Chocolate Walnut Meringues are like eating chocolate clouds. The flaky exterior breaks away to reveal a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate delight with bits of crunchy walnuts topping off the experience.
Ingredients: 12 oz. package chocolate chips, 4 egg whites, at room temperature, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup chopped walnuts.
Instructions: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place mixing bowl and beaters in freezer for a few minutes while you melt the chocolate chips in a small saucepan on the stove (this helps the egg whites to form peaks quicker). Stir the chocolate chips until completely melted; remove from burner and allow to cool slightly.
Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from freezer; place egg whites in bowl and beat until foamy, 30-45 seconds. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, until stiff peaks form. This means when you stop the mixer, lift it from the mixture and a peak stands on its own, it's ready (could take up to 5 minutes). Add vinegar, salt and vanilla, beating well. By hand, fold in the melted chocolate and the nuts; gently stir until no white remains.
Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto well-greased baking sheets. Bake at 300 degrees 14-15 minutes. The cookies will spread and crackle on top. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet before transfering to cooling racks.
Store in an airtight container, removing when a chocolate attack arises! Makes approximately 3 dozen chocolate clouds.
Cookies Rule!!!
If I had to choose. . . .The chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, with the peanut butter being a VERY close second, but lets just face it, anything Kathy bakes is a hit!! Everyone looks forward to desert when Kathy bakes. All my parties are better due to her superior baking talents! The Winans family is looking forward to sampling lots of cookies in 2010!!
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