Twelve Days of Sweets - Day 8

I know I am WAY behind! Christmas shopping at the last possible minute is not a great idea.


Anyhow, here is day 8!

Meringue Cookies

  Let the egg whites stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper if you have it. I use aluminum foil and they still turn out fine.

  In a small bowl mix together the cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

  In a medium mixing bowl combine egg whites until soft peaks form.

  Add , almond extract, and salt.

  Beat again until when lifting the beater out of the whites the peaks curl. I look for them to "flop over a bit"

  Add the cinnamon-sugar mixture ONE tablespoon at a time. Beat the egg whites until the peaks stand up straight.

  Using a tablespoon, drop well-rounded spoonfuls of the meringue mixture onto cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart.

  Bake at 250 F for 30 minutes.

Turn off the oven and allow the cookies to dry in the closed oven for 40 minutes. If it's a dry day with almost NO humidity - then I let these dry on the counter top while I start the next cookie sheet.

* When you remove the cookie sheets from the oven gently peel the cookies off the cookie sheets.