Coconut-Pistachio Meringues

Chewy and crisp...bake on drier day...humidity can make for limp meringues...

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Yields: 48 cookies

Ingredients

• 2  cups sweetened flaked coconut (7 ounces)
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons cornstarch
• 4  large  egg whites
• 1  pinch salt
• 1⁄2 cup  salted roasted pistachios, coarsely chopped and sifted to remove dust

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300° and position racks in the middle and lower thirds. line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, pulse the coconut, 1/3 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch until finely ground. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites and salt at medium-high speed until firm peaks form. Add the remaining 2/3 cup of the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff. Fold in the coconut mixture.
3. Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip. Pipe 1 1/2-inch mounds of meringue onto the baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with the pistachios and bake for 25 minutes, until the meringues are very slightly browned and set but not dry; shift the sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through for even baking.
4. Turn the oven off, prop the door open about 8 inches and let the meringues dry for 1 hour. Transfer the baking sheets to racks and let the cookies cool completely.