Pavlova Wreath With Berries And Creme Fraiche Recipes

PAVLOVA CAKE WITH BERRIES & CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½. Draw three circles, 20cm, 16cm and 12cm on baking parchment (a compass is really good for this). Flip the paper onto baking sheets, so the pen is underneath.
• Whisk whites until stiff peaks form on the ends of the electric whisk. Tip in a quarter of the sugar, whisk back to stiff, then repeat once adding the cornflour and vinegar, before folding in remaining sugar. Spoon the mixture into the circles, shaping to fill, smoothing the centre but leaving the edges rough. Bake for 30 mins then turn down to 100C/80C fan/gas ¼ and cook for 1½ hrs more - they will peel away from the parchment when done. Cool in oven with the door slightly ajar. Meringues will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container.
• Whip cream with the icing sugar and vanilla, drop in the berries and fold just once or twice. Chill for up to 24 hrs until ready to assemble - the pPavlovas are best assembled no more than 1 hr before serving.
• Peel the meringues completely from paper and stack on a serving plate, layering with cream. Arrange a few more berries on top, then dust with icing sugar.

PAVLOVA WREATH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Trace a 10-inch-diameter circle on a piece of parchment with a pencil. Trace a 5 1/2-inch-diameter circle in center of larger circle. Place on a baking sheet, tracing-side down.
• Whisk egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla.
• Transfer mixture to a large piping bag fitted with a large plain tip (such as Ateco #808). Pipe 10 evenly spaced mounds (each about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches high) onto parchment in a circle, using traced ring as a guide. With the back of a spoon, create a hollow in each mound. Bake until ring easily lifts off parchment, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Turn off heat; let stand in oven 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add cranberries; return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Let cool in liquid. Drain cranberries and transfer to a wire rack; let dry 30 minutes. Roll 3 tablespoons of individual berries in sugar to coat.
• To serve, whisk skyr with heavy cream and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until silky; divide among hollows in pavlovas. Garnish with sugared and unsugared cranberries, pomegranate arils, currants, and mint.

PAVLOVA WREATH WITH BERRIES AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Use a pencil to trace a 10-inch-diameter circle on a piece of parchment. Trace a 6-inch-diameter circle in center of larger circle. Place on a baking sheet, tracing-side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla.
• Divide mixture between two large piping bags fitted with a 3/4-inch plain round tip. Pipe 10 evenly spaced mounds (each about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches high) onto parchment in a circle using traced ring as a guide. With the back of a spoon, create a hollow in each mound. Bake until ring easily lifts off parchment, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Turn off oven; let stand in oven 1 hour.
• Gently roll some of the berries in a damp paper towel, then roll in remaining 3 tablespoons sugar to lightly coat.
• To serve, whisk creme fraiche until thickened, then fold in lemon zest. Whisk cream to medium peaks, then fold into creme fraiche; divide among hollows in pavlovas. Garnish with sugared and unsugared berries.

PAVLOVA WITH BERRIES AND LEMON CURD WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the pavlova: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and line 2 sheet trays with silicone pads.
• Put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk just to break up the egg. Add the granulated sugar and mix on medium until it holds stiff peaks. Add the powdered sugar and salt and whisk on medium-high to tighten, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl down with a spatula and whisk on high for 30 seconds just to make sure it's even in texture with glossy hard peaks.
• Put the mixture into a disposable pastry bag and snip off the top inch. Pipe the egg white mixture on the lined sheet trays in six 3- to 4-inch filled-in circles, as if you are putting icing on top of a cupcake. Create a well on each pavlova using the bottom of a spoon, then bake until the pavlovas are hard to the touch, about 2 hours. Allow to cool completely at room temperature on a wire rack before serving.
• For the lemon curd whipped cream: Meanwhile, put the juice, zest, yolks, granulated sugar and scraped vanilla seeds into a medium pot. Turn the heat on medium-high and cook, constantly stirring with a rubber spatula in a figure 8 motion until it coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Stir in the butter, salt and 1 cup cream until completely combined. Remove from the heat and pour through a fine mesh strainer into a shallow dish. Allow to cool for a minute or two before covering with plastic wrap, touching the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Put the dish in the refrigerator and allow to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Whip the remaining 3 cups cream to medium peaks in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Fold the cooled lemon curd into the whipped cream and keep cold until ready to assemble.
• When ready to serve, place the lemon curd whipped cream in a pastry bag and snip off just the top 1/2-inch. Put 1 small dollop on each serving plate. Place a pavlova on top and lightly press down into the lemon cream to prevent it from sliding. Pipe 1 large dollop of lemon curd whipped cream into the center of the pavlova where you created the well. Garnish with the berries on top of the whipped cream and on the plate, giving it a natural look, rather than an overly plated look. Dust with the powdered sugar.