Meringue “Mushrooms”

These are a delightful surprise.  They actually look like real mushrooms but a sweet and delicious bite that also happen to be gluten free.These are perfect as an adornment to the Buche Noel we gave you yesterday, or they are lovely on a platter served all by themselves.  They are much easier than you might think, to make, and they have the added benefit of delighting children and adults alike.

Try them.  We know you will make them again and again 🙂

Meringue Mushrooms

Heat oven to 225 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner and set aside.

Beat egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high, and add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating constantly. Continue beating until stiff, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla.

Spoon meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a coupler and large plain tip. Pipe meringue onto prepared baking sheet to form 2-inch domes. You can dampen your finger and smooth the tops of the mushroom caps to make them shaped more perfectly like a mushroom.  Pipe a separate stem shape for each dome.
Bake until dry, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

To assemble mushrooms, melt chocolate in a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Trim off points from tops of stems. With a small offset spatula, spread chocolate on underside of a cap and place trimmed end of stem into center of cap. Place mushroom, stem side up, in an egg carton to harden. Repeat with remaining mushrooms; refrigerate until set.  Dust very lightly with cocoa powder.

Now watch for the smiles when your family and guests realize that these aren’t really mushrooms at all, but a very delightful sweet treat 🙂

And speaking of things that are sweet and delightful, may I wish my darling granddaughter Sadie Rae, a very special and happy 10th birthday today.  The words sweet and delightful are just the perfect description of this special girl.  Happy Birthday Dollie!
My Sadie dressed as Elle Woods, from Legally Blonde, for Halloween 🙂