Meringue Cookies

More recipes from the cookie exchange. Lots of folks are changing their eating habits in this new year. Meringue cookies are almost zero fat so you may want to consider these recipes if you are cutting fat intake. Here are three variations of wonderful meringue cookies.

Forgotten Cookies (shared by Margaret Durham)
3 egg whites at room temp.
3/4 c. sugar
1/8 t. cream of tartar
6 oz. minature chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat egg whites until frothy, slowly add sugar mixed with cream of tartar beating until very stiff.
Mix in chips and drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Turn oven off and put in cookies, leave at least 3 hrs. or overnight. Makes 3-4 dozen.
May substitute coconut, finely chopped pecans or well drained Maraschino cherries.

Chocolate Pecan Meringues (shared by Beth Ausbrooks)
4 egg whites at room temp.
1/4 t. cream of tartar
1/4 t. vanilla
1 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1/3 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 c. finely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Beat first 3 ingredients at high speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar and salt, beating until very stiff. Gently fold in chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls 1" apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 225 degrees for one hour placing one pan on middle rack and one on lower rack. Switch pans and bake another 45 min. until cookies are dry but not brown. Cool completely and store in air tight containers up to one week. 3-4 doz.

Surprise Meringues (shared by Shannon Vickers)
3 egg whites
1/8 t. cream of tartar
3/4 c. sugar
1/8 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar with salt and vanilla beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved, about 5-8 minutes. Fold in chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on sheets and store in an airtight container. Yield: 4 doz.