Merengue Kisses

Merengue kisses are sweet, bite-sized crunchy treats that are a favourite for kids and adults alike. They are the perfect addition to any birthday party too, as you can make them any colour that fit your theme, they can be made a few days in advance (so no stress!) and you only need 2 ingredients!

It’s amazing that something so delicious can be so simple to make.

Yes, they can also go horribly wrong -you may have heard some wild stories of sticky messes- but with this easy recipe you will never have that problem again. I live in Goa, where the humidity is high and I have made merengue kisses many times -also during our humid summers- and they still turn out crunchy and yummy. Please note that the merengue will not last very long outside of the airtight container on a hot humid day (they will get stickier as time goes on) so try to pour them into the bowl when you mean to serve them. I store them in the tupperware oval containers and there is never any problems while storing them. On a less humid day, you can keep them out for hours without any problems.

I recently made these for my daughter’s Unicorn Party where the theme colours were pink and purple. I have added the colour inside the piping bag as I like how random the colouring comes out -some with more colour and some with less. You can also add a drop of gel food colour to the mixture so they all have the same colour. That is up to you.

I use my favourite piping nozzle here: 1M

My top tips for perfect merengue kisses every time:

• Beat the egg whites until stiff
• Add the exact amount of sugar needed. I always weigh the egg whites and double the sugar. So if the egg whites weigh 60grams, then use 120grams of caster sugar.
• Add the sugar very slowly, one tablespoon at a time. Make sure it’s fully incorporated before adding the next spoon.
• If possible, don’t make merengue when it’s raining outside or is extra humid.
• Make sure the sugar is fine. If too coarse, blend it in the mixer before using it.
• Bake in the oven at a low temperature for longer time
• Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks

Please note that I have written 2 egg whites and 100 grams of caster sugar. Please adjust according to your egg white size = double the sugar according to the weight of the egg whites.

Yield: approximately 60 merengue kisses