Vanilla Bean Meringue Kisses

The next time you find yourself with leftover egg whites, make a batch of Meringue Kisses.  They're completely addictive crispy sweet little pillows of air that melt in your mouth.  Don't say I didn't warn you!  

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I love making anything that requires the use of a pastry bag. Here my pastry bag was fitted with a large round tip. Mmmm…. delicious bite-size mounds of vanilla love! If you want to switch things up a bit….

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Just hold an open star tip over the round tip and continue piping bit-size dollops. Oooooooh.

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Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• disposable pastry bags https://amzn.to/31AGxe8

• large pastry tip set https://amzn.to/2FmlAdN

• stand mixer https://amzn.to/2FajVYy

• half sheet pan https://amzn.to/3r5ws7V

• silpat liner https://amzn.to/2Rlk3cG

• pure vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3HcHs99

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Vanilla Bean Meringue Kisses

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 egg whites, room temperature

• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

• a pinch of fine salt

• 1 cup superfine sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 225F.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla bean paste, and a pinch of salt; use a whisk to mix the ingredients and break up the eggs until they're frothy.

3. Place bowl on stand mixer and use whip attachment to whip egg whites until they reach soft peaks; sprinkle sugar in slowly and continue whipping until the whites are glossy and they reach the stiff peak stage.

4. Place meringue in a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip or large open star tip and pipe kisses on 2 silicone lined sheet pans.

5. Bake meringue kisses at 225F oven for 90 minutes, then turn the oven off and allow meringues to cool completely without opening the door (I often leave them in there overnight). Store in an airtight container. Makes 100 meringue cookies.

Note

• For best results, do not attempt to make meringues during high humidity weather.  

Jello Easter Eggs

My fun little Easter Egg idea has turned into one of my most frequented blog posts through the years so I can't let the Easter season go by without sharing them again. I came up with the idea of making them when my kids were young.  I usually make them at Easter time, but they're fun any time of the year. 

I start with these egg molds.  I got mine at the grocery store about 15 years ago, but you can find them online and occasionally in thrift shops.  I've also seen molds that make egg halves available like this one (or check out the other links I have listed below) - just be sure the mold cavities are 1-2 ounces to make jello eggs that are about the same size as normal eggs.

I fill the molds with the jello jiggler recipe (below), then chill for at least 4 hours.  After unmolding, I cut them in half lengthwise and then I use a melon ball tool to make a little well in each half.  Pop that little bit into your mouth - cook's treat.

Arrange the prepared halves on a deviled egg tray.  Do this before you fill the halves, or you'll have a huge mess on your hands. If you plan to travel with your eggs, you might want to try covered deviled egg trays.

I like to pipe a pretty swirl of the vanilla cream cheese mixture using a pastry bag and "closed" star tip (the closed star makes those deep grooves).

To pipe the filling more than 6 hours ahead of time, add a packet of Whip It to the vanilla filling mixture when you add the heavy cream.  You can skip this step if you like, but I think of it as extra insurance.

Ta-da!  Go make some fun and tasty Jell-o Easter Eggs.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• covered egg trays https://amzn.to/3o01wnK

• PURE vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3j9zPJz

• vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3hvwUuh

• Jell-O https://amzn.to/2IQhkEF

• disposable pastry bags https://amzn.to/3hxJoBz

• star tip https://amzn.to/3BJpw5c

• silicone egg half mold https://amzn.to/38j304r

• polycarbonate egg half mold https://amzn.to/3Wjj8cO

• Whip-It stabilizer https://amzn.to/3V3D1Uj

• melon baller https://amzn.to/3HH3ROS

• egg trays https://amzn.to/3jaHWph

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Jello Easter Eggs

Printable Recipe

FOR THE EGGS (makes enough for 6 egg halves):

• 3 ounce package of jello, any flavor

• 3/4 cup boiling water

FOR THE VANILLA FILLING (makes enough to fill about 24 egg halves):

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (mascarpone cheese works well too)

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

To Make the Jello Easter Eggs:

1. Lightly coat egg mold with a thin layer of canola or vegetable oil.

2. Snap mold together and set it on a tray to catch any spills.

3. Combine jello and boiling water together; stir for 3 minutes until the jello is completely dissolved. Slowly pour mixture into mold. Chill overnight.

4. When you're ready to unmold the eggs, slowly pry the mold halves apart (I use a butter knife to gently coax the halves apart).

5. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut the eggs in half lengthwise using one continuous motion.

6. Use a melon ball tool to make a well in the large end of each egg half.

To Make the Vanilla Filling:

1. Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.

2. Add the heavy cream and whip until stiff peaks form.

3. Put the cream cheese filling into a pastry bag that has been fitted with a large star tip and pipe the filling into the egg halves. Chill until service.

Notes

• To fill the jello eggs with cream cheese filling more than 6 hours ahead of time, add a packet of Whip It to the cream cheese filling mixture when you add the heavy cream.

• For easy transport, pick up some covered egg trays.

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