The holiday season can be especially intimidating for those who don't know how to make eye-catching, delicious, and unique desserts. If you don't want to be the person who shows up to a party with a store-bought cookie platter (although there's nothing wrong with that!), this supereasy meringue recipe will save the day. Whether you're a seasoned pro looking for a simple recipe to enjoy or a beginner looking to impress your friends and family, this simple two-ingredient French meringue recipe is an easy crowd-pleaser. And because it's so light, it can be enjoyed all year long and for any occasion (including as a daily snack!). All you need to make these yummy treats are egg whites, sugar, and a hand (or stand) mixer.
French meringues are a small pastry, most commonly made with a sweet, slight vanilla flavor (you may be familiar with French meringues if you've ever had a baked Alaska). My favorite way of making French meringues is keeping them crunchy on the outside with a chewy, marshmallow-like inside. The recipe ahead includes tips on how to achieve this, as well as how to get meringues crunchy all the way through for those that prefer it.
Original Recipe by Marlo Willows
Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Separate egg whites from the yolks and put them in a large glass or metal bowl. Be extra careful when separating, as the yolks will prevent the egg whites from whipping up properly.
With the egg whites in a large bowl, whip them slightly with a whisk or on a low setting on your mixer until foamy. If using cream of tarter, add in now while the egg whites are foamy and continue to whip. This will help stabilize the egg whites, helping them hold their shape better. Substituting cream or tartar for lemon juice, salt, or white vinegar also works. This step is optional and not required for the recipe.
For better-looking meringues, transfer mixture into a piping bag. You can also use a ziplock bag and cut away one corner for better control and more even-looking meringues. Pipe the meringue onto a cooking pan lined with parchment paper.
For meringues that are crunchy on the outside and slightly chewy and on the inside, bake for 30 minutes at 300°F. After baking for 30 minutes, shut off the oven and continue to let the meringues sit in there while the oven slowly cools down. Let the meringues sit for approximately 1.5 hours. For meringues that are crunchy all the way through, bake for 3 hours at 200°F.
Remove meringues from the pan and decorate as desired or leave as is.