Light, crispy, and melt-on-your-tongue, these Low-Calorie Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delightful treat any time of year, but in my house, they're Easter cookies. These chocolate-studded baked meringues are made without flour, butter, oil, or artificial ingredients, making them the perfect gluten-free, low-fat, healthy chocolate chip cookies you never knew existed!
Beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt together in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Add vanilla. Add sugar gradually, beating until stiff. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts (optional).
Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased parchment paper laid on a cookie sheet. Bake until dry, about 25 minutes.
Let cool slightly before removing from paper. Set on rack to cool completely before storing in airtight containers.
Notes
Expert Tips:
No Yolks Allowed - The most challenging part about making meringues is that you can't let any fat (including egg yolks or any grease leftover on your mixing bowls or beaters) get into the whites. I suggest you set up a station with 3 small bowls — 1 to crack the egg into, one to hold the whites you accumulate, and one to hold the yolks. I also find that if you separate the eggs while they're still cold from the fridge, you're less likely to break the yolks.
Don't Overwhip - While you want to keep on beating your egg whites until they're glossy and have firm peaks, don't overdo it! Overmixing the whites causes the proteins to break down and can cause your meringue to weep out liquid and collapse.
Humidity Is NOT Your Friend - In order to achieve perfectly crisp exteriors that melt when they hit your tongue, you need a total absence of liquid. Make sure to cool the meringues thoroughly before storing them, or the residual steam will turn them into a stale, chewy mess. If possible, consider using a leftover silica packet from a new pair of shoes to keep them nice and dry in storage.
Use an Oven Thermometer - Meringues are pretty easy to make, but ovens often lie. You want to hit 300F or the meringues won't dry out quickly enough, causing them to collapse.