Description
Brighten your holiday table with these charming and irresistible Festive Meringue Christmas Trees. Made from simple pantry staples, these light, crisp, and snowy-white meringue treats shaped like Christmas trees add a magical touch to any festive celebration. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they offer a show-stopping presentation, a melt-in-your-mouth airy texture, and can be customized with colors and decorations. Great for bakers of all levels and fun to make with kids, these meringue trees are a delightful seasonal dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Basic Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring (amount as desired)
- Sprinkles and edible decorations (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients and Equipment: Start with room-temperature egg whites to achieve better volume. Preheat your oven to 225°F (110°C). Line baking trays with parchment paper to prevent sticking, and fit a piping bag with a star tip for shaping the meringue trees.
- Beat the Egg Whites: Using a clean mixing bowl and whisk attachment, beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes with a stand or hand mixer.
- Gradually Add Sugar: Add granulated sugar one tablespoon at a time while continuing to beat. Keep mixing until the meringue is glossy, smooth, and holds stiff peaks firmly.
- Add Flavor and Color: Gently fold in vanilla extract and green food coloring to your desired shade, taking care not to deflate the mixture to maintain volume.
- Pipe Your Christmas Trees: Fill the piping bag with meringue mixture. Pipe star-shaped layers in a circular motion, starting with a large base and stacking progressively smaller layers on top to form the tree shape.
- Decorate and Bake: Add edible sprinkles or decorations delicately before placing the trays in the preheated oven. Bake for 1.5 to 2 hours at low temperature, until the meringues dry completely without browning.
- Cool Completely: Turn off the oven and allow the meringue trees to cool inside with the oven door slightly ajar to prevent cracks from sudden temperature changes.
Notes
- Use fresh eggs for better stability and whipping results.
- Egg whites at room temperature whip faster and reach higher volume.
- Add sugar slowly to fully dissolve it and ensure a glossy texture.
- Stop whisking once stiff peaks form to avoid drying or graininess.
- Bake at low temperature to dry meringues thoroughly without browning or cracking.
- Cool meringues gradually with oven door ajar to prevent cracks.
- Store meringue trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
- Freeze in a sealed container for longer storage; thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Reheat briefly in a low oven (about 200°F/90°C) to refresh crunch if necessary; avoid microwaving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meringue tree
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Festive meringue, Christmas trees, holiday dessert, light meringue, gluten free, Christmas baking
