These Hazelnut Meringue cookies are a great after dinner dessert or snack any time of the day. They’re gluten-free and contain less sugar than traditional meringues. The hazelnuts also contain vitamin E, manganese, and other phytochemicals. Try these yummy cookies with a side of fresh berries for an extra special treat.
Ingredients
1 cup of hazelnuts
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1/8 tsp. salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread nuts in 1 layer in shallow pan. Roast for 5 minutes, stir, and roast nuts 5 minutes longer. Immediately wrap nuts in dishtowel and rub together vigorously to remove as much skin as possible. Spread skinned nuts out and cool to room temperature.
Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment and set aside.
Chop one-third cup of nuts very fine. Doing this by hand takes a few minutes but gives a nicer result than using a food processor. Place nuts in bowl. Coarsely chop remaining nuts and add to finely chopped ones. Set nuts aside.
In an immaculately clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium-high until frothy. Add salt and beat on high until whites form soft peaks. While beating, add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Continue beating until whites are thick and glossy, like marshmallow fluff. Fold in cinnamon and all nuts.
Drop meringue by tablespoon onto lined baking sheets, spacing kisses 1 inch apart. Use back of spoon to shape and smooth them, leaving some points and crags.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, if possible placing both pans side by side in center of oven. When meringues are crisp almost all the way through, turn off oven and let kisses sit with oven door ajar, for up to 4 hours. Transfer kisses to wire racks to cool completely.
These cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, though damp weather may soften them to be chewier.
Makes 15 servings. Per serving: 2 cookies
Per serving: 76 calories, 5 g fat (<1 g sat fat), 6 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein, 1 g fiber, 26 mg sodium.
Recipe from the American Institute for Cancer Research.
