Vanilla Bean and Cocoa Nib Meringues
Have you ever spent a hearty sum of money on something… and then didn’t want to use it because it was so expensive?
I sometimes feel that way about my couch. Ok… I didn’t spend a ton of money on my couch… but, well… it felt like a lot of money at the time. As a result, I feel like the couch must be treated with the proper respect. God forbid someone should try and jump on it. Heck.. if someone sits down on it too hard (is that really even possible) I look at them sideways.
And don’t even get me started on the cat. He has nooooo respect. Probably because he has noooo concept of what money is.
My couch isn’t fancy. But… I feel like the very fact that I have a couch puts me on the fancier side of fancy. I spent a lot of years without a couch.
Don’t sit down to hard on my couch… that’s all I ask. Oh! and if you’re going to park your rear end for a prolonged amount of time, please rotate seat spots. You’re mushing my cushions. Nevermind that it’s a couch made for sitting and mushing. I’m unreasonable. I know. I truly am.
I feel like these cookies echo my fancy couch sentiments.
See… they have fancy ingredients in them. Cocoa nibs and vanilla beans deserve some respect. When these two ingredients meet in a cookie, the cookie should be held in the highest esteem… even if it’s just a light, puff-of-air meringue.
Treating yourself is important. Treating yourself to a couch, and then acting unreasonably about its use might be silly. But splurging of some crunchy cocoa nibs and baking them into cookies is a slightly easier treat. And your cat won’t scratch cocoa nibs.
These meringues were inspired by Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. Tartine is one of the best bakeries in the land. They’re people that do things right. It is a dream. Tartine has cocoa nib studded meringues that are perfect. You’ll want to order two… and you should… but you’ll probably only be able to eat one. Trust me.
Meringues require eggs. The brown yolk-y kind… not necessarily the wood or marble type, even though they’re pretty.
These cookies are so simple… but they have some really lovely splurge ingredients in them .
Cocoa Nibs add a crunchy, chocolate and coffee flavor. Vanilla Beans add that beautifully irresistible fragrance.
They’re special baking items… and totally worth the splurge.
I always want to swim in glossy, unbaked meringue. It’s like thick marshmallow cream.
Easily dollop with a big soup spoon. Keep it easy in the kitchen.
The parchment paper is a complete must. Parchment paper might seem like another splurge item… but it’s important. It’s not like foil. It’s only like parchment paper. There is no substitute.
Take a bite while the cookies are still on the baking sheet.
You know why? Because you’re grown. You made grown cookies. There’s no butter in them. And you you you are living a good life. Bite!
Eat off the baking tray… but please don’t forget to make things beautiful. Beautiful things always make me feel better. And! Since we’ve splurged on such lovely ingredients… we really should take out a pretty plate and brew a nice pot of coffee.
These cookies are light but crunchy. The centers are simultaneously hallow and chewy. They are a combination of delicate and rustic. Have them with hot coffee, red wine, or in bed with a glass of cold orange juice. It’s your world… and it’s a beautiful one.
Vanilla Bean and Cocoa Nib Meringues
makes 12 cookies
adapted from Food and Wine
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 vanilla bean, split and scrapped of seeds (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa nibs
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together granulated sugar and vanilla bean scrapings with the back of a spoon. Press the vanilla bean scrapings into the sugar until well distributed and fragrant. Set aside.
Clean and dry the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add egg whites and beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Add pinch of salt and cream of tartar. Increase speed to medium high and beat to soft peaks. The egg whites will be white and foamy, with large but tight bubbles.
Gradually add the granulated sugar, increasing the mixer speed to high. Beat for about 3 minutes on high speed, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Egg whites will be spoonable, but keep their shape when dolloped onto a baking sheet. Once thick, remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in cocoa nibs and vanilla extract (if you didn’t use vanilla bean).
On prepared baking sheet, dollop out egg white mixture by the two tablespoonful. Space about 1-inch apart, although the meringues won’t spread as they bake. Place in the oven and allow to cook for 60 to 70 minutes. Meringues will brown sightly on the top and feel hollow to the touch. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Remove from the parchment and serve with coffee or mint tea.
Meringues will last, in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 3 days.
140 Comments Add A Comment
I need these in my mouth. Like, yesterday.
I’d make these (they look delicious) but meringues are the one thing that always kick my butt.
practice makes perfect??
This recipe is so perfect! I love San Francisco, I love Tartine Bakery, meringues are one of my favorite cookies, and I’ve been needing to find a use for the cocoa nibs I bought when I was in SF! Talk about destiny! These cookies were meant for me :) They’re so light and airy, I could eat all of the 12 in a day. :)
i almost ate all twelve yesterday. that’s the truth. i have three left. no comment.
fact: it so easy to spend $20 here, $20 there (examples…lipstick? cute socks? totally necessary/unnecessary “just beause” flowers?).
fact: when it comes to splurging (say on…a couch, a le cruset dutch oven, spendy vanilla beans, etc.) we are riddled with mild heart attacks/fierce guilt pangs.
i think this must be part of growing up.
but these meringues do look tempting. i’m thinking i may buy my first vanilla bean in order to replicate them.
you know, baby steps.
x
it’s like you’re speaking from my heart!
“You’re grown. You made grown cookies.” :D Love it! That’s exactly how I feel. Sometimes I don’t bother with the plate though…
only on a fancy night do you need the plate.
Yes Yes Yes! I’ve been plotting to make banana pudding (I’ve been on a mission to find a recipe that uses bananas IN the pudding instead of layered with Nilla wafers) which will leave me with some leftover egg whites, plus I have some cocoa nibs awaiting their purpose in life. Plus, my grandmother always made meringues (she made one big mega meringue & called it Schaum torte) and I’ve always wanted to have a go at it.
this is the perfect recipe for you! the starts have totally aligned!
Anything that is inspired by Tartine bakery is going to be amazing. These meringue cookies look delightful. Lovely Joy!
They remind me of when I was a kid!
Wow, your such a couch officer, but in a good way. I believe if you take care of things then they last longer, it’s a no-brainer :) I dont think these meringues would last long though, not with those amazing ingredients floating around in meringueville..
Take care.
I vote on making this health food via sweetening with Truvia instead of sugar. And since this adjustment will make me cry inside a little, I’ll save the vanilla bean for when I’m eating sugar and add a little peppermint oil to make it all nice and favorite-ice cream-flavor-ish. Do you think the meringues will still work?
These look delicious! Can’t wait to bake. Also, LOVED your feature in Food and Wine this month!
I LOVE meringues, especially chocolate chip so this looks like a great spin on my favorite cookie! my husband hates them unfortunately but that’ll just mean more for me :)
Meringue is one of those things that looks so good I want it, but then I take a bite and am really “meh” about it.
Oh my I laughed at that couch bit! My mom never lets me sit on the couch in her living room and I never before understood why…this may have provided me the reason haha! Or maybe it’s because I might get meringue crumbs all over it…
my older sister loves meringue and cacao nibs so I will have to show her these! she will love them!
These look lovely, but alas, splurge meringues are destined to fail in moist/wet northwest Washington. I’ll dream of yours instead.
I live in a pretty small town and dream of the day I can visit a bakery like Tartine! For now I’ll have to try make my own treats. I think swimming in that meringue would complete your dream of being like Nigella Lawson covered in chocolate. You should totally do it! Book promo!
Perfect! I have been on a lemon curd making kick and was wondering what to do with all of those egg whites. Thanks!
Beautiful meringues Joy!
These look delicious, I will definitely have to try them out!
Oh yeah! I love me some meringues. And not just because they’re so light and airy and I can convince myself that because of that, I can eat a whole batch of them without it really counting calorie-wise. I love how versatile they can be and pretty much always end up being tasty. Thanks for the great recipe! I’ve been debating whether to break down and buy some vanilla beans instead of relying solely on extract, so I think you’ve finally convinced to just go ahead and buy the dang things.
Those meringues look dreamy, Joy!
tempting me with these >.<
wish i had fancy ingredients like coco nibs and vanilla beans, sigh…
Oh geez I feel you on the couch thing. I throw a sheet over it if I’m having a party cause if someone spilled on it…tragic.
On an up note, the meringues look delightful. I may just have to splurge on some beans n nibs for them:)
Is it ok if I skip baking these and walk to Tartine to get some, cuz… it’s on my way home from work?And that just really doesn’t suck.
I’m obsessed with meringues so I buy those “cheater” cartons of egg whites and use them. Whip ‘em up in no time and sprinkle them with all sorts of things (choc, almonds, shiny pearly silver ball things). As an added benefit I hear they’re low-cal. Thanks for this!
These look so beautiful and grown up and perfect for a cup of tea with a good friend. Definitely going to make them myself.
You are right when you say there is no substitute for parchment paper…in my humble baker beginnings I once tried to avoid a trip to the grocery store and use wax paper, not thinking that candles are also made of wax, and that when heat is applied to them, they melt. haha!
These cookies look sophisticated and tasty, a win win!
I know what you mean about spending a lot on something and then not wanting to use it. I do that pretty often with clothes – - convincing myself that I should wear it something special. What ends up happening, is I buy something else and then never actually end up wearing the super expensive piece :(
These are totally fancy-pants meringues!! And they are so pretty.
Hey Joy! Just wanted to let you know that I made some brown-sugar-bacon-ice-cream today, and I totally thought of you and your love for bacon : )
I love that meringues look so delicately difficult to make, but are sooooo simple. I’ll have to test this recipe on my new neighbors when I move next month!
Oh my, I think you may have unknowingly invented these with my tastebuds in minds1
My cat just looks at me like it’s her couch to start with and I’m sure she’s thinking how dare I partake in it’s comfort :) I do believe in treating yourself though so maybe I need to adopt more of a cat attitude where it’s just expected.
Looks so good! I love this quote “It’s your world… and it’s a beautiful one”
1. You have such a cheerful way about you. Your site always brightens my day.
2. I spent this weekend with three cats, one of whom was a purr factory, one of whom was a ham, and one of whom hid in the basement because she’s afraid of people. And other cats. I thought of you.
3. You need to make these peanut butter ginger muffins from the kitchn. They’re vegan and tasty and nutritious and amazing, and made me feel virtous even though I ate five of them in about an hour. http://www.thekitchn.com/peanut-butter-ginger-muffins-f-139757
Seriously, they seem right up your alley.
Much love,
Kellybeth
How beautiful Joy!
The look and sound fancy :)
These meringues look so adorable and antastic. I’ve never used vanilla bean or coacoa nibs, but I want to! I justneed to find a place that sells them, and when I do, I will make these and eat them off the tray with a cup of chocolate milk because I don’t like coffee and chocolate milk is good :)
Perf. I’ve got a schwack of eggwhites in my freezer leftover from my adventures in eggnog. I’ll just have to hunt down some cocoa nibs and I’m good to go!
Joy, this is totally unrelated, sorry.
But where is the recipe for your oatmeal raspberry scones?
The link isn’t working anymore and I was told to try them.
You bet I’ve splurged on things and then not wanted to use them. The first time I bought vanilla beans – at the ripe old age of 15 – yep, while other girls stressed about getting dates to the dance, I stressed about expanding my culinary repertoire – and I mean, a big pack of vanilla beans, on discount, fresh from a plantation, I was too scared to waste them on anything. They gradually made their way into ice cream and rhubarb compotes over the next two years.
Now I have to go out and buy me some nibs – never had them.
“You’re mushing my cushions.” LOL Oh, I so saw my self being that way when I was younger, but after 3 kids and all the things they do to a couch, I just. gave. up.
One day I’ll have another nice couch. But wait, then it’ll be grandkids…
I want my blog to grow up to be like yours one day. You are my biggest food blogging inspiration.
Also, I can’t wait to stuff myself with your meringues!!
Your blog today brought two lovely memories to mind. First, when I was a little girl my Mom made chocolate meringue cookies. Your putting cocoa nibs and vanilla bean in yours is such a great idea! Second, many years ago when I bought a really inexpensive leather sofa and loveseat, my friends all got excited if their kids let their shoes touch them. Like a kid that short could sit on a sofa without having the feet (in shoes) on the sofa! I’d ask, “What lasts longer, canvas sneakers or leather shoes?” They’d get the point. That leather sofa and loveseat lasted 25 years! Some things are not meant to last–like your meringue cookies!
Why must you tempt me with such deliciousness? If only a resteraunt around here knew how to cook like you do, I’d be there everyday!
xoxo, Jjanga
http://www.sayhelloandsmile.blogspot.com
I love making meringues! Sometimes I make a recipe that only calls for yolks just so I can make meringues after.
Okay, now I’m curious about your couch…
I swear, EVERY word you said about the couch has gone through my mind at some point, but I’ve tried not to say too much of it out loud lest my husband think I’m insane. It’s our first couch that wasn’t handed down, but PURCHASED. I’ve never spent so much money on a single item! Suddenly our dog seemed… unfit for couch cuddling.
Maybe if I get some of these delicious looking meringues in my life I can calm down a bit about the couch. Maybe.
Lovely post Joy! I like your sentiments about the world and beauty, and taking time to enjoy nice things. I hope all is well!
Looks lovely! Have been on a meringue kick as of recent…. will definitely give these a go!
It’s so great to splurge on fantastic things every now and then! Love the pics and where in the world do you find all your adorable plates, napkins, etc? Have you done a post on that?
K