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    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)

    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)
    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)
    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)

    En Español Recipe ↆ

    Suspiritos (meringue kisses) is one of the simplest desserts in our cuisine, they are easy to make, very inexpensive, and can be quite a fancy treat for your parties.

    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)

    JUMP TO: show ↓
    1. Why we ❤️ it
    2. What is it?
    3. What's in it
    4. How it's made
    5. How it's stored
    6. About this recipe
    7. Recipe
    8. Video

    Why we ❤️ it

    I don't know that there can be a more versatile dessert than meringue kisses, or suspiritos, as we call them. And there are so many ways to it can be presented, with just one batch you can make an entire array of options.

    These are perfect for any occasion, like to celebrate that your blog turns 12 (time flies!), or for Valentine's day when you're tasked by your child to bring treats for the whole class (ask me how I know these things).

    What is it?

    Suspiritos (meringue cookies or kisses) are flavored, dried bits of meringue icing. In the Dominican Republic, we call meringue suspiro (sigh, in Spanish), while merengue is our national music. Suspiro (Italian meringue) is the traditional icing used in cakes and cupcakes, and most notably, in our bizcocho dominicano (Dominican cake), and suspirito just means "little suspiro".

    What's in it

    In its simplest form, meringue kisses are a 3-ingredient recipe: egg whites, sugar, and some type of acid (cream of tartar powder, lime juice, lemon juice, or white vinegar). After that one can start to make additions, like flavorings (vanilla extract is the most popular), toppings, decoration, etc.

    Some people add food coloring to make them in all the colors of the rainbow, and combinations of colors. I did not add food coloring to mine.

    • Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)
    • Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)
    Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)

    How it's made

    The egg whites are combined with the sugar and acidic ingredient, then whisked over high speed until it forms very stiff peaks. At this point, flavoring or coloring can be incorporated. Little mounds, swirls, or shapes are then formed with a piping bag, and it's dried in the oven until the moisture it's extracted and the suspiritos are dry and stiff.

    Bear in mind that keeping the oven at a stable, proper temperature is very important. Too hot and your suspiritos will turn into marshmallowy sweet omelets (ugh!), too low, and they won't dry. If your oven runs too hot, try keeping the door ajar to release excess heat. Make a small batch to try before you have guests.

    How it's stored

    If dried completely, and stored in an airtight container, these can last up to a week. If you live in a very humid place (like yours truly), you'll find out that they may get stale when exposed to the air within a couple of hours.

    About this recipe

    This recipe starts with the simplest, most basic recipe for suspiritos, and then gives you options for flavoring and presentation. These are by no means comprehensive, I tried to stick to things that are easy to find, and not using artificial coloring. You can get creative and try other things. These are so inexpensive that there is little to lose if you mess up a batch.

    Bear in mind that suspiritos are very sweet –if you don't already know – since I prefer things that are less sweet, the chocolate one was more to my preferred level of sweetness, as the bitter cocoa balanced the sugar in them.

    This recipe yields about 1 dozen suspiritos of about 1½ inches [4 centimeters] in diameter, or about 4 servings. Your yield may vary depending on the way you make them. You can increase the ingredients for extra servings. See the recipe notes for some tips.

    Buen provecho!

    Tia Clara

    Recipe

    Keep screen on while cooking

    [Recipe + Video] Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)

    By: Clara Gonzalez
    Suspiritos (meringue kisses) is one of the simplest desserts in our cuisine, they are easy to make, very inexpensive, and can be quite a fancy treat for your parties.
    5 from 3 votes
    Save for Later Send by Email Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 35 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Dominican
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 147 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 egg white, from 3 medium eggs or 2 egg whites from 2 large egg [100 g], at room temperature
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • ½ cup sugar (white, granulated), [100 g]
    • ⅞ cup powdered white sugar, 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons [100 g], sifted

    Flavorings (pick one)

    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, (see notes)
    • 1 teaspoon pineapple extract
    • 1 teaspoon banana extract
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
    • ½ teaspoon instant coffee

    Decoration (optional)

    • Sprinkles of your choice

    Instructions
     

    • Baking tray with silicone liner
      Get ready: Line baking sheet (or baking sheets if you are doubling the recipe) with parchment paper or silicone liner. Heat the oven to 175 ºF [80 ºC].
    • Whisked meringue
      Whisking: In the bowl of a stand mixer, or large mixing bowl, and the wire whisk attachment, whisk the whites over medium speed until they become foamy. Incorporate the granulated sugar and cream of tartar and whisk over high speed until they form peaks.
      Add the powdered sugar and pour in the flavoring of your choice and whisk over high speed until it forms very stiff peaks and if you hold the spatula upside down the meringue doesn't fall.
    • Piped onto lined tray
      Form meringue kisses: Scoop the meringue mixture into a pastry bag, and add the tip of your choice (I used a star tip and a round tip for these), and pipe the suspiritos of about 1½ inches [4 centimeters] in diameter onto the prepared cookie sheet.
    • Decorating with sprinkles
      Baking: Bake for two and a half to three hours, or until the suspiritos are completely dry, sound hollow when you tap them, and easily separate from the try liner when lifted.
      Turn off the oven and leave them to cool down inside until the oven temperature is back at room temperature.
    • Suspiritos (Meringue Kisses)
      Serving and storing: Consume immediately, or store in an airtight container. They should keep for a few days if they are properly dry, and properly stored.

    Tips and Notes

    If you use clear vanilla extract the meringue cookies will keep their bright white color, if you add brown vanilla extract they'll acquire a creamier color that I actually quite like too.
    Cream of tartar is a white acidic powder used in baking, it helps keep the meringue stiff and makes it shinier. If you don't have cream of tartar, use the same amount of lime or lemon juice.
    You can either bake it completely dry or leave a soft center (in which case it has to be consumed fresh).
    Save the egg yolks to make ponche (breakfast eggnog).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 147kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 26mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34gCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.

    READERS SEARCHED FOR how to make merenguitos, meringue cookies, meringue kisses recipes, suspiros de merengue
    More recipes with: eggs

    Video

    Edited: Dec 11, 2021 | Publish: Aug 29, 2013

    ¡Hola! I am Tía Clara, your host. Thanks for visiting.
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    22 Comments
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    Whittney Twyford
    July 28, 2016 1:17 PM

    I made these using a full teaspoon of Mount Hagen brand organic freeze dried instant coffee and it turned out really well! Also, I chopped up about an 1/8th of a cup of chocolate chips and added those near the end of mixing. The mixture is surprisingly hardy and forgiving;… Read more »

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    Chloe
    December 17, 2015 10:15 AM

    After making the kisses, if i want to keep them for the next day should put them in an air-tight bag and let them sit out or put them in the fridge?

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    Lokness @ The Missing Lokness
    September 25, 2013 7:03 PM

    I love getting the meringue cookies from supermarket. They are great snacks. Light and low in fat. Love that you made mocha ones. Those look amazing!

    1
    Reply
    Suzanne perazzini
    September 8, 2013 12:39 AM

    Congratulations - that's amazing that you have been doing this for 12 years. The meringues. The meringues are a great way to celebrate this. Your photos are beautiful.

    1
    Reply

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