Cherry Almond Vanilla Custard Pavlova Recipes

CHERRY, ALMOND & VANILLA CUSTARD PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Using an 18cm round cake tin or plate as a guide, draw a circle on the parchment, then flip it over. Heat the oven to 130C/110C fan/gas ½.
• Rub the reserved lemon half around the inside of a large bowl or stand mixer, then wipe with kitchen paper to remove any butter or oil. Tip in the egg whites and whisk with an electric whisk or the mixer on a low speed until the whites form small, foamy bubbles, about 1-2 mins. Keep going until the mix looks like shaving foam, then add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until it's a thick, glossy meringue. Rub some between your fingers - if you can feel any grains of sugar, keep whisking for a few minutes. Add the cornflour, lemon juice and vanilla, and whisk for another 30 seconds.
• Spoon the meringue into the centre of the circle and spread it out to the edges with a palette knife. Swipe the knife around the edge, then smooth the top.
• Bake for 1 hr 15 mins, then turn the oven down to 100C/80C fan/gas ¼ and bake for 1 hr. Turn the oven off and leave the pavlova inside to cool for at least 2 hrs, or overnight.
• When ready to serve, carefully invert the pavlova and peel away the parchment. Don't worry if it cracks a little - it will be covered by the topping.
• To make the topping, heat the double cream with the milk in a small pan until steaming. Remove from the heat. Whisk together the egg yolks, cornflour, vanilla extract and caster sugar in a bowl. Slowly pour this over the cream mixture, stirring continuously, then return the pan to a low-medium heat. Cook for 5 mins, stirring, until thickened - it should coat the back of a spoon and leave a channel when you run a finger through it. Transfer to a bowl and cover the surface with baking parchment to prevent a skin forming. Chill for at least 1 hr, until thick enough to spread.
• Pit and halve the cherries (leaving a few whole, if you like). Toss with the icing sugar and a dash of cherry liqueur or more vanilla extract, then leave to macerate for at least 30 mins. Spoon the cherry jam or compote over the centre of the pavlova, and spread it out to the edges. Beat the chilled custard briefly, then spread it over the jam. Top with the macerated cherries and scatter over the toasted flaked almonds. Best served straightaway but leftovers will keep in the fridge for two days.

CHERRY ALMOND CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray 4 (8-ounce) ramekins or custard cups with cooking spray. Stir pie filling, preserves, dried cherries, and almond extract in a large bowl to blend. Spoon cherry mixture into ramekins. Place ramekins on a cookie sheet.
• Toss oats, brown sugar, almonds, and cinnamon in medium bowl to combine. Drizzle melted butter over; stir to moisten. Sprinkle topping over cherry mixture. Bake for 20 minutes, or until topping is golden and cherry mixture bubbles. Serve warm with whipped topping or sour cream.

CHERRY-ALMOND VANILLA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Allow butter and egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line twenty-four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups (or coat with cooking spray). In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup combine buttermilk and cherry juice; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, vanilla, and almond extract; beat until combined. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups. Press a cherry half into batter in each cup.
• Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.
• For the frosting: In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in maraschino cherry juice and almond extract. Gradually beat in additional powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in additional juice or milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until frosting reaches a spreading consistency. Makes 2 cups frosting.
• Using a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe Cherry-Almond Butter Frosting over tops of cupcakes. If desired, top with cherries. Makes 24 (2-1/2-inch) cupcakes.

GRANDMA PERRITT'S PAVLOVA WITH CUSTARD CREAM

Steps:

• Heat your oven - as hot as it will go while you prepare the pav mix.
• Place baking paper on a pizza tray and set aside.
• In a large clean bowl (metal or glass) beat the egg whites on high until thick and "soft peak stage" (when you lift the beaters up, the egg whites resemble whipped cream).
• Turn the beaters down to low, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Once all in, return to high and beat for 7-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved (check by rubbing a small amount of mix inbetween your thumb and finger - there should be no grit).
• Turn the beaters to low and add the flour and vinegar, mix well.
• Use a metal spoon to scrape out the mix onto the lined tray.
• I aim for a 10 inch circle, it will be a mound.
• Place in a hot oven and turn down to 130oC straight away. Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and leave for another hour. Open the door and leave for another hour. The pav needs to be cold when it leaves the oven (this makes the outside crunchy and the inside soft marshmellowy).
• Dress just before serving.
• Custard cream:.
• In a bowl (medium) beat the egg yolks, flour, sugar and vanilla.
• In a saucepan gently heat the cream and milk over a low heat.
• Pour the yolk mix in and whisk constantly until thick and almost to boiling point.
• Set aside and cool for 5 mintues, then pour into a clean bowl.
• Place cling wrap over the top (to catch the skin so you can discard it).
• Serve on the side (cold) to a dressed pavlova.

CHERRY, ALMOND & VANILLA WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 9-inch cake pans by buttering, flouring and lining with parchment paper rounds. (Or use recipe #452719 for an easier liner.).
• Pour milk, egg whites, almond and vanilla extracts into a glass bowl and mix with a fork until combined.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer at slow speed. Add butter and beat at slow speed until mixture forms moist crumbs, Add all but ½ cup of the milk mixture and beat at medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. Add remaining ½ cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Scrape down sides of bowl and then beat for about 30 seconds more.
• Divide batter evenly among three cake pans. Bake 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center.
• Let cakes rest for 10 minutes. Loosen from the side of the pan and and invert onto a wire rack. Remove parchment paper or wax paper. Cool completely.
• To make cherry filling, cook cherry pie filling over medium heat in a saucepan until warm. Add one teaspoon almond extract and cook five minutes more, stirring carefully. Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl and add just enough to thicken the cherries, stirring constantly so no clumps form. Remove from heat and cool.
• To make frosting, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until all is incorporated.
• To assemble, top one layer of cake with a thin layer of frosting. Then spoon a layer of cherries on top. Top with next layer of cake and repeat the process until assembled. Frost top and sides of cake.