Looking for a gluten-free cookie option this holiday? Trying to find a way to use up some of those extra egg whites you have? Or do you just love a good meringue?

Light and airy, crispy-chewy, and with two kinds of chocolate—both cocoa and finely chopped bittersweet chocolate—no one will think these cookies are any less extraordinary than their floury friends.

These easy-to-make meringues come together in a snap. Warming the egg whites helps dissolve the sugar, and warm whites actually whip up more fully than cold whites. Be sure to beat the egg white mixture until you get stiff peaks but the mixture remains glossy (over-whipping will result in a dry meringue).

And as with anything involving chocolate, choose a good-quality dark cocoa powder and your favorite bittersweet (or even semi-sweet) chocolate for the best results.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Meringues (Wendy Goodfriend)

Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Meringues

Makes 2 dozen meringues

Ingredients:

4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Finely chop the bittersweet chocolate. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Instructions:

Space 2 racks evenly in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Set over (but not touching) simmering water in a saucepan. Whisk gently but constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Set over (but not touching) simmering water in a saucepan. Whisk gently but constantly until the sugar is dissolved. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Fit the stand mixer with the whip attachment. Beat the eggs on high speed until stiff and glossy. Beat in the vanilla. Sift the cocoa over the meringue. Sprinkle with the chocolate, then fold together gently with a rubber spatula until combined.

Fit the stand mixer with the whip attachment. Beat the eggs on high speed. (Wendy Goodfriend)

The consistency should be stiff and glossy. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Sift the cocoa over the meringue. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Sprinkle with the chocolate, then fold together gently with a rubber spatula until combined. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Drop tablespoonfuls of the meringue onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them apart. Bake until the cookies are puffed and dry-looking on the outside, about 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. Transfer the meringues with their parchment to wire racks and let cool completely.

Drop tablespoonfuls of the meringue onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them apart. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Bake until the cookies are puffed and dry-looking on the outside, about 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Gluten-Transfer the meringues with their parchment to wire racks and let cool completely. — Transfer the meringues with their parchment to wire racks and let cool completely. (Wendy Goodfriend)

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Holiday Cookies: Gluten-Free Chocolate Meringues

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