6 large egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring gel
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Preheat oven to 200°. Let egg whites stand 20 minutes. Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer, using whisk attachment, until stiff peaks form. Reduce speed to medium. Add vinegar; add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, and beat until blended. Beat 2 minutes. Beat in extract.
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Paint 3 or 4 evenly spaced thin stripes of red food coloring gel on inside of a decorating bag, starting at tip and ending three-fourths of the way up bag. Gently spoon meringue into center of bag, filling three-fourths full. Snip end of bag. Pipe about 2 Tbsp. meringue onto 1 parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between each cookie. Repeat with remaining meringue, using a clean bag for each batch.
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Bake at 200° for 2 hours. Turn off oven, and let meringues stand in oven until completely cool (about 3 hours).
Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Meringues: Prepare recipe as directed. Melt 2 cups milk chocolate morsels in microwave according to package directions. Stir until smooth. Dip bottom of each cooled cookie in melted chocolate, and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let stand 15 minutes or until chocolate sets. Hands-on 40 min.; Total 5 hours, 55 min.
Southern Living
