Is it possible to have a pre-mid-life-crisis? Because I think I’m having one.
I am just not really feeling this whole growing-up thing. The idea of working a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday gig literally gives me hives and makes me want to race to the mall for some retail therapy. Even looking at slacks and blazers and modest flats gives me sweaty palms. I meaaaaan.. no!
I would totally love to have my own place with my own cool furniture and kitschy knickknacks, but I have a feeling that paying rent is seriously overrated. And apparently at this time in my life, saving money isn’t as sensible as buying as multiple pairs of galaxy leggings. You smirk, but I literally have four pairs. FOUR. No one needs four pairs of nebulas on my legs, except I do. Like, the need burns deep from within my soul to own every pair of legging possible. I’m hooked.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to buy some sports car or start dating younger guys (as the latter would be illegal), however, I do feel like I am desperately trying to hold onto my frivolous adolescence by buying plastic unicorns that double as sprinkle shakers rather than saving that money towards, say, a currently-non-existent savings account.
At this rate, I’m just kinda hoping I’ll marry rich. Or win the lottery. Or become a housewife. Hey, it could happen. And I am not really feeling that new Lydia chick on RHOC, so I am suggesting myself as a substitute. Just saying.
Anywhooooo, in my attempt to keep my teenage years in my death-clutch, I made some food with flavors reminiscent of childhood: cotton candy! I loved the stuff as a kid and it was a fair-food MUST whenever we’d go. To this day, I’m still enamored with it (similar to how I still feel about The Spice Girls, Barbies, and Mary-Kate and Ashley, aka OBSESSIVE LOVE), but I’m more intrigued with what I can make to taste like cotton candy, too. Meringues were one of those natural progressions — and the perfect base for cotton candy!
Meringues used to freak me out, as did most French foods because I feel like I’m not nearly fancy enough to say them, much less eat something with a circumflex in the name. Also because they require whipping egg whites “until they’re stiff” which gave me the jitters just wondering if it was stiff enough (that’s what she said — I’m awful).
But just so y’all know, they’re actually quite easy. And you do feel kinda fancy eating them. Until you break out the sprinkly unicorn toy. Then you’re just reminded that you’re a 14 year old stuck in a grown-up’s body and you eat your feelings in Cotton Candy Meringues because of this reminder.
NOTE: Since Duncan Hines has discontinued the Frosting Creations packets, please omit the Frosting Creations packet from the recipe and use 1/2 tsp cotton candy extract which you can find at craft stores or HERE. *this is an affiliate link.
Cotton Candy Meringues *from Jennifer’s Meringue recipeÂ
- 3 egg whites
- ½ cup Cotton Candy Spinning Sugar*
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp cream of tartar
- 1 pkt. Duncan Hines Frosting Creations in Cotton Candy
- First, I highly suggest putting on an evening gown, elbow-length gloves and setting out your nicest tea settings. Play some Mozart to set the tone. Sh*t's about to get fancy in huuuurrr. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 175 degrees.
- Place your egg whites and both sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer. If you're using the stainless steel one, even better! Place the stainless steel mixing bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk constantly, until the mixture has combined and the sugar has dissolved. Remove the bowl from the heat carefully and attach it to your mixer.
- Add the cream or tartar and the Cotton Candy packet. Begin whipping the egg whites with the whisk attachment on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Spoon the meringue into a piping bag attached with a star tip. Pipe the meringues onto parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets. Bake the meringues in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 40 minutes. I know it's a long time, but have some caviar or something to tide you over. Once the meringues are done baking, crack the oven door open (and obviously turn off the heat) so the meringues can cool off in the oven for a bit.
- Bring the meringues out to the party and eat them. Edible party guests are always the best kind.
- *Note: I used American Candy Company's Spinning Sugar in Blue Raspberry flavor, which I found at World Market (Sur La Table also sells it). Using the cotton candy spinning sugar in place of regular granulated sugar intensifies the cotton candy flavoring and provides a deeper pop of blue color. If you can't find the spinning sugar, feel free to use white sugar entirely.*
Â
If you’re a lover of all things sweet, cotton candy-y, and pretty, you’ll adore these cookies! Not only are they super duper easy, but they taste just like cotton candy. These meringues would look adorable on a candy buffet for a spring-or-summertime party, or would be equally perfect in gift bags for birthday parties! Plus, you can switch up the flavors of the meringues to suit your mood since there are over 12 Duncan Hines Frosting Creations flavors to choose from! [Hello, someone make me some bubblegum meringues and STAT.]Â And these meringues are gluten-free!
Â
Have a fantastically delicious day!
xo, Hayley
Succre says
Nowadays it’s difficult save money, in Spain, for most of us, it’s very difficult to get a job, and if you get it, it’s often ill-paid, like if us haven’t any degree. Most of young people are without job, we can’t afford a rent, and sometimes buy more clothes neither.
I don’t like too much meringue, but I love this color, so these meringues seems yummy!!
Elliot says
yes yes it is
Tanya Schroeder says
Yeah, 9-5 jobs are for the birds!!! Well and to pay rent I suppose. If only you could pay rent in meringues??? Love the color, love the flavor, love the unicorn! What a fun dessert Hayley!
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies says
Love meringues and cotton candy– these sound soooo good.
I definitely have a quarter-life-crisis every Monday when I have to wake up for my big kid job, after pretending I’m still in college all weekend. My advice to everyone I meet is just try to never grow up, k? Don’t pull a Kelly and buy a house at 22. It’s the worst 😀
cookingactress says
*sigh* I had dreams of marrying rich…except for I hate rich guys. It’s a real problem.
On the other hand unicorn sprinkle shakers and galaxy leggings are what make you fabulous. And omg yummy yummy cotton candy meringues!
Elliot says
that’s all you need in life! Am I right? love this recipie p.s. rich guys r snotty]
snookiescakes says
Adorable!
faithcatherine says
It’s been my plan since high school to marry rich… sadly that plan isn’t really coming through. At least meringues can help me feel like I’m fancy and married rich!
The Domestic Rebel says
Exactly!! 🙂
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I worked a 9-6 job for two months until I broke down and couldn’t handle it anymore. Stark white office cubicles make me sad. Maybe I’ll marry rich someday and won’t be a broke writer anymore. For the meantime, i’ll cherish my youth with these cotton candy meringues!
[email protected] says
What a great idea! Perfect way to forget adult responsibilities for awhile! 🙂
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
These are soooo cute!
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
Being a grown up is overrated. Buy another unicorn.
Is is lame that I’ve never had a meringue? These photos make me wannnnnt a meringue. Actually I want them to taste like that blue color. Do they taste blue?
noyomoco says
Yay – I’m so glad you tried the flavor packet with meringues! It is such a fun way to make them 🙂 Your meringues are GORGEOUS, and I love that you used spinning sugar!
Back for Seconds says
Hayley, these are totally gorgeous!! And I love your unicorn 😉 Being a responsible adult is overrated, ha! Keep buying leggings and unicorns and sprinkles – that’s what makes life fun, right?
crazyforcrust says
I need to use the flavor packet with the meringues! That sounds fabulous. And I love all your galaxies, you can’t stop collecting them. 🙂
themondaybox says
If only children appreciated being children. 🙂 Your meringues are amazing! The color, the flavor, the whole creative package. I now have something else to purchase at World Market. 🙂 Can’t wait to try these.
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
Hayley, these are way too cool! And yeah, responsible adult stuff is totally overrated, most of the time. I’d much rather buy galaxy legging than pay to have my house repainted, which is our current major adult thing right now. Yeah, that “marrying rich” idea didn’t work out for me, either. 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Hayley these are gorgeous! And I don’t even like meringues! :O And it’s totes ok to go through the quarter-life crisis – with grad in a few weeks I’ve been the same way. Just munch on more meringues and it’ll go away heehee 😉
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
These look great, but let’s talk about how beautiful and magical your pictures are. You were able to include icing and unicorns, can we be best friends?
The Domestic Rebel says
Absolutely!! 🙂
Danielle says
I made these tonight and they didn’t turn out at all! The peaks never got that stiff, even after beating them for 15 minutes. I did everything above except for using EggBeaters egg whites…could that have been the problem?
Danielle at Framed Frosting
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Danielle! That definitely could have been it! I’m not sure why it would make a difference, but maybe something as small as using Egg Beaters instead is what kept it from stiffening up. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you!
Elizabeth Cullinan says
The way eggbeaters is pasteurized prevents it from whipping up properly it usaly says this in fine print somewhere on the carton
Beth Crysel says
Hello! I just wanted to say I love your recipes!! Do you have any ideas for a baby shower for a girl, my daughter is bringing my granddaughter into this world in September and I will be throwing her a baby shower a few weeks after…I need some cute and tasty treats and possible cake ideas as well! Thanks!!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Beth! Congratulations to you and your family on the birth of your granddaughter! How exciting that must be 🙂 as far as recipes go, I have a bunch that you could easily add food coloring to, turning them pink for the occasion. Namely, my Pretty in Pink Truffles or Pink Cloud Cupcakes come to mind! Another cute idea I’ve seen (and need to post!) is to take a regular Oreo and a mini Oreo and attach them on either end of something like a lollipop stick or even a pretzel rod, then dip them in pink chocolate to create the look of a rattle. That would be SO cute as party favors!
Heather @ French Press says
these are So fun! we are BIG cotton candy fans and NOT big 9 – 5 fans at all
Shelly says
I made these this weekend and they are AMAZING. I made them as little gifts for friends but I haven’t been able to stop eating them…. thank goodness I have a ton of cotton candy spinning sugar!
Lisa says
This recipe was very easy! But these are the most disgusting things I’ve ever eaten. Threw them all out. Huge waste of time and ingredients. GROSS!
thedomesticrebel says
Sorry to hear you through they were gross, Lisa! Perhaps you can use another flavor packet to change it up to a flavor you’d like!
Alyssa says
So I followed a link on FB to your page. Due to step one and the fact that you love unicorns you now have a new follower/supporter. Can’t go wrong with an awesome personality. Thanks for the laugh. I needed that today.
Ps. I CANT WAIT TO MAKE THESE. My tiny person is going to LOVE them. She’s a cotton candy freak!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks so much, Alyssa! Appreciate it 🙂 Happy Holidays!