If your meringue cookies are soft and chewy, the most likely reason is that they were under-baked and didn't have enough time to dry out in the oven. If this is the case, you can simply return them to the warm oven to continue baking a bit longer.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlso, meringue will become soft and chewy over time as it absorbs moisture from the air. For this reason, meringues are best enjoyed the day that they are made.