Name: Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 5 h 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 egg whites room temperature; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 cup caster sugar; ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract; gel food coloring (red and green)

There’s something magical about biting into light, airy cookies that melt on your tongue with a refreshing peppermint twist. This Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe is wonderfully simple yet irresistibly charming, perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy afternoons by the fire.

The image shows a white bowl full of meringue cookies, each shaped like a small peak with swirling red and green colors on a white base. Some meringues have red streaks blending smoothly into the white, while others have green streaks doing the same, creating a festive mix of colors. The meringues have a smooth yet slightly textured surface, with a slight shine under the light. The bowl is placed on a surface with a white marbled texture, with some red and white peppermint candies scattered around it in soft focus. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I adore this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe because it feels so festive and looks absolutely delightful with those candy cane colors. Plus, they’re light as air – wonderfully different from your typical holiday cookie.

Easy to Make: Only a handful of simple ingredients come together quickly, and the process is straightforward once you know the tricks.
Beautiful Presentation: The piped stars with red and green swirls make these cookies extra eye-catching for any holiday spread.
Delightful Texture: Crisp on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft inside — meringues have a wonderfully unique texture.
Versatile and Customizable: You can easily tweak the peppermint level or colors to match your style or occasion.

The image shows several meringue cookies arranged randomly on a flat surface with a white marbled texture. Each cookie has a single swirl with two colors on their top half — either red and white or green and white. The cookies have a light, airy texture with gentle ridges and peaks, and they look crisp and delicate. The red swirls are a mix of bright and darker red shades, giving a painted effect, while the green swirls range from bright to dark green, also with a painted texture. The rest of the cookie is pure white, creating a strong contrast with the colored swirls, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe plays a key role in crafting that perfect balance of structure and sweetness. Using room temperature egg whites, for example, helps create more volume in your meringue, while the vinegar stabilizes the mixture for a better peak.

Flat lay of four whole uncracked brown egg whites in shell, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white caster sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of cornstarch powder, a small white ceramic bowl of clear white vinegar, a small white ceramic bowl of clear peppermint extract, and two delicate streaks of red and green gel food coloring on a simple white ceramic surface arranged symmetrically, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Egg Whites: Room temperature egg whites whip up better and hold air well for fluffy meringues.
White Vinegar: Adds acidity to stabilize the egg whites so they hold stiff peaks.
Cornstarch: Helps absorb moisture so cookies stay crisp without becoming chewy.
Caster Sugar: Finely granulated sugar that dissolves quickly to keep the texture smooth and not grainy.
Peppermint Extract: Provides that signature festive flavor—be careful not to overdo it as it can be potent.
Gel Food Coloring: Ideal for vibrant red and green colors without thinning the meringue.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What I love most about this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. Sometimes I like dialing up the peppermint just a touch for an extra zing, or swapping out the red and green for pastel shades if it’s a different celebration.

Variation: One year, I added mini chocolate chips right before baking for a delightful surprise—totally delicious if you want a chocolate twist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Whip Your Whites Until Foamy Magic

Start by beating those room temperature egg whites on high speed. You want a foamy consistency, which usually takes around 30 seconds. This stage is crucial—it tells you the whites are waking up and ready to be transformed.

Step 2: Stabilize and Build Soft Peaks

Slowly add the white vinegar and cornstarch, then continue beating until you get soft peaks that slightly hold their shape. This takes about a minute. The vinegar helps keep the structure strong, so your meringues don’t collapse.

Step 3: Sweeten and Flavor

Now for the sugar! Add it slowly in a steady stream while beating continuously. This part can’t be rushed, or your meringue might not fluff up properly. Mix in the peppermint extract last, folding gently so you don't knock out the air.

Step 4: Color and Pipe With Love

Here’s a fun trick—use a pastry bag with a star tip and brush the inside with red gel food coloring before filling it halfway with meringue. Pipe small star-shaped cookies onto parchment paper. Repeat with green food coloring and the rest of the mix. The color lines swirl inside for a festive look!

Step 5: Bake Low and Slow

Bake at 200°F (93°C) for about 80 minutes, then turn the oven off and leave the cookies in there for another 4 hours or overnight. This slow drying is what keeps them crisp without browning. I always double-check my oven temp because too hot can ruin the meringues.

Top Tip

From my experience making this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe over the years, the biggest game-changer is patience—especially with beating and baking times. The right texture only comes from taking your time and following these little tips:

Egg White Separation: Always separate eggs when cold and then let whites reach room temp before whisking to maximize volume.
Slow Sugar Addition: Wait until the whites are foamy before adding sugar gradually to avoid deflating your mixture.
Low Oven Temperature: Keep your oven steady around 200°F and use an oven thermometer if needed — this helps cookies dry perfectly instead of browning.
Overnight Drying: Don’t rush taking cookies out when the oven turns off; letting them dry overnight results in ideal crispness.

How to Serve Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe

peppermint meringue cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with these cookies, serving them alongside a dusting of powdered sugar and crushed candy canes for an extra peppermint punch and crunch. The crushed peppermint adds a lovely texture contrast that complements the delicate cookies perfectly.

Side Dishes

Pair these with a warm cup of hot cocoa or a peppermint mocha to echo the flavors. They also work beautifully with a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream or alongside a plate of rich chocolate truffles for a festive dessert board.

Creative Ways to Present

One holiday season, I arranged them in layers between clear glass plates to make a fun upside-down Christmas tree display, topping it with a star-shaped cookie on top. Wrapping them in cellophane tied with red and green ribbons also makes them gorgeous gifts for friends and family.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover meringue cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep well for up to a week but are best enjoyed within 2-3 days when their crispness is at its peak.

Freezing

These freeze really well! Pop them in an airtight container or freezer bag and thaw them on the counter for about 15 minutes. Just make sure they’re completely dry before freezing to avoid sogginess.

Reheating

If you want to freshen them up a bit, place the cookies on a baking sheet and warm in a low oven (around 200°F) for 5–10 minutes. This helps bring back some crispness without melting or browning them.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use powdered sugar instead of caster sugar?

Powdered sugar is not recommended for this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe because its fine texture and added cornstarch can affect the meringue's ability to whip properly. If you don’t have caster sugar, pulse granulated sugar in a food processor until fine to create a suitable substitute.

Why do my meringue cookies sometimes turn out sticky?

Sticky meringues usually mean the cookies haven’t dried out enough. Make sure to bake at a low temperature and let them cool and dry in the turned-off oven for the recommended time. Also, high humidity can cause stickiness, so try to make them on drier days if possible.

Can I replace peppermint extract with another flavor?

Absolutely! While peppermint gives these meringues their festive character, you can swap it for vanilla, almond, or lemon extract to suit different tastes or occasions. Just reduce the amount slightly if the flavor is stronger.

How do I know when the egg whites have reached stiff peaks?

You’ll know the egg whites have reached stiff peaks when you lift the whisk and the peaks stand straight up without drooping. The mixture should be glossy and hold its shape well. Avoid over-beating as it can cause dryness and cracking during baking.

Final Thoughts

Sharing this Festive Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe with you is like sharing a little holiday joy from my kitchen to yours. These cookies bring a special lightness to the season – both in taste and spirit. I promise, once you try them, they’ll become a beloved staple for your festive celebrations, just like they are in my family.