As part of the #NOWWellness Influencer Program, I received product samples and compensation from NOW® to thank me for my participation, but the product selection and all opinions are genuinely my own.
Yummiest Sugar-Free Key Lime Meringue Kisses with Xylitol (recipe)
Who else here loves meringues? I always thought they worked wonders as part of a fancy dessert, mixed with berries, or as a pie topper – hello, yummy key lime pie peaks! – but recently I’ve been making them in big batches to snack on whenever I get a sweet craving throughout the day, and I must say, homemade meringues are where it’s at. Nothing beats that crispy crunch and lightweight texture, it’s like taking a bite of a fluffy cloud! And because meringues can be easily made with wholesome, real ingredients, they are a great choice for a carb-conscious lifestyle or for anyone closely watching their macros.
Xylitol looks like sugar and tastes like sugar. I personally think it tastes even better though!
I actually started making them because I wanted to consume less refined white sugar. However, I’m a sweet tooth and carbs are my comfort food of choice, so it wasn’t easy to find a suitable replacement that would taste as satisfying as a slice of cake or a cookie. This is where I decided to give key lime meringues a try! They are super easy to make even for inexperienced home cooks, and you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry, anyway. I tried out several recipes and ended up creating my own by trial and error, testing out different ratios and sugar substitutes. Stevia and erythritol gave my meringues a slightly bitter aftertaste, monk fruit had a better flavor but didn’t feel quite right, but xylitol was the most perfect sugar substitute that tastes almost identical to the real thing.
The fun part about xylitol is the icy cool sensation when you bite into a fresh sugar-free meringue, which is especially nice on a hot summer day. Xylitol also goes well with the zesty sourness of fresh limes, and the salty tingle that enhances the flavor in the most satisfying way. To me, this recipe tastes pretty gourmet, and everyone I shared these meringues with was surprised to find out that they are entirely sugar-free.
I do have one quick tip for cooking with xylitol. Although NOW Real Food® Xylitol ($7.49) has the most perfect flavor, the size of the granules is not ideal for delicate meringues, so I recommend pulsing the needed amount in a blender for a few seconds to turn it into powdered xylitol. No blender? No problem! This little hack helps create smoother texture, but your meringues will taste the same even if you use xylitol as is, so this step is entirely optional.
Another tip you might need is about the drying time for your meringues. They are finicky little things and refuse to dry if the environment is too humid. So if you think they aren’t drying fast enough, I recommend leaving them overnight in the turned off oven, and you’ll wake up to perfectly crispy meringues, just in time for a breakfast treat!
I like to make my key lime meringues super tiny, the size of kisses chocolates, but you can make them any size you like. Bigger meringues will take longer to dry.
Ready to try this recipe? Here are the details!
Ingredients:
- 2 large egg whites (at room temperature)
- 2/3 cup of xylitol (Optional: pulse it in a blender a few times for better texture)
- 2 tsp lime zest (finely grated)
- 1/2 tsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 250F. Cover a baking sheet with non-stick foil or parchment.
- Beat egg whites with salt on medium speed until you get soft peaks. Slowly add xylitol, a tablespoon at a time, beating well on high speed between additions.
- When egg whites are stiff, fold in lime juice, half the lime zest [you’ll use the rest later], and vanilla.
- Using a teaspoon or a pastry bag, drop kisses-sized meringues on a cookie sheet, about an inch apart from each other. You may need 2 sheets, depending on how much you made.
- Bake for 50 minutes until dry, but watch closely so your meringues don’t brown too quickly.
- Let cool, sprinkle with remaining lime zest, and enjoy!
I must say, these meringues taste exactly like key lime pie, and immediately satisfy my sugar cravings despite their tiny size. If you want to make them even more fun, try adding some food coloring – patriotic colors for national holidays, green and red for winter festivities, or pastels for spring. I actually just made some for 4th of July this year and everyone at the party was surprised that they’re sugar-free. They make a great lightweight and festive summertime snack!
COUPON:
Wondering where to buy xylitol? I get mine from nowfoods.com! If you want to get some for yourself, be sure to use the coupon code GLAMORABLE for a 20% off discount on any purchase. This is an exclusive coupon to thank you guys for choosing NOW®, not an affiliate code, and I don’t earn any commission if you use it. Enjoy! 🙂
Do you like key lime pie? How about meringues? If you do, then you’ve got to try this easy sugar-free recipe!
