Lemon Meringue Cookies

Photo: flickr user msufal

Ingredients

3 Egg whites, at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon Cream of tartar

6 tablespoons Granulated sugar

1 tablespoon Grated lemon zest

Preparation

By Lori Longbotham, "Cookies - Food Writers' Favorites"

With electric mixer, beat whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and shiny peaks form. Gently fold in lemon zest. Drop mixture by heaping tablespoons onto 2 buttered and floured baking sheets. Bake in preheated 250 degree oven 1 hour. Turn off oven; do not open oven door. Leave cookies undisturbed, in oven for 1 hour. Then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in a tightly covered container.

Note: Recipe can be doubled or tripled if you save egg whites in the freezer, like I do; just defrost and bring to room temperature before using. Like most meringue recipes, you need a low humidity day and utensils that are free from any fat residue, to be successful. Any citrus zest will work fine to vary the flavor.