12.03.2010

Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies, Week 10: Peppermint Meringue Cups


Did you happen to see these on the last page of Martha Stewart's Living December issue? That magazine always has a fun holiday recipe like this...last year I made those white chocolate covered mint cookies. This year, these adorable peppermint cups. Let me be honest here: I'm not the least bit adept with a pastry bag so really wasn't certain I could manage these little melt-in-your-mouth gems. And when I referred back to the photo in the magazine, I noticed theirs were less red than mine. So if you're going to try them, don't paint your red line in the pastry bag as thickly as I did. Unless you like them with as much red as this.

All in all, these were wonderful. The peppermint taste is just right, the ganache perfect and they are the perfect holiday treat to pop in your mouth. Such fun!

Mini Peppermint-Meringue Cups with Ganache
From Martha Stewart Living Magazine, December 2010



Ingredients:
vegetable oil cooking spray
3 large egg whites, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
red gel-paste food coloring
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
garnish: 1 candy cane, crushed

Method:
Preheat oven to 175° . (Mine registers no lower than 200°, but it worked fine.)Trace 16 circles onto each of 2 pieces of parchment paper, using a 1 and 3/4 inch round cookie cutter, spacing about 2 inches apart. Coat 2 baking pans with the cooking spray and top each with the parchment paper, traced side down.

Heat the egg whites and the sugar in a mixer bowl over simmering water until sugar dissolves and the mixture is warm to the touch, about 3 minutes.
Transfer bowl to mixer and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint extract.

Using a small food-safe paint brush, paint three stripes of the red food coloring on the inside of a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4 inch plain round tip.

Transfer the meringue to the pastry bag and pipe coils to fill the traced circle. The pipe in the sides to create a 3/4 to 1 inch cup.

Bake until meringue cups are crisp but not browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and cool.

Put the chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream to a simmer and add to the chocolate. Allow to stand for a couple minutes, then stir to dissolve the chocolate. Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap, cut a small slit in the top and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour to one hour and 15 minutes. (I got side-tracked and left mine too long, but microwaved it until it softened enough to put in the pastry bag.

Stir the ganache, fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4 inch open star tip. Pipe ganache into the meringue cups. Garnish with the crushed peppermint stick.
Makes 32.

64 comments:

  1. Barb, this is so clever. At first I thought you twisted a candy cane somehow, then I read the ingredients...

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  2. I was just taking a break from making italian meringue... and felt very pleased with myself making pasta with the left-over yolks. These look just adorable... and I like the thick swirls, Barbara. They look powerful minty good to me. I have a few cookies on my Xmas baking list now...isn't Martha the best for this kind of thing???

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  3. Ooooh...yes please! These look delightful.

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  4. They turned out beautifully Barbara. I'm not good with the pastry bag. You did a great job.
    Sam

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  5. Barbara, they look wonderful! Love mint and meringues so I will be giving these a try as soon as I can manuever a pastry bag again!

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  6. I love the peppermint swirls and how festive these look. You can't get better a better combination than chocolate and mint for Christmas. I need to take Pastry Bag 101!

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  7. I love festive cookies like these. They look great! I always plan to attempt a lot more cookies than I really have time for, but I'm looking forward to baking as many as I can.

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  8. Oh, they are so pretty and festive! What a great idea.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  9. Darling, Barbara!! These have to be my favorite cookies of yours yet. :-) SO cute!!

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  10. those look fantastic, how clever to paint the red in the bag that way~

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  11. Yours came out amazing! I saw them in the magazine and was tempted to try but they'd never look as nice as yours! Love the chocolate with mint!

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  12. wow these look like so much fun :-0

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  13. What a fun little cookie. You did a great job on the meringue cup, they look so festive.
    Mimi

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  14. Oh yum Barbara, these look delicious and would be so lovely for Christmas.
    Thanks for sharing this recipe and would like to try these.
    I am not good with a piping bag.

    Happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  15. Why are they red? Should they not be green, like peppermint? Anyhow, I'm intensely suspicious of anything that has red food coloring in it. But I love anything meringue!

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  16. Wow, beautifully done daaaaahling, they really capture the spirit of the season. Martha always knows a "good thing" and this is no exception.
    *kisses* HH

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  17. To me Barbara these little treats look very elegant and scrumptious.

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  18. Hey Barbara, I like the red in these meringues-it's so pretty and festive. They do sound delicious too, but I have a feeling I would botch these. I bet mine would just look pink and not striped (smile). I'm going to bookmark it anyway, as the recipe is simple and I promised myself I would enjoy more Holiday cookies this year:)
    p.s. Yes, it is nice to have some cool weather! I was wondering if it was even going to happen...

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  19. Beautiful! these look great! I love meringues.

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  20. Wow Barbara, these look wonderful - so festive. Lucie x

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  21. Very beautiful meringues. Love the swirl. They look like little flowers!

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  22. I might have to try those... because they're peppermint and so very cute!

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  23. Wow, these are very festive cookies Barbara.

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  24. for someone who's not too good with a pastry bag, you did a brilliant job Barbara. This look adorable and so delicious. I love anything with mint and actually like the red of your cookies.

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  25. Oooh--these sound like such a yummy treat. I've been longing to make some peppermint cookies / candies for a couple weeks now and just might get to it tomorrow after seeing your post!

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  26. put down the idiot books and come share some of your fun holiday books next saturday!

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  27. These are TOO adorable. I love them. Mom always made meringue cookies every year at Christmas flavoured with peppermint. They were green and she would sometimes add chocolate chips. We loved them either way. That was years ago... and these are BRILLIANT, Barbara! My students would love to make them. I do a peppermint swirl cupcake with them, and these would be such a great learning experience and so much fun... for me, too!
    Big hug! BIGGGG hug,
    :)
    Valerie

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  28. one of my favorite things about this time of year are all of the peppermint/chocolate combos coming out! these look awesome!

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  29. U know i have received the green bakery book and am excited but then i think u who chooses the best cookie recipes every where and now i want this book/mag!
    U have the prettiest cookie here and am in awe how splendidly u pulled this one!
    Love that orange Ice cream too!
    holidays are here!
    And boy u sure do have a very beautiful kitchen , now i can picture u there baking up all these delicious goodies galore!
    Also want to thankk u for all ur love filled thoughts and support , truly appreciate it , way way muc!!
    Thannxx a ton and always happy to have u around !
    Huggies for a fantastic weekend!

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  30. I bet the meringue with the ganache is a real taste treat! They look so pretty and festive!

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  31. These look so pretty and I'm sure taste delicious!

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  32. i like very much the presentation of your meringue !!bravo Pierre

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  33. OOooh I love them Barbara! They look so much with twisted candy canes! :D

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  34. Those are the prettiest peppermint cookies I've seen. Just lovely!

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  35. They looks and sound delicious! Very festive and a perfect treat!

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  36. Oh dear, I am going to be so fat by the time this is over!!!!! THOSE LOOK SO FABULOUS BARBARA! WOW, did you also see Deana's pie over at LostPastRemembered? I better run away!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND VISITS DEAR FRIEND! HAPPY WEEK and isn't this just precious that we can visit each other and bring joy to one another?

    MUCH LOVE, Anita

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  37. These are so pretty and one cant help but be awed by the artistry on display; I guess that is why Martha Stewart became a household name: her creations are exquisite and may I say you did the execution masterfully!

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  38. Wow. The peppermint and chocolate combo is heavenly delish. I am definately putting this on my list of holiday treats. Thanks for sharing.

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  39. Very cute and oh-so-festive, these would be a welcome addition to our holiday "petite dessert" platter.
    Thanks, Barbara!

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  40. These cookies look amazing. Wonderful for the Christmas cookie tray! Ps. I adore your kitchen. I'm green with envy that you have such a great little bookshelf. The morels are fabulous!

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  41. These are entirely too perfect and demand to be made. I love that first photograph. Have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary

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  42. Oh, these are lovely, Barbara! I bet they'd be amazing with a nice hot cup of peppermint tea...mmm... ;)

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  43. fun, festive, pretty, and delicious--these are absolutely full of win. excellent execution, barbara!

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  44. Cute! They're the perfect size, and a great way to use peppermint.

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  45. Oh my!.not only does those cookies look amazing but the recipe sounds super delicious!

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  46. These look fantastic! Peppermint is really one of my favorite Christmas flavors.

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  47. Barbara, me thinks you are trying to ruin my figure this season???? I don't think I could resist eating the entire pan of these. But, they are almost too pretty to eat, don't you think?
    have a great week!
    hugs

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  48. i'm not the least bit adept w/a pastry bag either which is why i wasn't sure i wanted to attempt them either. but you've done a fantastic job Barbara - i'd say you're rather fearless!

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  49. These mini meringues are so beautiful. They Look like candy cane swirls! Brilliant idea, Barbara.

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  50. Wow, those are beautiful little creations! I have absolutely no talent with a pastry bag but you have inspired me to try these - thanks!

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  51. Wow, these are so pretty! The bright red really makes it look like peppermint candy. Oh my gosh, I can almost taste it in my mouth!

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  52. How pretty these are! These treats are as festive as festive gets. ;)

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  53. I love the color of your meringues. I would definitely enjoy eating these little bites. By the way, I'm holding a giveaway on my blog for Orglamix Organic makeup and you're welcome to come by and enter. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2010/12/orglamix-organic-mineral-makeup-review.html

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  54. They are SO cute and very festive. Like a grown up version of candy canes. Love it, and I think the red is just right.

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  55. Gorgeous. And gluten free! Thanks!

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  56. Peppermint meringue sounds like childhood for me!
    For me isn't Xmas if don't have it!

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  57. So pretty and beautifully festive!

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  58. These meringues are so cute and festive, with their red and white stripes. :)

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  59. Most beautiful meringue I have seen! Such wonderful play of colors, Barbara!

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  60. The red is perfect Barbara!

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  61. I just had to try these, but have never made a meringue before. I beat my egg whites and sugar for about 10 minutes, but they never formed stiff peaks. Any idea what I did wrong?

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  62. Oh! Stripes on the piping bag! How very clever.

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