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These light and airy Christmas tree meringues are a fun dessert that’ll bring out the holiday spirit in everyone! Made with just five ingredients, this delicious treat will make any dessert table look extra fun and festive!

Christmas tree shaped meringues on a plate

This time of year, it’s so much fun spending time in the kitchen with the kids making Christmas memories. This easy recipe for meringue cookies doesn’t require special piping skills and will be a hit with kids of all ages because they include an essential kid ingredient, SPRINKLES!

Not only are these festive cookies absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious, they make a beautiful presentation at any holiday party or family gathering. Place some in a decorative Christmas tin for a wonderful teacher’s gift or treat for the neighbors.

And don’t forget about SANTA! Add to the festive spirit by leaving him some meringues on a holiday cookie plate with a warm glass of milk or mug of hot cocoa.

If you love meringue cookies, you may also enjoy these Chocolate Kiss Meringue Cookies, Unicorn Kiss Meringue Cookies and these Mint Chocolate Meringue Cookies.

CHRISTMAS ELF SURPRISE IDEA: Have your Christmas elf arrive from the North Pole with these cute cookies and an elf welcome letter (or a complete set of adorable elf printables!)

Ingredients

4 Egg Whites (room temperature)
1 Cup White Sugar
1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
Green Gel Food Coloring
Star Shaped Sprinkles
Sprinkles

How to Make Christmas Tree Meringues

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: With an electric hand mixer whip egg whites on low speed, increasing to medium speed until the egg whites begin to froth. (You can also make this in the large bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.)

Step 3: Next, mix on high until white and foamy.

Step 4: Add cream of tartar and half of the sugar. Continue whipping until egg whites begin to thicken and soft peaks form.

Lightly whipped egg whites in glass bowl

Step 5: Add the remaining sugar and vanilla and continue whipping on high several minutes until stiff peaks form.

Egg whites whipped with sugar and cream of tartar

Step 6: Add a drop of green food coloring and mix until well incorporated.

Meringue mixture with a drop of food coloring

*Add more coloring until desired color is reached.

Step 7: Place meringue mixture in a large piping bag fitted with a large star tip or closed star tip. We used the Ateco #846 tip.

Step 8: Pipe onto the prepared baking sheet using a circular motion to create a small Christmas tree shape.

Meringue Christmas tree on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Step 9: Place a star shaped sprinkle on top of the tree. Add additional sprinkles to decorate the trees.

Christmas tree meringue with gold star and sprinkles

Step 10: Place in oven and bake for 2 hours. When finished baking, turn the oven off and open it slightly. Leave the meringue Christmas cookies in the oven while they cool (about 1 hour).

How Long Do Meringue Cookies Last?

These Christmas tree cookies will last for up to two weeks when stored in an airtight container. You’ll want to keep them in a cool, dry place but they do not require refrigeration.

Tips for Making the Perfect Christmas Tree Meringues

Meringues can be a little tricky for newbie bakers, but trust me, with just a few tips, these easy meringue Christmas trees will turn out perfect every time:

The most important thing to remember is you should always start out with a clean, dry bowl. If there’s any type oily or greasy residue in the bowl, the meringue batter will not lift and become stiff enough to form into tree shapes properly.
Even though this easy recipe uses basic ingredients, using really fresh eggs is key to successful meringues.
Remember that meringues like a cool dry environment. It’s better to make them on a cool sunny day if possible.
In order to get that beautiful glossy texture, allow the egg whites to sit until they’re room temperature before mixing. Even though this recipe only calls for 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, it is an key ingredient in getting a glossy meringue.
A festive meringue cookie is all about the crunchy texture. Don’t rush the final step. After you turn the oven off, the oven door should be slightly ajar. You can use a wooden spoon to keep it from closing. The crispy magic happens as the oven cools. The meringues will continue to dry out and crisp up.
Don’t have a pastry bag? No worries! You can use a large zip-top plastic bag instead. Just clip off the very tip of a corner of the bag and insert your open star nozzle tip.

Variations and Substitutions for these Christmas Tree Meringue Recipe

Different extracts: One of the great things about this festive version of meringue cookies is you can make them all sort of flavors. Add just a drop or two of your favorite extracts to the meringue mixture or you can even divide it out and use a separate pastry bag and make a variety of flavors. You can use, peppermint extract, almond extract, even orange or lemon extracts all work well.
Use edible glitter: Edible glitter is a great way to add a little extra sparkle to your meringue trees.
Chocolate dipped: If you want to take these cookies one decadent step further, melt white chocolate chips in small mixing bowl. Once the meringue cookies have completely dried, dip the very bottoms of the trees in the chocolate, gently tapping off any excess chocolate. Place them on wax paper or wire rack to dry.

Christmas desserts on holiday themed plate

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