A cookie box filled with a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors is such a treat to gift during the holidays. These peppermint meringues are the perfect addition to add a pop of color and fun. They practically scream “holiday!” and they taste fantastic as well. Nestle them alongside our Christmas tree cookies, our gingerbread people, and our sweet and salty holiday toffee for a crowd-pleasing arrangement.

Although they look impressive, the recipe is very simple. You'll make a basic meringue and flavor it with a touch of peppermint extract. To achieve the candy striping, you paint the inside of a piping bag with stripes of red gel food coloring before filling it with the fluffy meringue. A food-specific paint brush helps get the right-size thin stripes, but if you don't have one, use the thin edge of a pastry brush or the tip of a table knife.

You'll pipe the mixture into adorable little cookies that bake at a low temperature for almost 2 hours. This allows the cookies to get super-crisp. Note that the resting period inside the oven is crucial so the meringues don’t crack. Finally, a quick dip in some melted chocolate and a dusting of crushed peppermints just take these already adorable cookies over the top. If you'd prefer a simple white-and-red combination, dip the meringues in white chocolate instead.

Red gel food coloring, for painting

small peppermint canes or candies

© PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER Peppermint Meringues