Pavlova Deluxe Recipes

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a clean, dry bowl until foamy. Add the granulated sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla and continue whipping until stiff, smooth and glossy, about 8 minutes more. On a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit a sheet pan, use a pencil to draw or trace a circle 9-inches in diameter. Line the sheet pan with the parchment, pencil side down (you should still be able to see the circle). Spoon the egg whites into the circle, using the back of the spoon to smooth the top and sides of the disk. Bake in the center of the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 degrees and bake until the meringue has puffed up and cracked on the top and the surface is lightly browned to the color of cafe au lait, about 45 minutes more. Turn off the oven, prop the oven door open, and let the pavlova cool in the oven at least 30 minutes, to room temperature. This ensures a gradual cooling, which protects the delicate meringue.
• Whip the cream and brown sugar together until stiff. Spoon it in the center of the cooled pavlova and spread out to within 1/2-inch of the edge. Arrange the slices of kiwi around the edge. Arrange the slices of strawberry in the middle. To serve, slice into wedges with a serrated knife.

PAVLOVA!!

Steps:

• Separate the whites and yolks while eggs are cold. Measure 150 ml/5oz egg whites (140 - 160ml is ok).
• Set whites aside to come to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 150C/300F (fan / convection) / 170C/340F (standard).
• Place whites in a bowl. Use a stand mixer (I use speed 7) or handheld beater (high) and beat until soft peaks form (Note 2)
• Add sugar 1 tbsp at a time, beating as you go. (Note 3)
• After adding the sugar, beat for a further 3 minutes or until thick and glossy. Rub a little of the fluff between your fingers, there should be no sugar grit - that means it is ready.
• Add cornflour and vinegar, beat on low for 5 - 7 seconds (or fold through with spatula) until just mixed through.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse sugar 12-15 times in a food processor so it is more fine like caster sugar. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy and soft peaks begin to form.
• With the mixer on medium-low speed (setting 3 on a 10-speed mixer), gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting 20-30 seconds between each addition to allow the sugar to better dissolve in the egg whites. Be sure to stop the mixer and scrape the bowl once or twice during this process.
• Once all of the sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed slightly (setting 4 on a 10-speed mixer) and let it whisk the egg whites and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved and the meringue is glossy and thick, with stiff peaks. This may take about 15 minutes at this speed, but don't rush it using a higher speed which is more likely to break the egg whites. You won't get the same wonderfully fluffy texture if you beat the meringue too quickly. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice to be sure it mixes evenly.
• While the egg whites and sugar are mixing, combine the cornstarch, lemon juice or vinegar, and vanilla in a small bowl to create a slurry. When the meringue is glossy and thick and you feel very few grains of sugar when rubbing a bit of it between your fingers, increase the speed slightly and add in the cornstarch slurry. Mix for 30 seconds, scraping the side of the bowl to be sure it is evenly combined.
• Pile the meringue into the middle of the parchment paper and use spatula or the back of a spoon to shape it into a mound roughly 8-inches in diameter. Use the spatula to gently push some of the meringue from the middle of the mound toward to edges to build them up so the pavlova is flat instead of rounded on top. You can make decorative swirls up the sides, if you wish, but smooth any pointy peaks with the spatula.
• Place in the preheated oven and immediately decrease the heat to 225 degrees F.
• Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off the oven with the pavlova inside and allow it to cool slowly for 2-3 hours. It will be crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.
• Just before serving, top the pavlova with a generous amount of sweetened whipped cream and your favorite fresh fruit, chocolate, lemon curd, or fruit sauce!

PERFECT PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Make sure all the equipment is clean and dry (mixer bowl, whisk, two spatulas, sugar bowl, bowls to separate egg yolks and whites etc.).
• Preheat oven to 300°F / 150°C. Cut a piece of parchment paper that's big enough to line a baking tray. Draw a circle that's 8 in / 20 cm in diameter on the underside of the parchment paper. Line the baking tray with the parchment paper (with the drawn circle on the underside). Set aside until needed.
• Carefully break an egg, and strain the egg white into a small clean bowl, taking care not to break the egg yolk. Once you've successfully separated the egg white, transfer this into a mixer bowl that is on a weighing scale. Repeat with more eggs, until you have 221 g of egg whites (give or take 5 grams). If you get any yolk into the egg white, you must discard the contaminated egg white and start again with another egg.
• Do not throw away the egg yolks, since you can make other recipes with them (see end of the post for some ideas). Store egg yolks in an air-tight container, with a layer of water to coat them on top.
• Once the egg whites are measured and in the mixer bowl, whisk the egg whites on speed 4 (on a 10 speed mixer) until it reaches soft peak stage (i.e. when you lift the whisk, soft peaks should be formed in the egg whites). This may take about 10 minutes.
• When the egg whites are at soft peak stage, lower the speed to 3, and add the sugar, 1 - 2 tbsp at a time. Make sure each addition of sugar is dissolved before adding the next. I wait about 30 seconds between each addition. Also scrape down the sides of the bowl at least once, while adding the sugar. Do not rush this process. This can take about 10 -15 minutes.
• Once all the sugar is added, increase the speed to 4, and whisk the egg whites just until the sugar has completely dissolved, and the egg whites are thick and glossy, and hold their shape well.
• Here's how to check if the sugar has dissolved - take a small amount of the meringue mix between your fingers and rub it. If it feels grainy or has any granules, then there's undissolved sugar. If you don't feel any granules or grittiness, then the sugar is completely dissolved. I also like to make sure that I don't see any undissolved sugar in a few other places in the meringue (under the whisk, in the bowl etc).
• Whisking egg whites until the sugar completely dissolves can take between 15 - 30 minutes, depending on the sugar you use. Do not rush this, and check on the meringue periodically to make sure you won't over-whisk it. Use the spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times as well.
• While the egg whites are being whisked, place the cornstarch and vinegar in a small bowl and mix to combine. The cornstarch mix will be a thick, paste like slurry. (please note cornstarch forms an ooblek that is a solid when sitting, but a paste when moving around).
• Once the sugar is dissolved, and the meringue is glossy and thick, immediately add the cornstarch and vinegar slurry. Increase the speed to about 5 - 6 and let the cornstarch slurry mix into the egg whites for about 30 - 45 seconds. Then stop whisking and remove the bowl from the mixer.
• Using a clean spatula, scoop the meringue in the bowl out on to the parchment paper with the drawn circle. Pile the meringue in the middle of the drawn circle. Be careful not to scoop out the top edge of meringue in the mixer bowl to prevent any undissolved sugar getting into the mixture (see picture in the post).
• Using an offset spatula, spread the meringue mix to fill the drawn circle on the parchment paper. Make sure the meringue mix is evenly tall.
• Once you have shaped the pavlova (see pictures in the post), use an offset spatula or palette knife to create furrows along the sides of the pavlova, going from bottom to top. Smoothen the edges to get rid of meringue points (that can burn easily). The pavlova should have soft, rounded edges. Create some swirls on the middle of the meringue on top as well.
• Transfer the cake into the preheated oven, and immediately reduce the temperature to 225°F / 110°C.
• Bake the pavlova for 90 minutes. Do not open the oven door during this time.
• When the 90 minutes are up, turn off the oven and allow the pavlova to cool down in the oven overnight (or up to 6 hours, until completely cooled down).
• Transfer the pavlova into an air-tight container and store in a cool dry place (free of draft), until ready to serve. Do not store in the fridge or freezer.
• Place the chilled whipping cream in a chilled bowl. Whisk the cream on medium speed. (Do not over-whisk the cream as it can become grainy. If you whisk the cream on high, you risk over-beating it, and the cream will deflate faster, making the pavlova runny.)
• While whisking the cream, add the confectioner's sugar and vanilla into it. Mix until you have stiff peaks, but the cream is still smooth.
• Spread the cream on top of the pavlova, and top it with the prepared fruits. Drizzle/spread the passion fruit of lemon curd over the top as well (if using).
• Serve immediately.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using an 8-inch bowl as a guide, trace the perimeter of the bowl onto a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer parchment paper, pencil side down, to a baking sheet. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and salt together until glossy peaks form. With mixer running, add sugar in three additions, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy. Sprinkle in cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla; gently fold to combine.
• Mound the meringue in the center of the 8-inch circle. Using a spatula, evenly spread meringue out towards the edges. Transfer baking sheet to oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 250 degrees. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Turn off oven and let meringue cool completely in oven. When meringue is cool and completely dry, top with whipped cream and desired fruits.

EASY MINI PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees with racks in the upper and lower third. Using a 3-inch bowl or round cutter, trace 6 circles on each of 2 sheets of parchment paper. Transfer each sheet of paper to a baking sheet tracing-side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and a pinch of salt on medium-high speed until soft, glossy peaks form. With mixer running, add granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat meringue on high until stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes more. Sprinkle in cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla; gently fold to combine.
• Using two spoons, scoop a mound of meringue in the center of each of the circles. Use the back of one spoon to create an indentation in the center of each mound. Transfer baking sheets to oven. Bake until firm and dry to the touch but not browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven and let meringues cool for 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Whisk cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Top meringues with a dollop of whipped cream and a spoonful of blueberries. Sprinkle lemon zest over berries. Serve immediately.

PAVLOVA DELUXE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease interior of 8 inch springform pan and dust lightly with cornstarch.
• Beat egg whites, preferably in a glass or ceramic bowl, until stiff and glossy. Make sure egg whites have absolutely no contact with grease (fresh or residual), or even a speck of yolk. Combine cream of tartar, white sugar, and cornstarch; gradually beat in to the egg whites. Sprinkle vinegar over egg white mixture, then fold it in very gently.
• Pile meringue into prepared pan. Spread to the sides leaving a slight depression in the center. Place in preheated oven. Close the oven door, and immediately turn oven down to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Bake for 75 to 90 minutes. Open oven door, but leave meringue in the oven for 15 more minutes. Remove meringue to a draft free spot. Very carefully remove rim of springform pan, and allow meringue to cool completely. There may be a slight sinking in the center. Carefully remove meringue from pan base, and place on serving platter.
• Whip cream, vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar until thick and firm. Gently spread over the meringue.
• Remove the pulp from the passion fruit, and spoon over cream. If using kiwi, peel and slice the fruit; arrange slightly overlapping slices in a pleasing design. Chill until serving time.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and cornstarch, beating until stiff and glossy. Beat in vinegar and vanilla. (Test meringue by rubbing between thumb and finger--it should not be grainy.) , Spread meringue on a foil or parchment-lined 12-in. pizza pan (or form in any shape desired). Bake at 275° for 50-60 minutes; turn off heat and allow to stand in oven for at least 1 hour. , Make cream layer by whipping cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff. Spread over top of cooled meringue. Arrange fruit in attractive patter over top of cream layer. Set aside. Combine glaze ingredients in small saucepan. Bring to a boil to thicken. Cool. Brush glaze over fruit to seal with small, soft brush. Chill until serving time.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. (Preliminary note: you will quickly reduce the oven to 200°F (93°C) in step 4.)
• With a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add the sugar in 2 additions, beating for 30 seconds between. Once all of the sugar has been added, turn the mixer up to high speed and continue beating until glossy stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. The peaks should be stiff enough that you can hold the whisk upright and the peaks won't move. Add the vanilla extract and beat for 1 more minute. The peaks should still be very stiff. If not, keep on mixing on high speed. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the cream of tartar and cornstarch.
• Spread the pavlova mixture into an 8-9-inch circle (see note for mini size). You can make decorative peaks with the back of a large spoon if desired. Make sure the edges are relatively tall and there is a nice dip in the center.
• Place pavlova in the oven. As soon as you close the oven door, reduce heat to 200°F (93°C). The pavlova will stay in the oven as it cools down to 200°F (93°C). Bake until the pavlova is firm and dry, about 90 minutes total. Rotate the baking sheet if you notice some spots browning. Try to limit how many times you open the oven as the cool air will interrupt the baking.
• Turn the oven off and let the pavlova cool inside the oven. Once the pavlova is cool, you can store it covered tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days. Or serve right away.
• Once cool, top the pavlova with whipped cream and assorted toppings. Slice and serve.

THE PERFECT PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit (135 C).
• You'll need to start with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and a clean, dry bowl.
• Pro Tip #1: The trick to the perfect pavlova is making sure you whip enough air into the egg whites, so if you start with a bowl that's even a little bit wet or contains even a trace of oil, the egg whites won't aerate properly and the pavlova will sink in the middle. Avoid using a plastic bowl since plastic can absorb oil. Glass bowls are best, and metal bowls work well too.
• Add the 4 egg whites to the bowl. When you're separating your egg whites from the yolks, make sure the yolks are intact. If any yolk gets into the whites they won't aerate properly and you'll have a hard time achieving the correct consistency for the meringue mixture . When you notice the egg whites have become quite foamy, begin to add the sugar very gradually, 1/4 cup at a time.
• Once you've added all the sugar let the mixture continue to whip on high speed until stiff peaks form and all the sugar has dissolved.
• Pro Tip #2: You will know you've allowed the mixture to whip long enough when you can see a stiff peak when you pull the whisk attachment out of the mixture and turn it upside down, and when you're able to rub a small amount of the mixture between your fingers and it feels smooth (no grains of sugar present). Don't stick your finger directly into the mixture! Your skin has oils on it that can affect the texture of the meringue so it's best to grab a clean, dry spoon and grab a bit of the mixture that way so you can rub it between your fingers.
• Next, add the cornstarch and a few drops of vanilla and whip only until it's combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl once.
• Pro Tip #3: Trace a circle (about 8 inches in diameteon a piece of parchment paper with a Sharpie. Turn over the piece of parchment paper and place it on a rimless baking sheet (a pizza pan also works welwith the marked side down. Scrape the mixture out of the bowl and onto the parchment paper, using the circle you traced as a guide for the size and shape of the pavlova. It's important to trace the shape on the underside of the parchment, and not the side that actually touches the pavlova as the marker will transfer to the pavlova during baking and discolour it.
• Pro Tip #4: Using a pallet knife or hard spatula, pull up the sides of the pavlova in a swirling motion to create a very shallow "crater" in the middle. This will help it keep its shape during baking. It may be tempting to shape the pavlova with a larger diameter than 8 inches, but try to keep it small and tall. This will create a more impressive appearance and ensure there's a thick layer of that delicious marshmallowy interior!
• Bake the pavlova in a 275 degree oven for about 80-90 minutes. A good thing to remember is that your pavlova will not over-bake unless it starts to brown.
• Pro Tip #5: The real danger is in under-baking as this will cause the pavlova to remain raw in the middle and collapse as soon as it begins to cool. Trust me, it's a huge disappointment when you have to start over because you under-baked it!
• Pro Tip #6: After the pavlova has finished baking turn the oven off and crack it open with a wooden spoon, allowing the pavlova to cool inside the oven. This will help it maintain its shape and allow the outer "shell" that develops to protect the marshmallowy interior.
• It is completely normal for the pavlova to crack during the baking or cooling process; this lends to its rustic appearance. Don't stress about cracks (but do cool it in the oven with the door cracked open to help prevent cracking!), but if cracks form and the pavlova collapses at all during the cooling stage, this means it is under-baked (insert sad face emoticon here).
• Once the pavlova has cooled completely (I usually leave the it in the oven like this for several hours, but you can also leave it overnight), carefully remove it from the oven and slide it off the parchment paper and onto a serving plate.
• Serve with whipped cream and fresh berries!

COOKIES-AND-CREAM PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Make the meringue: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add the egg whites and salt. Whisk on medium speed until frothy, about 1 minute. While the machine is still going, slowly add the sugar in a narrow stream, then raise the speed to high. Whisk the egg whites until glossy, stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. When you lift the whisk out of the bowl and turn it upside-down, a meringue mountain peak should form without flopping over.
• Coarsely crush or chop the 10 cookies and add to the meringue. Gently stir with a rubber spatula or large metal spoon until the cookies ripple throughout.
• Mound the meringue onto the center of the parchment-lined sheet pan and, using the spatula or spoon, gently form into a round that's about 8 to 9 inches wide and 2 to 3 inches high. You can encourage this shape by repeating a circular motion that swirls the meringue and creates lovely waves so the surface doesn't look smooth. When you're happy with your disk, make one final circular motion in the center to create an indent, where you'll pool the whipped cream later.
• Bake the meringue for 1 1/2 hours, then turn off the oven, leaving the door shut, and let the meringue finish cooking in the residual heat until crisp and dry on the outside with a springy, marshmallowy interior (but it should not be wet), 15 to 30 minutes. Remove the meringue from the oven and let it sit on the counter to cool completely.
• While the meringue cools, make the topping: In a large, clean bowl or in the stand mixer (with a clean bowl), whisk together the heavy cream, sugar and salt until billowy soft peaks form. When you turn the whisk upside-down, a peak of cream should flop over slightly like a Santa hat.
• Pile the whipped cream on top of the cooled meringue, leaving a border, and top the cream with the 5 cookies, crushing them over the cream with your hands or chopping them and sprinkling them on top. Slice and serve the Pavlova like a cake.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225°. Line a baking sheet with brown paper or parchment.Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a small bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla, and continue beating until stiff and glossy, but not dry.Spoon onto paper to form a 9-inch circle, slightly indenting center. Place in middle of oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours turn off oven and, leaving door closed, let stand in oven 1 hour longer. Remove from oven. Using a long knife, gently release from paper and cool on a wire rack. (If meringue sticks to paper, place paper on top of a damp terry cloth towel for 1 minute to release.)Beat cream and powdered sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Frost top and sides of Pavlova with cream and top with fruit. Cut into wedges to serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

PAVLOVA DELUXE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease interior of 8 inch springform pan and dust lightly with cornstarch.
• Beat egg whites, preferably in a glass or ceramic bowl, until stiff and glossy. Make sure egg whites have absolutely no contact with grease (fresh or residual), or even a speck of yolk. Combine cream of tartar, white sugar, and cornstarch; gradually beat in to the egg whites. Sprinkle vinegar over egg white mixture, then fold it in very gently.
• Pile meringue into prepared pan. Spread to the sides leaving a slight depression in the center. Place in preheated oven. Close the oven door, and immediately turn oven down to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Bake for 75 to 90 minutes. Open oven door, but leave meringue in the oven for 15 more minutes. Remove meringue to a draft free spot. Very carefully remove rim of springform pan, and allow meringue to cool completely. There may be a slight sinking in the center. Carefully remove meringue from pan base, and place on serving platter.
• Whip cream, vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar until thick and firm. Gently spread over the meringue.
• Remove the pulp from the passion fruit, and spoon over cream. If using kiwi, peel and slice the fruit; arrange slightly overlapping slices in a pleasing design. Chill until serving time.