Christmas meringue trees

Method

• 1
  Preheat oven to 120C/100C fan-forced. Grease a large baking tray. Line with baking paper.
• 2
  Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar is dissolved after each addition.
• 3
  Run a skewer dipped into green food colouring down the sides of a piping bag fitted with a 1.5cm star nozzle to form 5 stripes. Spoon meringue mixture into piping bag. Pipe meringues (about 4cm in diameter), 3cm apart, onto prepared tray, finishing with a peak to create a Christmas tree shape. Decorate meringues with stars.
• 4
  Bake for 1 hour or until just firm to the touch. Turn off oven. Cool completely in oven with door ajar. Serve.