The 5 Best Meringue Powders

If you’re an avid baker, you’ve probably already used meringue powder in your creations. In its most basic form, meringue powder is simply powdered egg whites, and provides a more simple meringue solution than beating raw egg whites until your forearm seizes up. Typically, you mix 2 tablespoons of meringue powder with 2 tablespoons of water and you instantly have the equivalent of one egg white. Additionally, meringue powder can be used to create royal icing - either in thick form for decorative piping or in thin form for a glossy covering - as well as several other frosting types. But as Thomas Jefferson said, not all meringue powders are created equal, so we’ve done the research to find the 5 best meringue powders available.

CK Products Meringue Powder

CK Is A-OK

With a perfect combination of versatility, taste, and value, CK Meringue Powder is the obvious choice for bakers.

Best Overall

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Perhaps the biggest factor in determining the best overall meringue powder is its versatility and ease-of-use. CK Products delivers on this with their meringue powder, which works equally well in meringues, buttercream frosting, royal icing, and boiled icing. CK’s proprietary formula helps bakers get all the “fluffiness” they need from whipped egg whites, but without the egg smell that can occur from cheaper powders. Additionally, CK is one of the best values on the market: the 2-bag, 32-ounce package comes out to just $.94 cents an ounce.

Pros:

Highly refined – no clumps
No aftertaste
Easy to use

Cons:

Some batches have reported a “graininess” in the powder
Doesn’t work well in high humidity environments

King Arthur Flour Meringue Powder

The King of Meringue Powders

From the most respected name in baking comes the meringue powder that’s the #1 choice of professional bakers.

Best Reliability

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If you’ve baked bread, cookies or pastries from scratch, you know about King Arthur. King Arthur makes the flour and yeast that has been the preferred choice of professionals for decades, mostly due to their quality and reliability. It only makes sense, then, that King Arthur would produce the preferred meringue powder of elite bakers. We found that King Arthur is a game-changer for fondants especially, as it helps create that perfect texture every time. Just remember, you’ll pay for what you get: at $2.25 an ounce, it’s not an inexpensive meringue powder.

Pros:

Great taste
Fewer steps in preparation
Long shelf life

Cons:

Sells out quickly
Not the best for bakers on a budget

Chefmaster Deluxe Meringue Powder

Don’t Passover This Powder

Chefmaster provides a high-quality, low-priced option for all your kosher baking needs.

Best Kosher Powder

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Bakers have been using Chefmaster products for years, but did you know they also produce a meringue powder that’s both Kosher certified and Halal certified? Best of all, it’s made from the same quality products that have made Chefmaster a consistent meringue powder for boiled icing and buttercream frosting especially. We recommend that if you use meringue powder consistently, purchase the larger-sized container and reduce your overall cost from $1.80 to $1.05 per ounce.

Pros:

Made in the USA
All ingredients FDA approved
Easy-to-understand directions on label

Cons:

Does not react well to cold temperatures
Consistency can be finicky

Vor Vegan Meringue Powder

Egg-scuse Me, But I’m Vegan

In the rapidly-growing field of vegan baking, Vor provides the highest-quality alternative to egg whites.

Best Vegan Option

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Vor has created the perfect vegan meringue powder for baking and decorating. The secret ingredient (well, not-so-secret now), is Aquafaba Powder, which vegan cooks and bakers may recognize as the liquid created from boiling chickpeas. This thick fluid can serve as an egg white substitute and provide the texture bakers need from eggs. Vor Vegan Meringue powder is also free of other dairy products (it’s 100% plant-based) and is gluten-free, not to mention Certified Kosher. You’ll also be happy to hear that the packaging is BPA-free. Best of all, it’s as easy to use as other meringue powders – simply add water and you’ve got vegan royal icing, gingerbread frosting and other goodies.

Pros:

Shelf-stable up to two years
Soy-free
Easy instructions for three variations included

Cons:

An expensive alternative
Will need to experiment to find preferred consistency

Judee’s Meringue Powder Mix

G(l)uten Tag!

For gluten-free bakers, Judee’s opens up a new world of frosting and meringue possibilities.

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It may seem counterintuitive that an egg-based product isn’t gluten-free by nature. Why should there be any wheat products in meringue powder? The truth is, there aren’t any wheat products in the ingredient lists of most meringue powders, but many of these powders are made in a facility in which wheat and nut products are also produced and packaged, which may cause a gluten contagion. Judees, however, is produced in a dedicated gluten and nut-free facility, ensuring a powder without contamination. In addition, Judee’s meringue powder is free of preservatives and other additives frequently used in other powders.

Pros:

Money-back satisfaction guarantee
Superfine sugar packet included
Perfect for stabilizing buttercream

Cons:

Not optimal for royal icing
Can harden quickly

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all meringue powders an egg substitute?

No. It is important that you read the ingredient label on any meringue powder you purchase, as most of them are made with powdered egg whites. This can include powders that have the phrase “Egg Substitute” on the label. If you are vegan or have an egg allergy, double-check the ingredients to make sure you’re getting a safe product.

What’s the difference between meringue powder and cream of tartar?

Though both products are used in creating meringue, cream of tartar is not the base of the meringue, it’s a stabilizer for egg whites. Cream of tartar is added to a meringue to keep the egg whites from collapsing.

Should meringue powder be stored in the refrigerator?

Unless the label says specifically to do so, we recommend you keep your meringue powder in a cool, dry place. It may seem strange, since eggs are typically kept in the refrigerator, but moisture should be avoided with your dry meringue powder.