Meringue Christmas Tree Cookies

Meringue Christmas Tree Cookies – A Whimsical Holiday Delight 🍬✨

These Meringue Christmas Tree Cookies are a charming addition to any holiday spread. With their light, crispy texture, and festive shape, they make the perfect treat for the season. Whether you’re looking to impress guests with a delicate edible decoration or create an adorable gift, these meringue trees will bring a touch of holiday magic to your celebrations.

Why You’ll Love These Meringue Christmas Trees

Delicate and Light: Meringues have a crispy exterior and a melt-in-your-mouth interior.
Customizable: You can add various decorations like edible glitter, sprinkles, or tiny candy ornaments.
Perfect for Gifting or Decorating: These whimsical meringue trees are great for holiday gift boxes, or they can be used as beautiful edible centerpieces.

Ingredients

4 large egg whites (room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Green food coloring (optional)
Edible glitter, sprinkles, or stars for decoration
Sugar cookies or biscuit bases (optional, for stability)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meringue:

🌡️ Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
🥄 In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Soft peaks mean the meringue will curl slightly when lifted, but not hold a firm shape.
🍬 Gradually add the sugar one tablespoon at a time, continuing to whisk. Keep whisking until the meringue reaches stiff peaks – this means the peaks should stand tall and firm when you lift the whisk. The meringue should also have a glossy, smooth texture.
🍦 Add the vanilla extract and a few drops of green food coloring (optional). Gently fold them into the meringue until the color is evenly distributed. The green gives these trees their festive hue, but you can skip this step for a more classic look.

2. Pipe the Trees:

🍥 Transfer the meringue into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. This will help you create the beautiful tree shape with textured edges.
🌲 On the prepared baking sheet, pipe tree shapes by creating layers of progressively smaller circles, one on top of the other, to form a conical tree shape. Start with a large circle at the base and work your way up, creating the illusion of a tree. Feel free to get creative with the size and number of layers.

3. Decorate the Trees:

✨ Before baking, sprinkle the meringue trees with edible glitter, sprinkles, or sugar stars to add a touch of festive sparkle.
🍬 For a more detailed look, you can also add tiny candy ornaments or create a small red icing dot for a “star” on top of each tree.

4. Bake the Meringues:

🔥 Bake the meringue trees in the preheated oven for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until the meringues are dry and crisp. They should easily lift off the parchment paper when ready.
🌬️ Once baked, turn off the oven and let the meringues cool inside for at least an hour. This helps prevent cracking due to sudden temperature changes.

5. Optional Assembly:

🍪 If you’re using sugar cookies or biscuit bases for added stability, attach the meringue trees by placing a small dollop of melted white chocolate or royal icing on the base of the meringue and gently pressing it onto the cookie. This adds a fun “tree trunk” and ensures your trees stay upright.