Chocolate Pavlova With Winter Fruit Recipes

Steps:

• Make the Pavlova: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until very foamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time (this should take about 3 minutes). Continue beating until stiff and shiny, about 3 more minutes.
• Sift the cocoa powder over the egg white mixture and sprinkle with the chopped chocolate; fold to combine. Spread the meringue into an 8-inch circle on the prepared baking sheet, making a shallow well in the center. Reduce the oven temperature to 225 degrees F; bake until firm and dry, about 2 hours. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly. Let the meringue cool in the oven, about 3 hours. Carefully remove from the parchment and transfer to a platter.
• Make the toppings: Beat the heavy cream, sour cream, vanilla and 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Toss the strawberries with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Top the Pavlova with the whipped cream and strawberries.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Whisk the egg whites just until they form stiff peaks. Gradually whisk in the sugar, a couple of tbsp at a time, making sure you whisk really well between each addition. When all the sugar has been added, keep whisking for a couple of mins until the mixture is really thick and glossy and looks a little like shaving foam. Carefully stir in the cornflour, vinegar, cocoa powder and chocolate with a large metal spoon, just until incorporated.
• Tear off a sheet of baking parchment and use to cover a baking sheet. Mark a 25cm circle on the paper. Spoon over the meringue mixture, swirling into the circle, building up the sides a little, ready to keep the filling in. Cook for 1½ hrs. Leave to cool.
• When ready to serve, whip the double cream and icing sugar together in a big bowl until soft peaks form. Spoon the cherry compote over the meringue, dollop over the cream, then swirl around. Arrange a few of the fresh cherries on top to finish.
• Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Whisk the egg whites just until they form stiff peaks. Gradually whisk in the sugar, a couple of tbsp at a time, making sure you whisk really well between each addition. When all the sugar has been added, keep whisking for a couple of mins until the mixture is really thick and glossy and looks a little like shaving foam. Carefully stir in the cornflour, vinegar, cocoa powder and chocolate with a large metal spoon, just until incorporated.
• Tear off a sheet of baking parchment and use to cover a baking sheet. Mark a 25cm circle on the paper. Spoon over the meringue mixture, swirling into the circle, building up the sides a little, ready to keep the filling in. Cook for 1½ hrs. Leave to cool.
• When ready to serve, whip the double cream and icing sugar together in a big bowl until soft peaks form. Spoon the cherry compote over the meringue, dollop over the cream, then swirl around. Arrange a few of the fresh cherries on top to finish.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• Beat together egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar to soft peaks in a large bowl. Beat in sugar, about three tablespoons at a time, until stiff and glossy peaks form. Sift cocoa and cornstarch over egg whites, and gently fold in. Gently fold in vinegar, vanilla, and melted chocolate.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread the meringue into an eight inch circle. Bake in the center of the oven for 1 1/2 hours until the outside is crispy and the center is soft. Using a metal spatula, loosen the meringue from the parchment paper, and remove to cool on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely, about one hour.
• Whip cream with the sugar, and spread over the meringue. Arrange strawberries decoratively over the top, and drizzle with chocolate.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Invert a small bowl onto the parchment paper and trace the rim with a pencil. Repeat twice more. Flip parchment paper over.
• Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks begin to form. Gradually add white sugar, with the mixer running. Whisk superfine sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Gradually beat into the meringue. Continue beating meringue until stiff, glossy peaks form. Beat in orange blossom water and vinegar.
• Spoon meringue into the traced circles. Make the borders higher than the center, to leave room for the filling.
• Bake meringues in the preheated oven until firm and dry to the touch, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the lemon curd. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch of water and bring to a bare simmer.
• Whisk lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, egg yolks, and salt together in a glass bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water. Cook, whisking constantly, until curd foams, then thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove the bowl from the simmering water. Gradually whisk in coconut oil until melted and incorporated.
• Strain the curd through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids left in the strainer. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Transfer to the refrigerator.
• Turn off oven and keep meringues inside until completely dry, about 1 hour.
• Combine heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and orange blossom water in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Spoon lemon curd into the center of the cooled meringues. Mound whipped cream over the curd. Arrange grapefruit, orange, and persimmon slices on top. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the top.

Steps:

• For the meringue: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip or whisk attachment, whip together the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until the mixture looks frothy. Then, gradually whip in the sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add the vanilla and salt, and whip to medium-stiff peaks.
• Gently fold in the chopped chocolate, then dollop the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into a circle about 6 inches wide. Use the back of a spoon to make the interior of the meringue slightly shallower than the exterior "walls."
• Transfer to the oven, immediately lower the temperature to 200 degrees F and bake until the outside of the meringue is dry to the touch and appears set, about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the meringue inside the oven for 1 hour to fully dry.
• For the topping: In a medium saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer over medium heat. Add the mint, cover, remove from the heat and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the mint and chill the cream for at least 1 hour.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whip or whisk attachment, whip the chilled cream and vanilla on medium speed. Sprinkle in the sugar and cocoa while whipping. Continue to whip to medium peaks.
• To serve, place the cooled meringue on a serving dish or platter. Spoon the chocolate mint whipped cream on top of the meringue and garnish with the chopped chocolate.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Draw four 4-inch circles or one 8-inch circle onto a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer parchment, traced side down, to a baking sheet.
• Whisk egg whites and a pinch of salt with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With machine running, add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Sprinkle in vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla; whisk until just combined.
• With a rubber spatula, mound meringue onto parchment in center of circle or circles. Evenly spread meringue toward edges. Transfer to oven, and immediately reduce temperature to 200 degrees. Bake until meringue lifts off parchment easily, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn off oven. Let meringue cool completely in oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Once meringue is cool and completely dry, scoop out passion fruit over tops. Garnish with whipped cream. Serve immediately.