A question about a recipe: Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies
I have a question about the ingredient "cream of tartar" on the recipe "Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies" from 1840farm. Is cream of tartar a must? I cannot find it here in Germany but I have heard that people uses a few drops of lemon juice. many thanks!
Recipe question for:
Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies
10 Comments
Sam1148June 26, 2012
I'm guessing that in Europe, Copper bowls are often used...and with those creme of tarter isn't needed.
HilarybeeJune 26, 2012
I usually use either Kosher Salt as drbabs suggests or a touch of lemon juice. Cream of tartar is definitely not necessary-- and even in Snickerdoodles I don't use it at all.
drbabsJune 25, 2012
Try a pinch of kosher salt. It helps the egg whites stiffen up quickly.
MaedlJune 25, 2012
Cream of tartar is available in Germany. Go to an Apotheke and ask for Weinstein.
savedbytheapronJune 26, 2012
this is great info - I tried to get a translation through Leo but no luck and my husband, although German, appparently is not into the detail of egg white stabilisation. many thanks!
ReineyJune 25, 2012
I'd leave out completely, it's not necessary if you follow the other elements of meringue success: age the egg whites properly, warm them up, clean equipment, gradually add sugar, etc.
TheFritschKitchenJune 25, 2012
Little known fact, baking powder is 1 part baking soda and 2 parts cream of tartar! I've used baking powder as a sub for cream of tartar before in meringues with no ill-effects (http://biggreencookbook.blogspot.com/2011/12/chocolate-chip-meringues.html).
HalfPintJune 25, 2012
No, cream of tartar (tartaric acid) is not a must. You just need an acid and the acid in lemon juice or vinegar will work too. You also don't need a lot (1/4 tsp), so the lemon juice doesn't impart any flavor
1840 F.June 25, 2012
Thanks for the interesting question! The cream of tartar acts to stabilize the meringue. I have never used a substitute for cream of tartar, but have read that both lemon juice and white vinegar can be used. To substitute, you use the same amount of liquid as the cream of tartar called for in the recipe. For these meringues, 1/4 teaspoon of either lemon juice or white vinegar could be substituted for the 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar listed in the original recipe.
I don't know if lemon juice would impart any flavor into the finished cookies. I do know that I always wipe my mixing bowl and beaters with white vinegar before making meringue and I have never detected its flavor in the baked product.
I hope that you will share your results with me. I'd love to add the information to the original recipe. I'm sure that you aren't the only one who either doesn't have cream of tartar on hand or finds it hard to come by. Good luck-I looking forward to hearing from you!
I don't know if lemon juice would impart any flavor into the finished cookies. I do know that I always wipe my mixing bowl and beaters with white vinegar before making meringue and I have never detected its flavor in the baked product.
I hope that you will share your results with me. I'd love to add the information to the original recipe. I'm sure that you aren't the only one who either doesn't have cream of tartar on hand or finds it hard to come by. Good luck-I looking forward to hearing from you!
savedbytheapronJune 26, 2012
Many thanks! I used a few drops of lime (apparently there was a run on lemons at our house this week-end). This worked very well - definitely a big improvement over using nothing which I have done in the past where the egg whites then have gotten porous and wet. I also did not detect the flavor at all. Great meringues!
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