To a Sweet New Year: Citrus Champagne Meringues

While each culture has their own unique New Year's traditions, the including of champagne or some variety of spirited bubbly on the holiday menu seems to be a custom which is a popular theme throughout the world. 
With the frenzy of Christmas behind us but still riding the sugared Christmas cookie craze, I thought it would be fun to use some sparkling spirits to whip up one more sweet confection to help ring in the upcoming year.

For me, with the passing years, boisterous gala celebrations have given way to quieter evenings at home (Admittedly I slept through the last few midnights) but adding a celebratory treat can make even an evening donning PJ's in your living room feel festive.
In this recipe, I gave a nod to the effervescent Mimosa (a superbly simple mix of champagne and orange juice), subbing in a tad more special blood orange juice for the regular variety and, in the interest of thrift, a rose Spumante in place of real champagne.

label created with an adorable image from vintage holiday crafts

This is a basic meringue recipe which, although can tie up the oven for a good amount of time, really isn't very difficult to make. In addition, it can be endlessly adapted using a variety of flavors, extracts or add ins.
I originally used this very forgiving recipe for peppermint meringues (which were delicious) found at the fun blog Memories by the Mile and have since used it often as a starting point for experimenting with a different flavor combinations.
Here, I used a cookie press with an icing adapter for elegant swirls, but have also made them by simply dropping spoonfuls right onto tray for quick and easy cloud like puffs.

Citrus Meringues with "Champagne" Frosting

for the meringues

2 egg whites
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
juice from 1 small orange or blood orange
food coloring if desired
      preheat oven to 225

In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy.
Sprinkle with salt and cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form

Add sugar and orange juice and beat until stiff peaks form. I also added 2 drops of neon pink food coloring to enhance the color.

pipe in circles (creating a well in center for frosting)onto parchment or foil lined cookie sheets
This took a bit of practice

Bake at 225 for 90 minutes
Turn off oven leaving meringues inside with oven door slightly ajar about another hour or until cooled

Citrus "Champagne" Frosting
adapted from Sweets with Sara

Simple ingredients and some accessories

I added a sprinkling of pearl and silver sprinkles for a bubbly effect

Display with festive noisemakers and mini bottles of bubbly

A straw is spruced up with a Bonne Annee banner and gold star accent 

Though sweet, these meringues have a light airy texture

For a how-to for the easy vintage inspired noisemakers (which I reused in this post) and for other New Years idea's you can flashback to Pennywise's last year's Auld Lang Syne

$ store party favors get a makeover

leftover clear ornament globes 

create a "bubbly" tablescape

and now for the blooper shot,

Chloe took advantage of my split second absence to sample the treats

Wishing Everyone the Sweetest of

New Years!