Chocolate Filled Meringue Cookies

Total Time: 8 hrs 56 mins Preparation Time: 26 mins Cook Time: 8 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided
• 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons half-and-half
• 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350ºf.
• 2 beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed with a mixer until foamy.
• 3 gradually add the 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 tbs at a time, until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved - about 2-4 minute.
• 4 stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and chopped pecans.
• 5 drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets lined with aluminum foil.
• 6 dip a finger in the tbs of powdered sugar and make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
• 7 place in the oven and immediately turn the oven off. don't open the door for at least 8 hours.
• 8 remove from oven, and carefully peel cookies from foil.
• 9 combine butter, cocoa, and half and half in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• 10 remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• 11 add the 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar and beat well with an electric mixer.
• 12 stir in remaining 1/2 tsp vanilla.
• 13 just before serving, pipe cocoa mixture into the indentation of each cookie with a star tip - if you have one.