Add some sparkle to any occasion

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or simply want to add a touch of special sweetness to any occasion, our Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites are sure to please. Pair them with our Biltmore Pas de Deux Sparkling Wine, and the compliments will continue to bubble up!

Preparing meringue cookies at home may sound challenging, but it’s actually a simple recipe from our new cookbook entitled Biltmore Traditions, A Collection of Menus, Recipes, and Stories. The cookies are rich but not too sweet and the semisweet Chocolate Dipping Sauce adds another layer of flavor to each bite.

Sparkling wine is a natural choice to complement the taste and texture of the Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites, and we think serving them with our Pas de Deux makes a good thing even better. Made with Muscat Canelli grapes, this semi-sweet sparkling wine tastes of wild strawberry and lemon. It is also handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise style which results in fine bubbles that make any occasion more festive.

Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Bites 

Makes 20–24 cookies

Meringue Bites

• 2 egg whites
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• 1 1/3 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar

Method: Let the egg whites stand at room temperature in a mixing bowl for 30 minutes. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites. Beat at medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the confectioner’s sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Beat 6–7 minutes on high until stiff peaks form.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Spoon the meringue into a sealable plastic bag. Snip off 1 corner. Pipe 20 – 24 cookies 1½–2 inches long and 1½ inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in a standard oven for 20 minutes or in a convection oven for 10 minutes. Turn off the oven. Leave the cookies in the oven with the door closed for 30 minutes. Remove the cookies from the sheet and cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Chocolate Dipping Sauce

• ½ cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate pieces
• ½ teaspoon shortening

Combine the chocolate and shortening in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until the chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Dip one side or the tip of each cookie into the Chocolate Dipping Sauce. Let dry on a rack until the chocolate is set.

Purchase Pas de Deux Sparkling online here.

Check out all the delicious recipes in our new cookbook, available through our online store.