Merry Meringue Snowmen

Can you believe we're here, yet again? We're halfway into this month and the holiday season will be here before we know it. Where does the time go? I was trying to remember what I did back in March and April and I drew a complete blank. Did I fall asleep and just wake up?

Father Time? Please slow down. You're making me forget things.

In saying that, the start of Autumn was one that demanded attention and will not soon be forgotten. She was absolutely breathtaking. I can't remember the last time the foliage was so lush with jewel tones and vibrant colours for such an extended period of time.

As we anxiously await the visit of Old Man Winter to whisk her away for the season and leave a dusting of snow flurries in his wake, I can't help but feel warm and fuzzy all over. This time of year is always filled with so much excitement and joy for me; dusting off the cozy sweaters and boots, walking outside to smell the essence of a neighbour's wood burning fireplace crackling away, and of course, my beloved holiday baking extravaganza.

It's one of my favourite ways to show appreciation to those that mean so much to me all year long. This year, these super adorable Merry Meringue Snowmen will no doubt be the talk of our – and your holiday get together. A deliciously light, crisp cookie will be surely bring out the kid in you.

The best part? You can nip on these noses before Jack Frost even has a fighting chance.

Happy Holidays!

Jenny

MERRY MERINGUE SNOWMEN

½ cup Naturegg Simply Egg Whites, well shaken

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

1¼ cups superfine granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

¾ teaspoon peppermint extract, optional

Embellishments: Licorice pieces, gumdrops, sour gummy strips, sprinkles

To make meringues:

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 200°F (100°C). Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy in a non-reactive bowl. Stir the sugar with the cornstarch. Beating constantly, very gradually add the sugar mixture to the egg whites a spoonful at a time until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Piping the Snowmen:

Transfer the egg white mixture to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. For each snowman, pipe three small rounds, side-by-side, each a bit larger than the next (about 1 1/2 inch/4 cm, 1 inch/2.5 cm and 1/2 inch/1 cm respectively). Smooth any peaks with a slightly damp clean fingertip. If there are any uneven areas as your pipe, don’t worry as they will smooth out as they bake.

Decorating the Snowmen

Decorate meringues to look like snowmen using licorice pieces and sprinkles for buttons and faces. Candy will bake into meringue and hold tight. Bake for 2 hours; turn off oven and allow to sit for 1 hour with the door ajar.

Once meringues cool, add further embellishments such as gumdrops for toques and sour gummy strips for scarves, which can be attached with royal icing or sugar cookie frosting. Allow embellishments to completely set before moving.

Tips:

Meringues can be prepared and reserved in an airtight container for one week.

If you do not have a piping bag on hand, you can use a large zip top bag with a hole cut out of one corner.

For more sensational baking ideas including nutritious and tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes visit Burnbrae's Recipe Page here .

Thanks to Our Guest Blogger

Jenny Brunette BakerJenny, a self-confessed sugar addict, is the baker, writer, and photographer behind The Brunette Baker, a blog dedicated to all things sweet. When she’s not baking or blogging, you can usually find her catching up with a good book, eating Mexican food and spending time with her superhero husband and two equally awesome kids.