I've had my serious hat on for a couple of weeks now, mostly due to deadlines and commitments. I believe that's partly how these rainbow meringue cones came about. I just couldn't take one more day with a furrowed brow. And do you know that rainbow treats are the opposite of a furrowed brow? They are.
Another reason why these rainbow puffs made it onto my baking sheet is because ThinkGeek sent me a Sprinkles the Unicorn Sprinkle Shaker. It's just the cutest thing. I've been waiting for the right inspiration to use it in a blog post, and I felt something rainbow-themed was in order. This morning while drinking coffee and cloud gazing (I do that sometimes when the clouds are extra puffy), I saw a vaguely horse-shaped cloud illuminated by light, and felt it was a sign to use my unicorn shaker today.
Do you see it too? Practically a unicorn without a horn, right?
Or maybe a dog. A goat with an abnormally fluffy tail? (smile)
Because the folks at ThinkGeek are so awesome, they sent along another Sprinkles the Unicorn shaker for a giveaway, and I'm opening the contest worldwide. You can enter with the Rafflecopter widget below. Email subscribers, please visit the blog post to enter.
I'd never made rainbow meringues before, but it's really easy. Just fit a piping bag with a decorator tip, and then paint long stripes of gel food color on the inside of the piping bag using an artist's brush. Space the painted stripes out if you'd like some white meringue showing, or if you want a solid rainbow, place the stripes very close together.
Here's my sprinkle shaker in action! I tried all kinds of sprinkles in the shaker, and found that rainbow nonpareils work best. Sprinkle the piped meringues just before you put them in the oven. The sprinkles won't melt away because the meringues are baked at a very low temperature.
I decided to make the meringues into cones because the colorful swirls reminded me so much of these little treats I ate as a kid. They were always stale, but I loved them anyway. I filled the cones with chocolate ganache, which makes the finished dessert taste like exactly four bites of rich chocolate tart. The sugar cone makes a great "crust".
Even though these ice cream cones are the non-melting sort, I think they'd be a cute addition to an ice cream social. It's good to have something a little different and unexpected. Hope everyone is having a GREAT summer!
Rainbow Meringue Truffle Cones
[click for printable version]
Source: Sprinkle Bakes original
Yield: 20 cones
Prep: 30 minutes, 4 hours with baking and chilling
Ganache cones
20 sugar cones or mini ice cream cones
9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped finely
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Rainbow meringues
2 egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
1/2 cup superfine sugar
Gel food color in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet (I used Wilton brand)
Assembly
1/2 cup melted semisweet chocolate
Rainbow nonpareils.

The cones will need to stand upright to be filled. If you don't have a specialty ice cream cone holder (who does?!) then cut several X's into the top of the sugar cone boxes with a serrated knife. Place the cones upright into the X perforations in the box. (See pictures in the blog post for clarification.)
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate pieces and heavy cream. If any chocolate pieces are poking above the surface of the cream, then pat them down with the back of a spoon. Heat at 30 second intervals or until the mixture can be whisked smooth. Allow the ganache to cool at room temperature until slightly warm but still pourable, about 30 minutes. Pour the ganache into the upright standing cones. Transfer the cones to the freezer until set. Meanwhile, prepare the meringues.
Fit a piping bag with a large closed star decorator tip (Ateco 843). Set aside.
Whip the meringues in a standing mixer until frothy and add the cream of tartar. Beat on high until soft peaks form and gradually add the sugar. Beat on high speed until the meringue is thick and glossy, and will hold a standing peak with the beater is lifted from the bowl. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 170F.
Using an artist's brush, paint thick 1/2-inch stripes of each gel food color inside the piping bag, cleaning the brush between colors. If you want a true rainbow effect paint the colors in this order once around the inside of the piping bag: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. Place the meringue inside the piping bag. Don't worry if the colors smudge - it'll all be okay in the end. Pipe the first one or two meringues back into the bowl - these will have no rainbow stripe, and the rainbow colors will intensify as you pipe the meringue. Pipe each meringue in two swirls, one on top of the other, to give it the appearance of soft serve ice cream. Bake the meringues for 40 minutes, then turn the pan halfway and bake for another 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the pans cool. You can leave them overnight if desired.
Dip the set cones into the melted chocolate and then dip the edges in the multicolor nonpareils. Up to one hour before serving, dip the bottoms of the meringues in a little chocolate and set them on top of the chocolate-dipped cones. Allow them to stand until the meringue is stable. Serve immediately.
A few tidbits before I end this post!
I'd love for my puppy-loving pals to check out my Ice Pops for Pups post on the Etsy blog. Biscuit was on
Etsy's front page - what hoot!
Check out a recipe round up for summer cookout fare on TripAdvisor's FlipKey blog (you'll see a familiar watermelon cake there!).
Check out my latest article for Betty Crocker, it's a sprinkle-coated Confetti Cake Roll!
Cupcakes. Always cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI put sprinkles on everything. I go overboard sometimes!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes, of course!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child we had sprinkles on mini cupcakes and lightly buttered bread. These were called fairy cakes and fairy bread. My daughter was into fairies when she was little and we made these all the time. I make them now for the grandchildren and they love them just as much.
ReplyDeleteWe sprinkle everything! Yogurt, pancakes, the rims of our milk glass - you name it, we sprinkle! Call us fans if you like ;-)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous
ReplyDeleteI am a sprinkle addict! I sprinkle cookies, cakes, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered strawberries, anything!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteExtremely pretty! And your dog is irresistibly cute.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Ooh I know just the group of young ladies who would love these beautiful cones! I'll surprise em at their next meeting with them!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes!
ReplyDeleteThat sprinkle shaker is adorable.
ReplyDeleteSprinkles are fun for everyone, especially cupcakes and cake batters.
ReplyDeleteI like rainbow sprinkles in my blueberry pancakes. Funfetti Blueblerry Pancakes!!!
ReplyDeleteLove those! I shake sprinkles on cookies, cupcakes, blondies, and ice cream.
ReplyDeletelovely
ReplyDeleteCupcakes and cookies, usually.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Love your site so much! x
ReplyDeleteIce cream & cakes!
ReplyDeleteCute cones! I'm a sucker for rainbows! I love sprinkles on my ice cream!
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoy to put sprinkles on ice cream and cupcakes :-)
ReplyDeleteI shake sprinkles on everything I can, but mostly cupcakes
ReplyDeleteI have to show these to my friend - they would be great for pride events! And you can never have too many sprinkles :)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes, popcorn, cookies, ice cream...you name it. I'm sprinkle-obsessed.
ReplyDeleteEverything! Sprinkles rock!!
ReplyDeleteEverything!! Sprinkles rock!!
ReplyDeleteI will literally put sprinkles on anything. I even make my own flavored ones!
ReplyDeleteLove the rainbow colors and the sprinkles. My granddaughters would love these! :)
ReplyDeleteI put sprinkles on pretty much everything - sometimes even cinnamon rolls!
ReplyDeleteWhat don't you sprinkle sprinkles on? I put a few sprinkles in my protein healthy smoothie to pretend like I'm drinking a milkshake.
ReplyDeletecupcakes and doughnuts and cake pops !!! love them sprinkles!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool!! I absolutely love this idea!
ReplyDeleteI use sprinkles on cookies!
ReplyDeleteI like to put sprinkles in my cakes!
ReplyDeleteDonuts, for sure! And cupcakes too.
ReplyDeleteMagical cones.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely delicious looking.
These are amazing! Sprinkles on everything, especially ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI am SO making these! Thanks for all your inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteThat cloud looks like a My Little Pony. I put sprinkles on cupcakes, sweet pretzels, cookies, ice cream, fruit pizzas pretty much any sweet treat that needs a little color to "happy" it up :)
ReplyDeleteYou have the coolest goodies, love this idea, love the blog.
ReplyDeleteCupcakes and cookies!
ReplyDeleteI sprinkle sprinkles on anything! :)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes (mostly), marshmallow, doughnuts, mini cakes
ReplyDeletesprinkles go on everything!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! On cupcakes and cake pops!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes and cookies! And fairy bread
ReplyDeleteWhat are cupcakes without sprinkles? :) So cupcakes, of course!
ReplyDeleteMy sister sent this to me because she knows that I love rainbows, unicorns, meringue, sprinkles, and just about everything in this post.
ReplyDeleteMy sister sent me this post because I love rainbows, unicorns, sprinkles, meringues and just about everything in this post.
ReplyDeleteI sprinkle standard sprinkles (jimmies) on my ice cream. Cupcakes often get sanding sugar. Frozen yogurt gets chopped almonds.
I love sprinkles on mini cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteClearly everything is better with sprinkles!!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes, doughnuts, cookies, meringues, birthday cakes, trifle,strufoli,everything I want tot make special!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes and frosted brownies seem to get most of my sprinkles.
ReplyDeletethese are almost too pretty to eat.. i think you've stumbled onto an awesome idea here! love it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this. Sprinkles on cupcakes are my kids fav :)
ReplyDeleteI'm never fussy about what I put sprinkles on: cookies, birthday cake, ice cream, doughnuts... It's all good :)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes <3
ReplyDeleteCupcakes & Cookies!
ReplyDeleteCupcakes. And Chocolate Apples! But they go with anything, right? :)
ReplyDeleteI love sprinkles and put them on everything!
ReplyDeleteThese are SO gorgeous! Perfect for any celebration for kids or adults. I'm obsessed :)
ReplyDeleteSues
I almost never use sprinkles to be honest, but they do look awfully pretty when I see other people use them.
ReplyDeleteI had my bridal shower this past weekend and I received some unicorn pint glasses and a unicorn cork screw. Obviously I need this unicorn to complete my collection!
ReplyDeleteanything with frosting!
ReplyDeleteanything with frosting!
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing! They actually look really tasty and sooo pretty too. As I'm super partial to rainbows I hope you don't mind if I share these in my next round up post on my blog kerry cooks? I'll link back of course!
ReplyDeleteI put sprinkles on cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI need to try this recipe for the birthday party of my friends daughter! The unicorn is cute :)
ReplyDeleteSprinkle remind me of everything happy and summer.
ReplyDeleteI put sprinkles on donuts and milkshakes!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! :D definitely will try this week.
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute! Sprinkles can go on top of everything! Xx
ReplyDeleteEverything!!!
ReplyDeleteThey look almost but not quite too good to eat!
ReplyDeleteSprinkles were made for Fairy toast weren't they? Cakes too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd put the sprinkles on cake for sure. Perhaps your fairy bread cake?
ReplyDeleteI shake sprinkles on pretty much anything, including a cup of coffee a couple of weeks ago..
ReplyDeleteDoughnuts!
ReplyDeleteI put sprinkles on top of milkshakes!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big sprinkles fan, that being said, funfetti icing or a funfetti cake is my absolute FAVORITE. So yummy!!!
ReplyDeleteDoughnuts, cake, brownies, cupcakes, or anything that I can possible make funfetti!
ReplyDeleteLove the sprinkle shaker!
ReplyDeleteUmmm...what don't I put sprinkles on?!? Cupcakes are probably my favorite though ;)
ReplyDeleteThese look like so much fun to make!
ReplyDeleteHome made donuts (like the Homer Simpson variety)!
ReplyDeleteI loooove rainbow cakes, cookies - everything! I would put my sprinkles on this really fancy cake with a Danish flag inside that I'm about to make for my mom's birthday (surprise - I'm from Denmark!)
ReplyDeleteIce cream!
ReplyDeleteSprinkles make everything better! Esp. Cakes, cupcakes, and chocolates.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done it in years (probably when I was still in elementary school), but I used to put sprinkles on my vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. It was heavenly!
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I make shortbread every Christmas in the shape of stars and we always decorated them with sprinkles. They were one of my favourites when I was little (still are)!
And Funfetti cake/cupcakes are one of my favourites...no one has made that for my birthday yet, but I do love ice cream cakes for my birthday (even though it's in January lol!) and they sometimes have sprinkles. Not quite the same though lol.
These are so precious! The colors, the swirls, the chocolate ganache... I'd order a dozen and keep them all to myself! :) As for shaking sprinkles, I usually do that with frosted sugar cookies and baked glazed donuts. They make everything cuter!
ReplyDeleteThese are the cutest desserts!
ReplyDeleteI'm a rainbow sprinkles person my self, for everything!!
ReplyDeleteIce cream and cupcakes!
ReplyDeletecupcakes, cakes, cookies... anything is better with SPRINKLES! And a unicorn sprinkle shaker??? {GASP!}
ReplyDeleteI love sprinkles!! Ekkkk, just too adorable!
ReplyDeleteI am so making these!!! My seven-year old is the unicorn, rainbow queen!!
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteHello there sweetie ! I love this post so so much <3
ReplyDeleteI posted today about you on my web, feel free to pass by whenever you have time : http://www.kikiliciouss.com/blogs-i-love/
Wish u a lovely day
http://www.kikiliciouss.com/
xoxo Kiki
These are so fun!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time visiting your blog and I've been here for several hours now - I discovered you via a Pinterest pin. You have a fabulous blog with fantastic recipes - thank you. I also wondered if you are a writer? Call me a nerd, but I noticed your immaculate grammar and punctuation. lol Annie (I can't figure out how to comment with my name - I don't have a blog to link to).
ReplyDeleteBellissime !!!!
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who grew up calling "Sprinkles" "Jimmies". It might just be a mid-west thing.
ReplyDeletewow, these look amazing. I mean this is seriously like art, not just baking! -Saira @ www.thecookiethatgives.com
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh those look incredible! I can't believe they are desserts, almost too pretty to eat :)
ReplyDeleteThese ARE the most adorably fun treats! I've had a furrowed brow lately too. Maybe I need a batch of these!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! #omg
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/MrTimsIncredibleCreations
Your pup is just too cute!
ReplyDeleteAnd these meringue ice cream cones are just too pretty. Bet they taste like heaven, too.
Mmmmmm truffle.....
Pretty and creative..:) thank you for the tips and sharing this idea..:)
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! Love :)
ReplyDeleteI made these for my son's birthday today, and was very sad to notice that within an hour of being filled, the miniature cones had gone chewy. I'm wondering if you had this problem. They still look beautiful, but I hate eating cones that taste stale. Any suggestions for keeping them crisp?
ReplyDeleteHi Jennie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. My cones were chewy the second day but we didn't mind that. To avoid the cone getting stale, you could coat the inside of the cone with melted chocolate (paint it on with a kitchen-dedicated paint brush) and then let it harden at room temperature. Then, pour in the ganache. Let the ganache set up at room temperature instead of putting them in the freezer or refrigerator. This will take longer, but the cones will not be exposed to moisture in the refrigerator. I hope this helps! I'm sorry they weren't perfect, but it sounds like they were pretty.
xo
Heather, what happened to you? i have been checking your site for over a month (almost every day..) and there is nothing. I am worried you are not going to do this any more. My favorite site.. have pity on my poor husband, he needs to have something sweet every day, and i have not been baking because i don't have my inspiration! Please come back
ReplyDeleteThese are great! Our rainy weather this summer has brought us tons of rainbows, this is a perfect way to bring the beautiful rainbow indoors. :)
ReplyDeleteOh! I can't believe! They look so insane!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing!! So fun!
ReplyDelete