Mocha
Meringue Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
:
3
large egg whites, room temperature
1
teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/2
cup confectioners' sugar
1/4
cup baking cocoa
1/4
teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4
cup sugar
3/4
cup chocolate frosting
Additional
confectioners' sugar
How
To Make Mocha Meringue Sandwich Cookies :
Preheat
oven to 350°. Place egg whites in a large bowl. In a small bowl sift coffee
granules through a fine sieve to break up, pressing with a spoon as needed.
Sift together 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, cocoa and coffee.
Add
cream of tartar to egg whites; beat on medium speed until foamy. Gradually beat
in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until
sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold in
coffee mixture.
Cut
a small hole in the tip of a pastry bag or in a corner of a food-safe plastic
bag; insert a #11 round pastry tip. Add meringue; pipe 1-3/4-in. spirals 1 in.
apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
Bake
meringues until set and dry, 12-15 minutes. Cool completely before removing
meringues from paper.
To
assemble, spread about 1-1/2 teaspoons frosting onto the bottom of half of the
meringues; cover with remaining meringues. Dust with additional confectioners'
sugar.
Test
Kitchen tips :
When
making egg white foams, it is important not to allow any yolk or grease into
the mixture. The fat will prevent the egg whites from beating up.
Espresso
powder can be substituted for instant coffee granules for more coffee flavor.
Since the texture is finer than instant coffee, skip the first sift.
Cream
of tartar is an acid that makes the egg white form more stable. If you don't
have it, use 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar.
These
mocha-flavored treats are delicate, crisp and, like most meringue cookies, a
little crumbly when you bite into them.