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The Cookie Exchange Week

For most of us cookies are an important part of the Christmas season.  Holiday baking can be a fun way to bond with the kids, enjoy extended family or relax alone.  In the 2008 Family Fun Magazine I found the cutest Santa Hat Cookies.  They are simple and fun to make and they come out super cute.

Ingredients:

• 2 egg whites at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Red colored
  

Heat the oven to 200 degrees.  With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until a soft peaks start to form.  .  Beating all the while, add the cream of tartar and vanilla extract,then slowly add the add the 1/2 cup of sugar.  Continue to beat until the peaks stiffen.

Spoon the meringue into a quart-size plastic bag.  Snip off a corner and pipe 2 dozen 1 1/2 inch-tall Santa hat triangles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet ( you should have about 1/4 of the meringue left).  Sprinkle the triangles with the red sugar then use the remaining meringue to add one pom-pom and trim.  Bake until the hats are hard but make sure they do not brown.  It should take a hour and 20 minutes.  Turn off the oven and leave the cookies for an additional hour with the oven off to allow crisping.

Becca

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