A Holiday Kiss

 
(source: http://stephenslighthouse.com)

Not that kind of kiss

This kind of kiss:

(They remind us of slightly-deformed Hershey kisses and that is why we gave them their name?  I?m pretty sure most people denote them as meringue cookies )

Kiss cookies are one of my all-time favorite cookies.  While we traditionally only make them around Christmas time (we never really keep cookies in the house during the rest of the year), they?re not exclusive cookies in my mind They?re so simple to make yet so easy to screw up, and if made correctly they just melt in your mouth like sugar?probably because that is all.they.are.

Kiss Cookies

(I recommend making kiss cookies after you?ve eaten dinner, before you head to bed because they need to remain in the oven overnight)

Preheat oven to 350. 

Beat three egg whites until stiff.  Slowly beat in sugar a little at a time, making sure that the egg whites remain stiff after each addition.  Then add the tsp of vanilla and beat in until peaks remain (and don?t collapse) when the beater/whisk is removed from the egg whites.

Then use a tsp to place dollops onto a non-greased cookie sheet.  Top with sprinkles if you like (I like to ? and I like to use multiple colors so they look pretty on a cookie plate )

Then place ALL cookie sheets into the oven.  From this point on you will not open the oven until the next morning.

Bake at 350 for one minute.  Then turn the oven off for 5 minutes.  Turn the oven back on to 350 for one minute.  Then turn the oven off for the rest of the night.  DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.  If you do, the cookies will not harden and turn into the fragile, delectable, melt-in-your-mouth treats that I love.

The next morning, open the oven, remove the cookie sheets and use a spatula to remove the cookies, but be careful: they?re fragile little kisses that can be crushed when too much force is applied.

There are many variations such as adding mint flavoring instead of vanilla, and then even placing the meringue over a little piece of chocolate, but I honestly just prefer the original recipe.

Then share them with friends over the holidays ? or any time ? for a delicious, simple treat that will wow them, or give your significant other when he/she is in need of some lovin? or for keep them yourself when you need to shower yourself with kisses (I have been known to do this?).

Anyone have any other variations on kiss (meringue) cookies?!  I?d love to try some new ones out!