Berry Pavlova Recipes

BERRY PAVLOVA WITH LEMON WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare the Meringue Shell: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C) with a rack in the center position. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Trace a 8-inch diameter circle on the parchment paper (using a 8-inch cake pan or plate) with a pencil. Flip the parchment paper over, so that the pencil side is facing down.
• Place the egg whites and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk over medium speed until the egg whites until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Increase the speed to high. Slowly add the sugar, sprinkling it one tablespoon at a time, and continue beating for roughly 3 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the bowl with spatula and continue to whisk over high speed until the meringue mixture reaches stiff peaks and is glossy, an additional 3 to 5 additional minutes.
• Add the vanilla extract, cornstarch, and lemon juice, and whisk at high speed for an additional minute until well combined. Fold with a spatula to ensure that all the ingredients are incorporated well.
• Using a spatula, gently transfer the meringue to the center of the circle on the parchment-lined sheet pan. Using a small offset spatula or knife, smooth the meringue into a thick disk using the edges of the circle as a rough guide. Use the offset spatula to create a slight dip in the center to hold the cream and berries. The meringue should be roughly about 2½ to 3 inches tall.
• Bake the meringue until crisp, pale in color, and dry to touch, roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes. If the meringue is not crisp or dry to touch, bake it for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and use a heat-proof utensil to prop open the oven door. Allow the meringue to cool completely in the oven, about 1 to 1½ hours. It should be crisp, dry to touch, and have a slightly cracked appearance once cooled.
• Prepare the lemon berry filling: Just before serving, place the chilled heavy cream in a clean bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment - or alternatively, use a hand-held mixer. Beat the cream, starting at a low speed and gradually increasing to high, until it reaches soft peaks. Using a spatula, fold in the lemon curd, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
• Assemble: Carefully transfer the meringue shell to a flat serving platter; meringues are very fragile, so you may want to use the parchment paper to do this or alternatively, serve it on the sheet pan. Top the meringue with the lemon curd cream, followed by the mixed berries, and dust with powdered sugar, if using.
• Serve in large scoops. Pavlova is best enjoyed the day it is baked, as meringue will gain moisture and lose its crispness with time; leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

MINI BERRY PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl on medium speed with an electric mixer until until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Slowly add sugar, cornstarch, and cream of tartar and continue beating on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract and salt and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Scoop the meringue with a spring-hinged scoop onto the prepared baking sheet and shape into individual rounds about 3 inches in diameter. Use the back of a spoon to create an indentation in the center of the meringue.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the meringue is dry to the touch, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer the parchment with the meringues on it to a wire rack and allow to cool. Once meringues are cool to the touch, remove from parchment and place directly on the rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• When ready to serve, top each meringue with whipped cream and garnish with fresh berries.

TWO-BERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment; draw a 10-in. circle on paper. Invert paper., Preheat oven to 300°. Add cream of tartar to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold in cornstarch and lemon juice., Spoon meringue onto prepared pan; with the back of a spoon, shape into a 10-in. circle, forming a shallow well in the center. Bake until meringue is set and dry, 45-55 minutes. Turn off oven (do not open oven door); leave meringue in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven; cool completely on baking sheet., To serve, toss berries with 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until soft peaks form., Remove meringue from parchment; place on a serving plate. Spoon whipped cream over top, forming a slight well in the center. Top with berries.

ORANGE-BERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Draw a 9-inch circle on a large sheet of parchment paper. Place parchment on a large baking sheet with the circle facing down and centered in the pan.
• Beat together egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on high speed with an electric mixer in a bowl until soft peaks form. Add in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating continuously, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts. Sift cornstarch over the egg mixture and gently fold in until just combined.
• Pour egg mixture into the center of the circle on the parchment paper on the prepared pan. Starting from the center and moving outwards, gently form the meringue into a round no larger than the drawn circle. Create an impression in the center of the meringue so the edges are slightly taller than the middle.
• Place into the preheated oven and bake until the pavlova feels firm and dry to the touch, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Turn the oven off without removing pavlova. Leave in the oven to cool for at least 1 hour.
• Pour heavy whipping cream into a large bowl. Beat at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Add orange zest and vanilla extract; beat until combined.
• Gently remove pavlova base from the parchment paper and place onto a serving tray. Top with whipped cream, oranges slices, and mixed berries. Serve immediately.

BERRY PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of parchment.
• In a food processor, pulse the sugar to make it fine (or use extra-fine sugar) and set aside. In a medium glass bowl, whip the egg whites with an electric mixer on low speed until foamy, not quite making peaks. Add half of the sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. In a small bowl, sift the remaining sugar with the cornstarch. Add to the egg whites along with the vanilla and vinegar and blend until incorporated.
• Spoon the mixture into 4 piles on the prepared baking sheet. Use a spoon to create a well in each pile. Bake for 40 minutes, and then turn off the oven and leave the pavlovas in the oven untouched for another 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream until it makes soft peaks. Top the cooled pavlovas with the whipped cream and strawberries. Make a quick sauce by thinning the jam with the hot water and drizzle over the pavlovas. Serve.

STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• To prepare meringue: heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and draw a circle on the paper using an 8- or 9- inch cake pan as a guide. Flip the parchment over so the pencil marking is facing down (this ensures that the pencil won't transfer to the meringue). In bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites and salt. Begin beating at low speed, slowly increasing to high. Continue until satiny peaks begin to form; gradually beat in sugar a tablespoon at a time until meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Sprinkle in cornstarch, white-wine vinegar and vanilla, and fold in gently. Mound onto parchment within circle, and shape into a disk, flattening top and smoothing sides. Place in oven, and immediately reduce heat to 300 degrees. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off heat, and allow meringue to cool completely in oven.
• To prepare topping: in a mixing bowl, combine strawberries, vanilla, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• To serve, carefully peel off parchment and place meringue on a platter or cake stand. Gently crack the top with the back of a soup spoon to make a shallow nest for the whipped cream and berries. Whip cream until it is thick enough to hold peaks, and spoon it evenly over meringue. Cover cream with strawberries, allowing a small amount of their liquid to dribble onto cream. Serve immediately.