Sweetheart Cupcakes + Meringue Cookies
Make adorable sweetheart cupcakes topped with pink meringue cookies. Easy, make-ahead dessert perfect for parties, Valentine’s Day, and celebrations.
Servings: 24 Cookies + Cupcakes
Calories: 258kcal
Ingredients
For the meringue cookies:
- 3 egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup baker’s sugar
- Food coloring and flavoring optional
For the cupcakes
- 24 Cupcakes homemade or store-bought
- 2 cups frosting homemade or store-bought
- 24 Meringue cookies
Instructions
For the meringue cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 200°F.
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy.
- Add the cream of tartar, then increase the speed to high. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes.
- Transfer the meringue to a large pastry bag fitted with your favorite decorating tip (I love using a large French tip for that classic swirl).
- Pipe swirls about 1½ inches wide, spacing them roughly 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are completely dry and crunchy on the outside.
For the cupcakes
- Spread a small layer of buttercream frosting on top of each cupcake.
- Gently place a meringue on top — don’t press too hard or it may crack.
Notes
Tips for Perfect Meringues
Want color or flavor? Quickly mix in a few drops of food coloring or about 1 teaspoon of extract after stiff peaks form.
Separate eggs while cold, then bring the whites to room temperature. They whip faster and fluffier this way.
Use baker’s sugar if possible. Its finer texture creates a smoother meringue with fewer sugar crystals.
Want color or flavor? Quickly mix in a few drops of food coloring or about 1 teaspoon of extract after stiff peaks form.
Separate eggs while cold, then bring the whites to room temperature. They whip faster and fluffier this way.
Use baker’s sugar if possible. Its finer texture creates a smoother meringue with fewer sugar crystals.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg