Chocolate Banana Pavlovas Food

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Draw a 9-inch-diameter circle on the paper with a pencil, tracing a round cake tin that size.
• Flip the paper over so your meringue doesn't touch the pencil marks - you'll still be able to see the circle.
• Make the meringue: Beat the egg whites with a mixer until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Add the chocolate: Sprinkle the cocoa, vinegar and then the chopped chocolate over the egg whites. Gently fold everything with a rubber spatula until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in.
• Shape the meringue: Secure the parchment to the baking sheet with a dab of meringue under each corner. Mound the meringue onto the parchment within the circle, smoothing the sides and the top with a spatula.
• Bake the meringue: Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 300 degrees F and cook for one to one and a quarter hours. When it's ready, it should look crisp and dry on top, but when you prod the center you should feel the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers.
• Let it cool: Turn off the oven and open the door slightly; let the chocolate meringue disk cool completely in the oven. When you'reready to serve, invert onto a big flatbottomed plate and peel off the parchment.
• Decorate the Pavlova: Whisk the cream till thick but still soft and pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter the raspberries on top. Coarsely grate the chocolate haphazardly over the top so that you get curls of chocolate rather than rubble, as you don't want the raspberries' luscious color and form to be obscured. You want the Pavlova to look like a frosted cake.

CHOCOLATE BANANA POPS

Steps:

• Insert a toothpick into each banana piece. Arrange bananas, toothpick side up, on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm, 2 hours.
• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips in 10-second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Working quickly, dip each banana piece in chocolate, shake off excess, and cover with sprinkles. Chocolate should set quickly, but if necessary, freeze pops to harden coating before serving.

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Make the meringue: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Draw an 8-inch circle on parchment, then flip. Mix whites, sugars, and salt in a mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugars dissolve and mixture is warm, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
• Sift cocoa powder over meringue, and fold until barely any streaks remain. Using an offset spatula or a large spoon, spread meringue into a round, using circle as a guide. (Be careful not to spread out too much; meringue will spread more during baking.) Form a well in center, being careful not to spread meringue too thin.
• Bake meringue until dry to the touch, about 1 hour. Let cool on sheet on wire rack. Meringue will keep, covered, for up to 1 day.
• To assemble pavlova: Spread dark-chocolate cream evenly in center of meringue, leaving a 1/2-inch border from edge. Spread whipped cream over chocolate cream. Garnish with chocolate curls, and serve immediately.

BANANA SPLIT PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Make the meringue: Preheat the oven to 275˚ F. Trace a 9-inch circle on a sheet of parchment paper, then flip it over and use it to line a baking sheet (you should be able to see the circle through the paper).
• Combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes. With the mixer still on, gradually sprinkle in the sugar (about 1 tablespoon at a time), beating 20 to 30 seconds between additions to be sure the sugar dissolves completely. After the sugar is incorporated, continue to beat on medium speed until the meringue is very thick, shiny, stiff and totally smooth, 5 to 10 more minutes (check occasionally by rubbing a bit between your fingers to feel for any sugar granules). Add the cornstarch, vanilla and vinegar and beat to just combine, 20 to 30 more seconds.
• Mound the meringue in the middle of the traced circle on the baking sheet and spread into a 9-inch round. Make a slight indentation in the center for the toppings, then use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to make swoops in the meringue. Place in the oven on the middle rack, then immediately reduce the temperature to 225˚ F. Bake until crisp and dry, about 2 1/2 hours (do not open the oven during baking); the meringue should still be white or a very pale cream color. Turn off the oven and let the meringue cool completely in the oven, 2 to 3 hours.
• Make the toppings: Toss the strawberries and pineapple in separate small bowls with 1 teaspoon sugar each; let stand 15 to 20 minutes until juicy. In a medium bowl, whisk the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Carefully peel the meringue off the parchment and place on a platter. Top with small scoops of ice cream, nestling the banana slices between the scoops. Top with the whipped cream, strawberries, pineapple, hot fudge, cherries and peanuts.

CHOCOLATE BANANA PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to very slow (120°C/100°F fan forced). Grease an oven tray. Trace four 10cm circles onto baking powder; place the paper, marked side down on a tray.
• Beat the egg whites in a small bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form; gradually add the sugar, beating between each addition; then gently fold in the cocoa. Once you have prepared the meringue mixture, it is essential that you bake it immediately, otherwise it is prone to collapsing.
• Spread the meringue mixture inside the circles on the prepared tray, and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the meringues are firm; cool the meringues in the oven with the door ajar.
• Meanwhile whisk the cream cheese, cream and sifted icing sugar in a small bowl, until combined.
• Top the meringues with the cream cheese mixture and banana slices.
• Combine the extra sugar and the water in a small, heavy-based pan and stir over a low heat, without boiling, until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, without stirring, until the mixture is golden brown. Remove from the heat; and stand until the bubbles subside and the toffee runs evenly from the back of a spoon.
• Drizzle the meringues with the toffee close to serving.

CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER PAVLOVA

Steps:

• First, make the crémeux. Bring the milk and cream to the boil in a small saucepan, whisking occasionally. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium heatproof bowl until smooth. Pour in the hot cream mixture in a steady stream, whisking continuously until combined. Return to the saucepan, and simmer over a low heat for 3-4 mins, stirring continously until thickened to a custard.
• Put the dark chocolate into a large heatproof bowl and strain the hot custard over it through a fine mesh sieve, whisking until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Leave to cool for 5 mins until just warm. Add the butter and blitz using a hand blender until smooth. Cover and leave at room temperature until needed.
• Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment. For the meringue, beat the egg whites in a large, clean bowl using an electric whisk or in a stand mixer until soft peaks form, then gradually beat in the sugar, 1 tsp at a time, until the meringue is thick and glossy. Whisk in the vinegar and cornflour.
• Spoon half the meringue mixture into the middle of one of the prepared baking sheets, and spread out into a roughly 20-25cm circle. Repeat with the the remaining meringue mixture on the second baking sheet. Drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over both circles, then gently swirl it using a cutlery knife or skewer until you have a marbled effect. Bake for 1 hr, turn off the oven and leave the meringues to cool completely inside.
• Meanwhile, make the candied peanuts. Tip the peanuts, sugar and 1 tbsp water into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 mins, stirring until the peanuts start to crystallise and turn white. Continue to cook, stirring, for another 3-4 mins until the peanuts turn dark brown. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt flakes, then scrape onto a sheet of baking parchment. Spread out using a spatula, and leave to cool completely.
• For the peanut butter cream, melt the white chocolate, peanut butter, butter and 25ml cream in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool for 10 mins. Whisk the remaining cream to soft peaks, then fold in the peanut butter mixture until thick and billowy.
• To assemble, put one meringue circle on a serving plate, spoon over half the crémeux followed by half the peanut butter cream, then sprinkle with half the candied peanuts. Top with the second meringue circle, then the remaining crémeux and peanut butter cream, and the rest of the candied peanuts. Scatter over some dark chocolate shavings, if you like. Will keep chilled for up to two days.

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Make the pavlova: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw an 8-inch circle in the middle, then flip the paper upside down. You should still be able to see the outline.
• Mix egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt in a mixing bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and, using an electric mixer, beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Gently sift cocoa powder over the egg whites, then use a rubber spatula to fold the cocoa into the whites until just combined. A few cocoa streaks are O.K. and in fact better than overmixing, which can deflate the meringue.
• Spoon half the meringue mixture onto the circle on the parchment paper to form a round, spreading it all the way to the edges. Dollop remaining meringue around the outer edges on top of the circle, creating a nest to hold the filling.
• Bake for 2 hours, or until dry and firm to the touch. Turn off the oven and allow the pavlova to cool in the oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and, if necessary, continue to cool to room temperature.
• Make the mousse: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 1/4 cups/295 milliliters cream, the yolks, 3 tablespoons/35 grams sugar and the salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and pass through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Whisk in melted chocolate, vanilla and rum. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Using an electric mixer, whisk together the remaining 1 3/4 cups/415 milliliters cream with remaining 3 tablespoons/35 grams sugar until firm peaks form. Stir 1/3 of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining cream. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, spoon mousse into the center of the cooled pavlova, then top with crème fraîche. Top with fresh berries or chocolate shavings if desired.