The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
Few holiday treats feel as magical and whimsical as Christmas Meringue Kisses. Light as air, melt-in-your-mouth sweet, and decorated with swirls of festive color, these delicate cookies bring elegance and fun to every holiday dessert table. Whether you’re preparing Christmas cookie boxes, looking for a stunning edible gift, or need a gluten-free dessert that still wows, these meringue kisses are a perfect choice.
The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make. With just a few pantry staples—egg whites, sugar, and flavoring—you can create bakery-quality meringues that look like tiny Christmas ornaments. Using a simple piping technique, you can swirl red, green, or even peppermint-striped meringues that hold their shape and bake into crisp little bites of holiday cheer.
In this full guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to master meringue kisses: ingredients, step-by-step instructions, coloring methods, tips for achieving glossy stiff peaks, troubleshooting, variations, storage tips, and creative ways to gift or serve them.
Why Christmas Meringue Kisses Are Perfect for the Holidays
1. Just a few simple ingredients
No flour, no butter—just egg whites, sugar, and flavoring.
2. Naturally gluten-free
Perfect for cookie exchanges where guests may have dietary preferences.
3. Long shelf life
They stay crisp for weeks when stored properly.
4. Stunning presentation
Red and green swirls look like peppermint candies, ornaments, or snow-kissed stars.
5. Ideal for gifting
Pack in jars, bags, or boxes—they look like holiday jewels.
Ingredients
For the Meringue Kisses
- 3 large egg whites, room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or peppermint extract)
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
Optional Decorations
- Holiday sprinkles
- Edible glitter
- Crushed peppermint
Instructions
1. Prep the Equipment
Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Ensure your mixing bowl and whisk are completely grease-free—wipe with vinegar if needed.
2. Beat the Egg Whites
In a stand mixer, whip egg whites until foamy.
Add cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
3. Add Sugar Slowly
With the mixer running, add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.
Whip until glossy stiff peaks form—this takes 5–7 minutes.
Beat in the vanilla.
4. Prepare Your Piping Bag
Fit a large piping bag with a star tip.
Using a food-safe brush, paint red stripes inside the piping bag.
Repeat with green stripes on other sections of the bag for multicolor swirls.
5. Pipe the Meringue Kisses
Fill piping bag with the meringue.
Pipe small mounds or star shapes, spacing slightly apart.
Add sprinkles if desired.
6. Bake Low and Slow
Bake for 1 hour.
Turn off the oven and let the kisses cool inside for another hour.
They should be dry, crisp, and not browned.
7. Serve or Store
Once cooled completely, store in airtight containers to prevent softening.
Expert Tips for Perfect Meringue Kisses
Room-temperature egg whites whip better
Cold whites take longer and create less volume.
Add sugar slowly
Prevents graininess and helps fully dissolve sugar crystals.
Use gel food color, not liquid
Liquid dyes cause deflation and thinning.
Don’t open the oven during baking
This can cause cracking or collapsing.
Make them ahead
These keep beautifully for 2–3 weeks.
Flavor Variations
Peppermint Meringue Kisses
Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract.
Vanilla-Lavender Meringues
Add a few drops lavender extract and purple gel coloring.
Chocolate-Dipped Kisses
Dip bottoms in melted dark chocolate after cooling.
Spice-Kissed Holiday Meringues
Add â…› teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg.
Creative Serving Ideas
- Add to hot chocolate or coffee drinks
- Use as cupcake toppers
- Serve on charcuterie-style dessert boards
- Decorate gingerbread houses
- Include in holiday cookie tins
- Crush and use as ice cream topping
They also make ideal hostess gifts packaged in mini jars with a ribbon.
Troubleshooting Guide
Meringues sticky or soft?
Humidity may be high—bake 10–15 minutes longer.
Cracked meringues?
Oven temperature too high or cooled too quickly.
No stiff peaks?
Bowl might have grease—wipe with vinegar next time.
Easy Christmas Meringue Kisses
Crisp, light, and beautifully festive meringue kisses swirled with Christmas colors—perfect for holiday baking and gifting.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C) and line baking sheets with parchment.
- Beat egg whites until foamy, add cream of tartar, and whip to soft peaks.
- Slowly add sugar and whip until glossy stiff peaks form; mix in vanilla.
- Paint red and green stripes inside a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Fill bag with meringue and pipe small kisses onto prepared sheets.
- Bake 1 hour, then cool in oven for an additional hour.
- Store fully cooled meringues in airtight containers.
Notes
For crisp meringues, avoid baking on humid days.
Storage Instructions
- Room Temp: Store in airtight containers for 2–3 weeks.
- Avoid Moisture: Humidity makes them sticky—add a silica gel packet if gifting.
- Freezing: Not recommended; they lose crispness.
