• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
To Simply Inspire
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press
  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups and Stews
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Ghost Meringues

    Ghost Meringues

    By Sherri On August 31, 2021, Updated September 27, 2021 Leave a Comment

    56 shares
    No ratings yet
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    several little ghost shaped meringue cookies on a brown baking mat
    several white meringue cookies in ghost shapes on a baking sheet

    Ghost meringue cookies are an adorable mini treat that are super easy to make and have that crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s easier to achieve than you think!

    If you’ve always thought meringue was a dessert only found on the menu at a fancy French restaurant, think again! Just like my Easter Meringue Nests these are SO EASY to make and are always a hit at parties with both kids and adults alike!

    closeup of meringues shaped like ghosts

    Table of contents

    • Halloween Meringue Ghosts
    • Why we love this recipe
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s
      • Other Fall Dessert Recipes

    Halloween Meringue Ghosts

    Aren’t these ghost meringues adorable?! When I made the nest meringues for Easter, I got to thinking about what else I could make with meringue. These cute mini Halloween treats are what came to mind! This recipe will guide you through the very user-friendly way to make them at home! They’re in the shape of Hershey’s kisses, so really if you don’t want to use them as ghosts, you can skip the addition of the eyes and use them for another occasion like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or a wedding or baby shower.

    They are so simple to come together with using just a few ingredients and it’s a meringue recipe without cream of tartar which might make things even easier for you if you don’t have any on hand!

    These light and airy cookies are made with egg whites, sugar, and vanilla extract. The only additional ingredient is the black food marker (or black frosting gel) for the eyes. Meringue bakes on low, so it’ll be about an hour in the oven, which allows them to puff up and get nice and airy, yet chewy and crunchy. They’re so good! Most of that is hands-off time, which means you can take the time to get other treats done, set up decorations for a party, or sit and have a hot cup of coffee!

    several meringues with black eyes on a wood cutting board with white parchment paper

    Why we love this recipe

    • They’re so easy to make and a great Halloween activity to get your kids active in the kitchen.
    • They’re a hit at Halloween parties! They’re simple but they’re a showstopper because of how cute they are.
    • They can be made ahead of time as they last for a few days at room temperature.
    • Can be customized to your decorating abilities and preferences.
    three glass bowls with egg whites, vanilla extract and sugar with a black food marker

    Ingredients/shopping list

    • Egg whites – Separate the yolks and use them for something else (tomorrow’s breakfast). Meringue only requires the egg whites to be whipped, as that is the base of this type of cookie. It makes them light and fluffy.
    • Sugar – white sugar is needed to sweeten the cookie as well as help to solidify the egg whites as they bake.
    • Vanilla – For flavor. A warm, delicious flavor to these decadent, yet simple ghost meringues.
    • Black food marker – Can be found in a pack of colored food markers or as a stand-alone in any baking supply store, on Amazon, or anywhere that sells crafts.

    TIP: To make your own black marker combine ¼ teaspoon black food coloring with 1 tablespoon of vodka. Mix thoroughly and dot the eyes using a q-tip.

    How to Make this Recipe

    This recipe will come together in a few simple steps and then the oven does the rest of the work!

    Step 1: Preheat the oven to 275 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.

    glass mixing bowl with fluffy egg whites

    Step 2: Beat egg whites at medium speed using an electric mixer and slowly add 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time.

    sheet pan with dollops of white meringue

    Step 3: Add in the vanilla and up the speed to medium-high or high speed and continue beating until stiff peaks form. This will be about 5 minutes.

    Step 4: Scoop the meringue mixture into a piping bag, pastry bag or just a Ziploc bag with the corner end of the bag cut and pipe out small round dollops onto the prepared baking sheet into ghost like shapes. They should be about 1” in diameter and far enough apart from each other that they’re not touching

    ghost shaped meringues on a baking sheet

    Step 5: Bake for an hour (do not open the door while they bake). Once the hour is up leave the meringue cookies in the oven to cool completely. When they’re all done, set, and cooled, use the black food marker to pain on two dots for the ghost eyes.

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1: Use edible candy eyes or even mini chocolate chips instead of using a food marker.

    2: Use clear vanilla extract for even whiter meringues.

    three ghost shaped meringues on white parchment paper on a wood cutting board

    Tips

    • Bring the eggs to room temperature at least 30 minutes before you begin. This isn’t a must, but it does help them whip up to an even lighter and fluffier consistency.
    • Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment is best only because it will save you energy and effort, but a hand mixer will work just fine.
    • After baking, leave the oven door slightly open to allow it to cool to room temperature.
    • Keep a close watch while they bake. If they get too brown, they may start to taste burnt.
    • Paint on a cute ghostly mouth as well as eyes if preferred.

    FAQ’s

    How to Store?

    Not that you’ll have many left, but if you do, they’ll stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days, in an airtight container.

    How to tell if meringues are done?

    It should lift off of the baking sheet easily. It will be solid, but not browned, and will have a crunch to it followed by a melt-in-your-mouth consistency once eaten.

    What are stiff peaks?

    When whipping things like egg whites or heavy cream for a certain amount of time, eventually it transforms into a whipped consistency. At first, they’ll be soft peaks, then medium, and as you continue whipping, eventually you’ll get stiff peaks. No more than that, otherwise, you’re on your way to lumpy butter town. You can tell you’ve made stiff peaks if when you lift your beaters out of the mixture, none of it falls back into the bowl. It’s stiff enough to hold on to the beaters and hold its shape.

    Other Fall Dessert Recipes

    Pumpkin Coffee Cake

    Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle

    Pumpkin Pie Bars

    Apple Oatmeal Cookies

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    several little ghost shaped meringue cookies on a brown baking mat

    Ghost Meringues

    Ghost meringue cookies are an adorable mini treat that are super easy to make and have that crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth texture that's easier to achieve than you think!
    No ratings yet
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Cooling Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 36
    Calories: 12kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Silicon Baking Mat
    • Parchment Paper
    • Stand Mixer
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Piping Bag

    Ingredients

    • 3 large egg whites at room temperature
    • ½ cup granulated white sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Black food marker

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 275° F.
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
    • Add the egg whites to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed. slowly add 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time. A stand mixer with a whisk attachment is best but a regular hand mixer will work as well.
    • Add in the vanilla extract and beat at medium-high speed for approximately 5 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
    • Transfer the meringue to a piping bag or a plastic zip closure bag with a small hole cut in a corner. Pipe out small round dollops onto the baking sheet approximate 1 inch in diameter.
    • Place in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Then turn off the oven and let the meringue cool in the oven completely.
    • Using a black food marker, paint on two small dots for eye ghost eyes

    Notes

    Store to an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.
    Egg whites are the base of our meringues. They’ll develop more air and become lighter if your egg whites are at room temperature but they don’t have to be!
    Granulated sugar sweetens the meringues and helps stabilize the egg whites.
    Vanilla will enhance the sweetness of the meringues and add a subtle vanilla flavor.
    find food markers in most craft stores or on amazon. Make your own by mixing ¼ teaspoon black food coloring and 1 tablespoon of vodka and blend together thoroughly.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1meringue | Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!
    « Pumpkin French Toast
    Pumpkin Hummus »

    Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Sherri Hagymas leaning on a counter with a white coffee mug

    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Protein Waffle Recipe
    • Amazing One Minute Protein Brownie
    • Nutella Crescent Rolls
    • Ranch Cottage Cheese Dip
    • Southern Potato Salad Recipe
    • Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Shop
    • Shop My Favorites
    Copyright © 2022 To Simply Inspire
    Discloure Policy | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
    To Simply Inspire is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program
    designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.