Pear Maple Cream Pavlova Recipes

PEAR PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Poach pears: Combine wine, the water, sugar, peppercorns, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and stir until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
• Carefully peel pears, leaving stems intact. Place in pan; cover, and cook, rotating occasionally, until bases of pears are easily pierced with a paring knife, 20 to 25 minutes, depending on ripeness of fruit. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath.
• Using a large slotted spoon, carefully transfer pears to a large metal bowl set in the ice bath. Pour poaching liquid through a fine sieve into bowl with pears; let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight to let pears absorb the poaching liquid.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees with rack in center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using an overturned bowl or cake pan as a guide, trace an 8-inch circle on the parchment; turn parchment over, marked side down.
• Make meringue base: Place egg whites, salt, and light-brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on low speed until well combined and no lumps of sugar remain. Increase speed to medium; beat until soft peaks form, about 9 minutes. With mixer running, gradually add superfine sugar. Continue beating until peaks are stiff and glossy, about 2 minutes more. Beat in vinegar and vanilla.
• Using a rubber spatula, spread the meringue into marked 8-inch circle on prepared baking sheet; form peaks around the edge and a well in the center.
• Bake meringue until crisp around the edge and just set in the center, about 1 1/4 hours. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack until meringue is cool enough to handle. Carefully peel off parchment; let meringue cool completely on rack.
• Make topping: In a small bowl, whip heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.
• Slice pears in half lengthwise; remove seeds and stems with a spoon or melon baller, and discard. Cut pears into 3/4-inch pieces, and place in a bowl; cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Bring 3 cups poaching liquid to a boil in a medium saucepan; reduce heat, and simmer until syrupy and reduced to about 1 cup, 20 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare another ice bath. Pour syrup into a clean bowl set in the ice bath; stir frequently until cool and thickened.
• To assemble, carefully place meringue on serving platter. Spoon whipped cream on top, and then add pears. Serve, sliced into wedges and drizzled with syrup.

MULLED WINE PEAR PAVLOVA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Draw a 9-inch circle on the parchment paper by tracing a 9-inch plate. Turn the paper over so the tracing doesn't end up on the Pavlova.
• Place the egg whites and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat the egg whites on high until firm, approximately 1 minute. Slowly add the sugar to the egg whites and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, approximately 2-3 minutes. Do not overmix.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and sprinkle the egg white mixture with cornstarch, vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Carefully, fold the ingredients into the egg whites using a rubber spatula. Mound the meringue into the center of the circle on the parchment and spread into a smooth disk. Make a shallow well in the center of the meringue - this will puff up during baking and will ensure you have a marshmallow-y center.
• Bake the meringue for 1 1/2 hours and then turn off the oven. Keeping the oven door closed, allow the meringue to cool completely in the oven for an additional hour. It will be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
• While the meringue is cooling, bring the wine to a boil. Add the mulling spices and the pears to the wine, then turn the heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the pears from the wine and cool on a plate. Add the sugar to the wine and bring to a boil. Boil the wine until reduced by 1/2, approximately 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, beat the remaining vanilla, confectioners' sugar and whipping cream with a hand mixer until soft peaks form, approximately 3-4 minutes.
• To assemble, place the meringue in the middle of a serving plate. Spread the whipping cream over the top of the meringue and then arrange the pears in the center of the whipped cream.
• Drizzle the syrup over the pears and the top of the meringue. Serve immediately.

MAPLE, APPLE & PECAN PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 110C/90C fan/gas ¼. Draw a 22cm circle on a sheet of baking parchment using a plate as a guide, then flip over onto a baking sheet. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks in a clean bowl using an electric whisk or in a stand mixer. Gradually add both of the sugars, 1-2 tbsp at a time, whisking continuously until the mixture is thick and glossy. Whisk in a pinch of salt, the vinegar and cornflour, then fold through the chopped pecans. Dollop the meringue into the centre of the circle, spreading it to the edge of the circle using a spatula or palette knife and creating a dip in the centre. Bake on the lower shelf of the oven for 2 hrs 30 mins-3 hrs, then turn off the oven and leave the meringue to cool inside for at least 6 hrs or overnight.
• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment, brush with a little oil, then spread out the whole pecans on it. For the topping, tip the caster sugar and a small pinch of sea salt into a small saucepan set over a low heat. Cook gently for 7-10 mins until the sugar melts and turns amber - do not stir, but swirl the pan occasionally. Tip the mixture over the pecans and leave to cool, then break the nuts into small pieces.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the apples with the lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar and maple syrup in a roasting tin and bake for 15-20 mins until tender. Leave to cool. Pour the baking juices into a pan and simmer for 3 mins until slightly reduced. Leave to cool slightly.
• For the cream, beat the sugar, vanilla and cream together to soft peaks using an electric whisk, then fold through the yogurt. Spoon this over the pavlova, then top with the baked apples, praline and baking juices from the apples.

PEAR & ALMOND PAVLOVA TRIFLE

Steps:

• Toss the pears with 4 tbsp sherry in a bowl, then cover and leave to steep while you make the meringues.
• Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2 and line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. To make the meringues, put the egg whites in a very clean bowl and beat with an electric whisk on medium speed for 3-4 mins until white, foamy and doubled in size. Alternatively, use a stand mixer. Increase the speed and add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, whisking each addition until completely incorporated before adding another. When all the sugar has been added, beat the mixture for a further 2-3 mins until it's glossy, shiny and holds stiff peaks on the beaters. Whisk in the vanilla until incorporated.
• Spoon six dollops of meringue onto the prepared baking sheet using a large metal spoon, leaving plenty of space between each. Bake for 1 hr 30 mins, then turn off the oven, leave the door slightly ajar and leave the meringues inside to cool to room temperature, about 1-2 hrs (see tip).
• Meanwhile, arrange the cake pieces in a large trifle bowl, or divide between eight dessert glasses. Top with the pears, reserving eight slices to decorate, and drizzle over any juices from the bowl. Pour the remaining sherry over the cake and fruit, then chill until ready to assemble.
• To serve, whip the cream with the icing sugar using an electric whisk to soft peaks. Crumble four of the meringues and gently fold into the whipped cream, then spoon the mixture over the trifle.
• Crumble over the remaining meringues and scatter with the amaretti biscuits and toasted almonds. Top with the reserved pear slices, then serve straightaway or chill until ready to serve - the meringue pieces will start to dissolve and lose their crunch over time, but the trifle will still be delicious for up to 3 hrs.