Valentines Chocolate Chip Merignues

I'm practicing for my kids Valentines parties :)

These 'chewy' cookies are:
Gluten Free/Fat Free
About 35 calories a piece
Totally fun & delicious!
Easy to variate

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

You need:

3 room temperature Egg Whites
1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar
1/2 cup Bakers Sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla (or other extract flavor of your choice)
Red food coloring (gel works best)
1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat the oven to 275 degrees.  Line 2 cookie sheets with parchament paper.

Mix on high speed the egg whites & the cream of tartar until solf peaks form. 

Start adding the sugar a little at a time mixing well in between amounts. 

Add the vanilla and food coloring and keep beating until hard peaks form and the mixture is glossy.

Quickly fold in the chocolate chips and transfer the merignue to a large ziplock bag.

Snip the bottom corner off of the bag leaving at least a 1" opening.

Pipe the merignue on to a cookie sheet in the shape desired (a heart).  Try to keep it as fluffy/thick as possible.

Immediately place in the oven for 35-45 minutes. 
Rotate sheets from top to bottom and front to back after 15 minutes.

Check at around 30 minutes. If the cookies look 'dry', pull them out.  You don't want them to bake to the point of being completely browned.  Store in an airtight container.  After letting 'sit' for a day or two, they will become chewy.


Planning on making Mint 4 Leaf Clover Merignues for St Patty's Day!