Meringues make an instant party — especially with the addition of chocolate. Just be sure you allow time for them to dry out for a couple of hours in the oven after baking.

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees.
2. Separate the eggs and place the whites in a mixing bowl (reserve the yolks for another use). Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the whites with cream of tartar and vanilla, until soft peaks form, a few minutes. Continue beating as you add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time. When the mixture forms stiff peaks, fold in the chocolate chips, gently, with a spoon.
3. Drop the batter by tablespoons onto parchment paper or Silpat-lined cookie sheets (meringues will stick to unlined pans). Bake for 1 hour until the meringues are dry, then turn off the oven and let the meringues sit another two hours in the cooling oven.