Meringue Pretzel Sticks

It’s no secret I love all things meringue. Today I’ll share with you step by step how to make these pretty Rainbow Meringue Pretzel Sticks.

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOW MERINGUE PRETZEL STICKS

I saw variations of these cute meringue pops on instagram and wanted to try them for the longest time. They combine 2 of my favorite things : pretzels and meringues!

INGREDIENTS

• Stiff, glossy meringue made with egg whites, cream of tartar or lemon juice/vinegar, sugar, starch and extracts
• Pretzel Rods – I used thick rods, you can use thinner ones, too

PRETZEL STICKS

You can use any pretzel sticks you’d like. I found out that it’s best when they are not too wonky, straight ones are the best. It’s probably also easier to pipe meringue on thinner pretzel sticks but then they can break so easily.

I used Hanover Pretzel Rods. They are also great for making chocolate dipped pretzel rods.

STAR PIPING TIP

To pipe meringue onto the pretzel sticks you’ll need a piping bag and a Star Piping Tip – I used Star Tip 8B. Cut a tip off the piping bag and fit the piping tip inside, (steps 1-2).

Opening on the piping tip needs to be large enough for the pretzel rod to go thru, (step 1-2).

DRILL

I’ve always wanted to use a drill for baking and this was the perfect project for it. I figured, I’d probably twist my arm trying to pipe the meringue and turn the pretzel rod at the same time. And that’s why I decided to use a drill, to help me turn the pretzel rod while piping the rainbow meringue.

TIP : Be sure to wipe the drip well with a clean damp cloth. And cover the drill’s chuck with a few layers of food wrap.

STEP 1 – PREPARE MERINGUE

To prepare meringue I always wipe the bowl and utensils with vinegar and dry paper towel. This removes any greasy residue that can affect meringue.

Into a clean, heat proof bowl add egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar or vinegar/strained lemon juice.

Fill a pot with 1 to 2 inches water, making sure bottom of the bowl with egg whites is not touching the water when it sits on the pot. Bring water to simmer and place bowl with egg whites on the pot. Stirring with a whisk constantly, heat the egg whites until all of the sugar is completely dissolved.

TIP : Rub the mixture between your fingers, when mixture is completely smooth and you don’t feel any sugar particles you can remove bowl from the heat and start beating the meringue. Mixture at this point will look soapy.

Start beating at the low speed and then increase it to medium high. Don’t beat meringue at very high speeds. Beat until medium peaks are formed. Then add alcohol or water based flavorings and after beat in starch. Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed.

TIP : Meringue should be glossy and smooth. If your meringue is grainy looking it is probably a result of over beating.

Glossy and stiff meringue should look something like this.

STEP 2 – COLOR MERINGUE

Instead of coloring all of the meringue I spooned about 2/3 cup of white meringue into 6 bowls. I left remaining meringue uncolored. Add few drops of concentrated gel color to each bowl and fold the color into the meringue with a spatula, (steps 1-3).

I can hear your question : ” Why don’t you just stripe the piping bag with food coloring? ” I rather not. The truth is I don’t like using straight from the bottle gel color to stripe the piping bag. I’ve tried it and I’m just not a fan. I feel like color has to be first mixed with other medium before it can be used to stripe the bag.

TIP : Make sure to fold the color in, try not to stir too much so meringue doesn’t deflate too much.

STEP 3 – MAKE MERINGUE FOOD WRAP POUCH

This looks complicated! It’s not. Really. Trust me.

Layer few pieces of food wrap on your work surface. Spread strips of colored meringue onto the food wrap. Please try to go in the order of rainbow or online rainbow police will get you! (steps 1-4)

Now spread remaining white meringue on top of the rainbow layer, (steps 5-8).

With both of your hands pick up one side of food wrap and fold it over to the other side, (steps 1-3). Twist the ends and tie one end, (steps 4-8).

Gently push down the meringue on the open side of the pouch and trim the food wrap, (steps 1-4). With the cut side down place the meringue pouch into a piping bag (I used 16 inch piping bag). Increase pressure on the piping bag and start piping meringue.

STEP 4 – PIPE MERINGUE ONTO PRETZELS

Prepare the drill. Wipe down the dril with a damp cloth. Then place couple of layers of food wrap over the chuck/nose of the drill, (steps 1-3). Carefully insert the pretzel rod and very gently tighten the opening to ensure pretzel rod stays in place. Don’t tighten it to much so you don’t crush the pretzel rod, (steps 4-6).

Here comes the fun part. Insert the pretzel rod into the piping bag. Keep it straight, (steps 1-2). Slowly start putting pressure onto the piping bag, (step 3). Start piping about 1 1/2 inches from the end of the rod to leave some space for the fingers to hold the stick, (step 4).

With your other hand gently press the trigger and watch the pretzel rod turn slowly. As you are piping meringue also move the piping bag away from the drill to cover the whole pretzel rod with a pretty rainbow meringue layer, (steps 5-8).

TIP : Keep pretzel straight, so it’s somewhere in the middle of the piping bag filled with meringue.

STEP 5 – BAKE MERINGUE PRETZEL STICKS

Place pretzel sticks with freshly piped meringue on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake rainbow meringue pretzel sticks 175F for 3-4 hours. After, turn off the oven and let the cookies cool completely in the oven.

Carefully remove meringue pops from the parchment and store immediately in an airtight container.

STEP 6 – HOW TO STORE MERINGUE PRETZELS STICKS

I like to store my meringues layered between pieces of parchment and along with a small bowl of raw rice or food grade silicate gel packets.

TIP : Food grade silica gel packets and raw rice help absorb excess moisture, keeping meringues crisp.

HOW LONG DO MERINGUE PRETZELS LAST?

Stored properly they will be good for 3-4 weeks.

WHAT KIND OF PRETZELS CAN I USE?

Any kind you like, really. But I’d say use straight sticks instead of wonky ones.

MORE DELICIOUS MERINGUE INSPIRATION

• Hydrangea Meringue Cookies
• Pink Meringue Roses
• Hazelnut and Meringue Chocolate Cake
• Raspberry Meringue Tarts
• Succulent Meringue Wreath Cake

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TO MAKE RAINBOW MERINGUE PRETZEL STICK YOU NEED

• TOOLS
• Get all the tools in my Amazon Shop
• Stand or Hand Held Mixer to make the meringue
• Star Tip 8B
• Piping Bag
• Food Wrap
• Food Gel Colors – I used Americolor Brand
• Drill
• Parchment Paper
• Baking Sheets