Christmas Tree & Wreath Meringue Cookies Recipe

The Magical Christmas Tree & Wreath Meringue Cookies Recipe

Sweet memories bloom when these delightful christmas tree & wreath meringue cookies dance onto your holiday table.

Seasonal magic sparkles through delicate swirls of green and red icing.

Crisp edges and soft centers create a festive texture that melts instantly.

Whimsical decorations transform simple meringues into charming edible ornaments.

Pastry enthusiasts can craft these elegant treats with minimal ingredients and maximum joy.

Lightweight and airy, these cookies promise to become a cherished tradition.

Bake these delicate delights and watch smiles spread across eager faces.

Meringues That Look Like Decorations, Taste Like Fun

  • Craft Holiday Magic: Transform simple meringue into adorable Christmas tree and wreath shapes that bring festive cheer to your dessert table.
  • Beginner-Friendly Baking: Easy technique lets even novice bakers create stunning, professional-looking cookies with minimal kitchen skills required.
  • Low-Maintenance Treat: Minimal ingredients and a hands-off baking method make these cookies perfect for busy holiday preparations, requiring just basic whisking and piping.
  • Customize with Creativity: Flexible recipe allows personalization through different food coloring, sprinkles, and decorative touches, making each batch unique and special.

Lemon Drops Homemade Candy Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweet base that creates meringue's structure.
  • Cream of Tartar: Stabilizes egg whites for perfect peaks.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Egg Whites: Light and airy foundation of the meringue cookie.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic flavor.
Decorative Ingredients:
  • Gel Food Coloring, Sprinkles, Edible Glitter: Festive colors and sparkly Christmas decorations.

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Warm your oven to a low 200°F. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cookie removal.

Step 2: Whip Egg Whites

Use an electric mixer to beat egg whites on medium speed. Add cream of tartar to stabilize the mixture. Continue beating until soft, billowy peaks form that gently curl when the whisk is lifted.

Step 3: Build Meringue Structure

Gradually sprinkle sugar into the egg whites, one tablespoon at a time. Increase mixer speed to high and continue whipping. Watch for stiff, glossy peaks that stand tall and maintain their shape when the whisk is turned upside down.

Step 4: Enhance Flavor

Gently fold vanilla extract into the meringue, ensuring even distribution without deflating the delicate mixture.

Step 5: Add Festive Colors

Separate meringue into multiple small bowls. Use gel food coloring to create vibrant holiday shades like:
  • Green for trees
  • Red for holiday accents
  • White for classic look

Carefully mix colors without losing air from the meringue.

Step 6: Shape Holiday Treats

Fill piping bags fitted with star tips. Create:
  • Triangular Christmas tree shapes
  • Circular wreath designs

Pipe carefully onto prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.

Step 7: Slow Bake Meringues

Place sheets in preheated oven. Bake for 1½–2 hours until cookies become crisp and dry. Turn off oven and let cookies cool completely inside, allowing them to set perfectly.

Step 8: Decorate Festive Cookies

Once cooled, embellish meringues with:
  • Sparkling edible glitter
  • Colorful holiday sprinkles
  • Delicate sugar decorations

Sweet Touches for Perfect Tree & Wreath Meringues

  • Stabilize Egg Whites: Add cream of tartar to help egg whites maintain volume and create more stable, glossy peaks during whipping.
  • Control Sugar Incorporation: Add sugar gradually and slowly to ensure smooth integration and prevent grainy texture in meringue.
  • Master Piping Technique: Use steady, consistent pressure when piping to create uniform Christmas tree and wreath shapes with clean edges.
  • Achieve Perfect Crispness: Bake at low temperature and allow cookies to cool completely inside the oven to develop crisp, delicate texture.
  • Decorate Creatively: Use festive sprinkles and edible glitter to enhance visual appeal and add sparkle to holiday meringue cookies.

Keep Tree And Wreath Meringue Cookies Fresh

  • Place cooled meringue cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week to maintain crispness and prevent moisture absorption.
  • Carefully arrange cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper separating layers. Seal tightly and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
  • Keep in a completely dry, sealed container away from humidity. Place silica gel packets inside to absorb excess moisture. Consume within 3-4 days for best texture and flavor.
  • If cookies become slightly soft, briefly place them in a preheated 200°F oven for 10-15 minutes to restore crispness. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Enjoy With Christmas Tree & Wreath Meringue Cookies

  • Pair Sweet Cocoa Mocha: Rich, velvety hot chocolate complements the delicate meringue texture, enhancing the festive cookie's light sweetness.
  • Create Holiday Wine Harmony: Sparkling moscato or sweet dessert wine matches the meringue's sugary profile, creating a delightful Christmas celebration drink.
  • Design Peppermint Contrast: Cool, refreshing peppermint tea balances the sugary meringue, providing a crisp counterpoint to the delicate cookie's sweetness.
  • Craft Champagne Elegance: Dry, bubbly champagne cuts through the meringue's sugar, offering a sophisticated and celebratory beverage pairing.

Homemade Lemon Drop Sweet Twists

  • Gluten-Free Holiday Delight: Replace traditional piping techniques with almond flour-based meringue for a celiac-friendly option.
  • Vegan Festive Treat: Substitute egg whites with aquafaba (chickpea liquid) and use plant-based sugar to create cruelty-free Christmas-themed meringues.
  • Low-Sugar Winter Wonder: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia instead of regular sugar for a diabetic-friendly and reduced-calorie version.
  • Flavor Infusion Edition: Experiment with different extracts like peppermint, almond, or orange to create unique holiday flavor profiles while maintaining the classic meringue texture.

FAQs

  • What are meringue cookies?

Meringue cookies are light, airy sweet treats made from whipped egg whites and sugar, baked at a low temperature until crisp and delicate.

  • How do I get perfect meringue peaks?

Use room temperature egg whites, beat them gradually, and add sugar slowly while mixing on high speed to create stiff, glossy peaks that hold their shape.

  • Why use cream of tartar in meringue?

Cream of tartar helps stabilize egg whites, creates smoother texture, and ensures more consistent volume when whipping meringue.

  • Can I make meringue ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare meringue mixture and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before piping and baking, ensuring it stays fresh and maintains its structure.

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Christmas Tree & Wreath Meringue Cookies Recipe

Christmas Tree & Wreath Meringue Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Festive Christmas tree & wreath meringue cookies bring holiday cheer to sweet celebrations. Light and airy swirls of green and red create delightful seasonal treats you’ll love sharing with family and friends.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 4 large egg whites
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Decorative Elements:

  • Gel food coloring (green, red, or white)
  • Assorted sprinkles (red, green, silver, gold stars)

Instructions

  1. Whip egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean, dry mixing bowl until foamy and soft peaks emerge, creating a light, airy base for the delicate holiday treats.
  2. Gradually incorporate sugar, one tablespoon at a time, while beating at high speed to ensure smooth, glossy meringue with stiff, elegant peaks that hold their shape perfectly.
  3. Gently fold in vanilla extract, blending carefully to maintain the meringue’s delicate structure and enhance the subtle flavor profile.
  4. Divide the pristine white meringue into separate bowls, applying gel food coloring to create festive green and white hues reminiscent of Christmas trees and winter landscapes.
  5. Carefully transfer tinted meringue into piping bags fitted with decorative star tips, preparing to craft intricate tree and wreath designs.
  6. Pipe delicate tree shapes and circular wreaths onto parchment-lined baking sheets, using gentle, consistent pressure to create precise, elegant holiday-themed cookies.
  7. Position the baking sheets in a low-temperature oven, allowing the meringues to dry and crisp slowly for 1½–2 hours, creating a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  8. Once baking is complete, turn off the oven and allow cookies to cool completely inside, ensuring a crisp, delicate finish.
  9. Add festive flair by adorning the cooled meringues with sparkling sprinkles and edible glitter, transforming them into whimsical holiday decorations.

Notes

  • Make sure egg whites are at room temperature for maximum volume and stability.
  • Use a clean, grease-free bowl to ensure egg whites whip properly without deflating.
  • Avoid adding sugar too quickly, which can cause grainy or weepy meringues that won’t hold their shape.
  • Store these delicate cookies in an airtight container away from humidity to maintain their crisp texture.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 47
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Marcus Hale

Marcus Hale

Founder & Recipe Storyteller

Expertise

  • Demystifying knife work, sauce emulsification, and pastry basics.
  • Curating seasonal guides that adapt global recipes to local, in-season produce.
  • Crafting blog posts, videos, and social media tips.

Education

Holyoke Community College – HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute

  • Program: Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Hands-on global cuisine training emphasizes sustainable cooking and recipe development under accredited chefs.

Marcus grew up surrounded by maple trees, farm stands, and the smell of Sunday stew simmering on the stove. After earning his Culinary Arts Certificate from the HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute, he knew he didn’t want to work in fancy kitchens, he wanted to cook for real people.

At Whip Up Cook Up, Marcus is the guy turning memories into meals. His recipes are fast, full of flavor, and built for home cooks who want big taste without the drama.

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