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Celebrate the season of Mardi Gras with these festive Mardi Gras Meringues. With a crisp outer shell and slightly chewy center, these delicate cookies will melt in your mouth.  Decorated with swirls of the Mardi Gras colors, these simple treats will bring a bit of the Fat Tuesday fun into your own home.

Six green, yellow, and purple Mardi Gras Meringues plated on a gold napkin on a metal tray with a gold Mardi Gras mask
An overhead view of Six green, yellow, and purple Mardi Gras Meringues plated on a gold napkin on a metal tray with a gold Mardi Gras mask

Ingredient Notes

See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  • Egg whites
  • Cream of tartar
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Food coloring
Six green, yellow, and purple Mardi Gras Meringues plated on a gold napkin on a metal tray with a gold Mardi Gras mask

How To Make This Recipe

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until fluffy.
  2. Add the sugar very slowly, about 1 tablespoon at a time while still beating.
  3. Add the vanilla extract and continue beating until the meringue is shiny.
  4. Evenly divide the meringue into 3 medium-sized bowls. Add 2-3 drops of purple food coloring to one bowl, 2-3 drops of green coloring to the second bowl and 2-3 drops of yellow coloring to the third bowl. Take a toothpick or the tip of a sharp knife and gently swirl the color into the meringue. You mustn’t STIR.
  5. Meringues may be dropped by the tablespoonful onto the parchment paper lined baking sheets, or piped onto the sheets using a pastry bag, leaving a 1-inch space between each cookie.
  6. Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off.
  7. Leave the cookies undisturbed in the oven for at least 2 hours.

Looking to make just a few meringues? You’ll love this small batch meringue cookies recipe.

Expert Tips

  •  Be careful not to leave any of the egg yolk with the egg white.This will interfere with the egg whites foaming.
  • If your egg whites have been kept in the refrigerator, bring them to room temperature. Warmer eggs whip faster than cold eggs
  • Use glass, copper or stainless steel bowls when making meringues. Plastic bowls can sometimes harbor traces of grease which will prevent the egg whites from getting stiff.
  • Use super-fine sugar when making meringues because it dissolves faster than regular sugar and gradually add the sugar, a tiny bit at a time while beating continuously.
  • Try not to over-whip the egg whites. The meringue should be shiny and glossy so stop whipping when stiff peaks form.
  • If possible, try to avoid making meringues on humid or rainy days. This could affect how the meringue cookies turn out. If necessary, you might need to increase the baking time.
Six green, yellow, and purple Mardi Gras Meringues plated on a gold napkin on a metal tray with a gold Mardi Gras mask and scattered meringues

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this meringue cookie recipe, you might consider using them in any of these recipes.

If you’re looking for a Small Batch of Meringue Cookies, you can find that recipe as well as many other single serving recipes by visiting our One Dish Kitchen site.

Enjoy!


Mardi Gras Meringues

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
0 minutes
Total: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Celebrate the season of Mardi Gras with these festive Mardi Gras Meringues. With a crisp outer shell and slightly chewy center, these delicate cookies melt in your mouth. 

Ingredients 

  • 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Purple, green and yellow food coloring

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until fluffy.
  • Add the sugar very slowly, about 1 tablespoon at a time while still beating.
  • Add the vanilla extract and continue beating until the meringue is shiny.
  • Evenly divide the meringue into 3 medium-sized bowls. Add 2-3 drops of purple food coloring to one bowl, 2-3 drops of green coloring to the second bowl and 2-3 drops of yellow coloring to the third bowl. Take a toothpick or the tip of a sharp knife and gently swirl the color into the meringue. It is very important that you DO NOT STIR.
  • Meringues may be dropped by the tablespoonful onto the parchment paper lined baking sheets, or piped onto the sheets using a pastry bag, leaving a 1-inch space between each cookie.
  • Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off.
  • Leave the cookies undisturbed in the oven for at least 2 hours.

Notes

Cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week.

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33 Comments

  1. I need to go to Mardi Gras. I’ve never even been to New Orleans. I know I am missing out big time. These meringues look so cute and yummy. I’ve never made meringues because they scare me. I need to try these soon though.

    1. I used to feel the same way about meringues, Cyndi. You’ll be so surprised by how easy they are to make – seriously easy. Hope you try them soon, you’ll love them!

  2. I wish that we were going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year! I’ve been twice and loved it! Gotta make these soon!

    1. I wish I could go this year too. It’s been about 4 years since we’ve been back for Mardi Gras – too long ๐Ÿ™‚