Meringue Cookies ("Emeril's Pink Pigs")

Ingredients

• 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2/3 cup superfine granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon raspberry extract or raspberry flavored liqueur (recommended: Framboise)
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring, or more as desired
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until fluffy but not at all dry; be careful not to overbeat. Add the sugar gradually, about 3 tablespoons at a time. When 1/2 of the sugar has been added, add the cherry extract and food coloring. Continue beating and adding remaining sugar in batches, until all of the sugar is dissolved and the meringue is very shiny and tight. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Working 1 teaspoon at a time, push a teaspoonful of meringue from the tip of 1 teaspoon with the back of another teaspoon onto the lined baking sheets, leaving 1-inch of space between cookies. Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off. Leave the cookies undisturbed in the oven for at least 2 hours and up to overnight, or until cookies are crisp and dry.