Pink Meringue Clouds - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Cookie dough
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Peppermint Meringue
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini chips may be better)
1 cup coarsely-crushed peppermint stick candy

Preparation

Combine everything for the cookie dough; chill while preparing meringue.
To prepare meringue: Beat egg whites with salt in small bowl until soft mounds (not peaks) form. Gradually add sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. (Once you get peaks that stand up, stop. You can overbeat meringue.) Fold in vanilla, vinegar, chocolate chips, and crushed candy.
Shape dough into balls using a rounded teaspoon. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.
Top each cookie with a rounded teaspoon of meringue. Bake at 325 for 20-25 minute.