Keep your New Year's Resolution Chocolate Meringue Kisses

At ONLY 8 calories each, these little sweetie pies will help you keep your New Year's Resolution and satisfy your need for a little something for dessert without breaking the calorie bank for the next day and week and month! I know they might look a little fussy, but really, they're not. When my boys were little I'd let them just plop the meringue by teaspoon onto the cookie sheets. Not fancy but they tasted just as delicious! The only caveat is that you cannot make them in damp weather - they never dry out and get a nice crunch.

Ingredients

* 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
* 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preparation

Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 large rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Place egg whites in a clean dry bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, increase speed to high and whip until mixture forms soft peaks. Gradually add granulated sugar and continue beating until whites are stiff and shiny.

In a separate bowl, sift confectioners' sugar with cocoa to blend. Working in thirds, sprinkle cocoa mixture over egg whites and gently fold in until thoroughly incorporated. Transfer to a large ziplock bag. Seal bag, pinching out excess air. Snip off a small piece of one bottom corner of bag. Pipe out meringues through hole onto cookie sheets, forming small "kisses," about 2 inches in diameter. Bake for 1 hour, until meringues are firm and dry. Turn oven off and let meringues sit in oven overnight.

Gently peel kisses off parchment paper. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.