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Airy Low FODMAP Meringue Cookies

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**This post was developed and written by Nancy Gammack, RD when she was a dietetic intern and volunteer for Ignite Nutrition.

I assumed meringues were a fancy dessert I would only enjoy at bakeries. I thought that they must have a complex recipe in order to create such a decadent cookie. However, I was happy to learn that they are quite the opposite! It is the main ingredients, whipped egg whites and sugar, that accounts for the satisfying melt-in-your-mouth experience. As a registered dietitian I think it’s important to include cookies into your diet – especially these deliciously decadent meringue cookies! Did I mention they are also low FODMAP?

Looking for another cookie recipe? Try these super yummy chocolate chip cookies!

A heart shaped bowl on a wooden background filled with conical shaped pink and white meringue cookies. There is a text box that reads "airy low fodmap meringue cookies"

What does meringue cookies taste like?

Meringues are a light, airy, cookie. They are quite different from any other cookie I have ever tasted! As you bite into a meringue you get a satisfying crunch of the crisp outer cookie, but soon after, the cookie melts away in your mouth! Perfect for a sweet treat after a delicious dinner like our low FODMAP Spanish chicken and rice casserole.

What’s the trick to making meringue?

This recipe relies on some chemical properties of egg whites. As you initially whip the eggs you start incorporating air into the mixture. The eggs quickly turn into a bubbly foam, as the proteins in the eggs unfold and capture air in new protein connections. Adding the sugar soon after helps to stabilize these interactions as the egg mixture transitions to an opaque and glossy colour, and most importantly helps keeps the desired airy texture of meringues.1 It really is a science experiment in the kitchen because adding the sugar too early or too late will impair the creation of a perfect meringue.

However, don’t fret. Even though making meringues does rely on some precision, you should have no problem if you follow the recipe instructions closely. The most important part is to watch for the indicators that your eggs are ready for the next ingredient. What helped me was to pre-measure all my ingredients so I could just add them at each step and not worry about maintaining the egg structure as I got ingredients ready. If you do that, I am confident you will create a satisfying meringue for you or your loved one!

Are meringues FODMAP friendly?

If your loved one is following a Low FODMAP diet, these meringue cookies are bound to please them as meringues are naturally low FODMAP!

Love this low FODMAP recipe as much as we do? Our collection of low FODMAP recipes were created to help you navigate the low FODMAP diet. Many of our patients have tried implementing the low FODMAP diet on their own. However, this diet should be conducted with the support of a registered dietitian. At Ignite Nutrition we offer one-on-one nutrition counselling to help you start on the low FODMAP diet with guidance.

A heart shaped bowl on a wooden background filled with conical shaped pink and white meringue cookies.
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Airy Low FODMAP Meringue Cookies

Meringue cookies are light and airy. They are naturally low FODMAP made from a few simple ingredients. Learn how to make them today!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 15 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: dairy free, gluten free, low fodmap
Servings: 25
Author: Andrea Hardy

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites at room temperature
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • 3.5 oz super fine sugar or grinding granulated white sugar in the food processor works great!
  • Pinch of salt
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Red food coloring
  • Parchment paper
  • Plastic Ziploc bag
  • Icing piping tip optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Using an electric beater on medium speed, beat the 2 egg whites until they just start to form a foamy bubbly texture. This should only take approximately 30 seconds.
  • Add in the cream of tartar and beat again until the egg mixture is opaque, and it starts to form soft peaks when you lift the egg beater out of the mixture.
  • Continue to beat the egg mixture while adding the sugar a spoonful at a time. Going slow will make sure that it is evenly absorbed, and your meringues don’t taste grainy. Add sugar over 5-8 minutes of beating. The eggs should be opaque, glossy, thick, and hold stiff peaks when the beater is removed.
  • Turn off the beater and add in the vanilla extract. Beat again until just mixed.
  • Divide the egg mixture into 2 bowls, set aside one of them. Add red food coloring into the other bowl and beat egg mixture just until the color is evenly blended. (Note: This will produce a mixture of white and pink meringues, but feel free to change up the colors, as desired)
  • If using piping tip, place tip inside the Ziploc bag and to one of the corners, use the piping tip to poke a hole so that the tip is just sticking out the of bag. Place the egg mixture in the bag and seal the top with a knot.
  • On a lined baking sheet, create meringue cookies by squeezing out the egg mixture in a circular motion to form small meringues.
  • Cook in the oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn off the oven heat, leave the oven door closed and let the meringues sit in the oven for another hour to cool to room temperature.
  • After 1 hour, remove the meringues from the oven and enjoy.

Notes

Tips and tricks:
  • Check out this great website to learn about the different stages of egg peak formation. It is a great visual to understand the terms described in the recipe.
  • Pre-measure all ingredients beforehand so that you can add them right away when the eggs show the right consistency and leaving the eggs to sit does not impair its structure.
  • This makes small bite-sized meringues, but feel free to change up the size. You will just need to adjust the baking time.

**Last reviewed May 2022 for Monash FODMAP portions

Original Recipe Source: Sugar-Hero

A heart shaped bowl on a wooden background filled with conical shaped pink and white meringue cookies. There is a text box that reads "airy low fodmap meringue cookies"

Categorized: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low FODMAP, Nut-Free, Snacks

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References

  1. America’s Test Kitchen (2016), “Science: The magic of meringues – why timing matters when whipping egg whites and sugar.” Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fnWf5BvXac [Video].