly we have each interpreted the recipe this time… it’s why I love doing this.
I could not ask for a great compliment Christianna than ‘Holy Cuteness’ – thank you for that and the chuckle out loud! I love seeing what each person does too; it’s like opening a present going to each post.