Chocolate Pavlova Food

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA WITH STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

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.

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA

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.

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.

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 PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment; set aside., Add the vinegar, cream of tartar and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in cocoa and chocolate., Spread into a 9-in. circle on prepared pan, forming a shallow well in the center. Bake at 250° for 45-55 minutes or until set and dry. Turn off oven and do not open door; leave meringue in oven for 1 hour., In a small bowl, combine raspberries and strawberries. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon liqueur; toss gently to coat. In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and remaining liqueur; beat until soft peaks form., Top meringue with berries. Arrange kiwi over berries; top with whipped cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees, placing rack at the center of your oven.
• Place an 8 or 9 inch cake pan on a sheet of parchment paper and trace around the rim using a pen. Place the parcment on a cookie sheet penciled side down - facing the baking sheet.
• If you are using regular sugar, place it into the bowl of a food processor and blend for 30 seconds to get a finer granule. Remeasure out 1 1/4 cups and discard any excess.
• Using a mixer, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat on medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and continue to beat until the meringue holds stiff peaks. Gently fold in the vinegar and vanilla extract. Sift the cocoa powder and cornstarch over the top of the meringue and, using a large spatula, fold together. Lastly, fold in the chopped chocolate.
• Gently spread the meringue inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper, smoothing the edges. While spreading create a SMALL indentation in the center so that there will be a natural hollow for the raspberries and whipped cream.
• Bake for about 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours or until the outside is dry. There will be small cracks on the surface but the center will still be soft and gooey.) Shut the oven off, leave the door slightly open, and allow the meringue cool completely in the oven.
• Just before serving gently place the meringue on a serving plate. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the sugar and then mound the softly whipped cream into the center of the meringue. Arrange the raspberries on top of the cream.
• Serve immediately.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA

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.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Making the Pavlova:.
• Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, start beating the egg whites and salt until they are frothy and form very soft peaks.
• Add the vanilla and continue to whisk.
• Start to add the sugar slowly, a tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat the eggs on high until they are glossy and stiff peaks form.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Trace a plate slightly smaller than you want the final cake to be (about 8 inches is good).
• Lay the side of the paper with the pen/pencil markings face down on the baking sheet. You do not want pencil on the bottom of your dessert!
• Spoon all of the meringue into the center of the circle and smooth out with the spoon to form a mound (about i inch smaller than the circle on the parchment paper).
• Use a spoon to form a well in the center of the meringue, pushing it from the center to the edges of the Pavlova.
• Place the meringue in a preheated 225 degree F oven for 2 hours.
• Turn the oven off and allow the Pavlova to cool in the oven (if you can, leave it in the oven overnight). (You may need to hire bodyguards at this point.).
• Making the chocolate whipped cream:.
• Whip the cream, icing sugar and cocoa until stiff peaks form.
• Making the orange curd:.
• Place all of the ingredients except the butter into the top of a double-boiler (or place about 2 inches water in a saucepan, bring to a gentle simmer and place a metal bowl over it).
• Whisk everything together and cook over a gentle simmer until the mixture thickens.
• Continue to whisk as it cooks - it can take eight to 20 minutes.
• The mixture will coat the back of a spoon when it's ready.
• Remove from heat and add the butter.
• Whisk until the butter has melted and been completely incorporated.
• Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on the top of the curd to keep a skin from forming (I hate skin).
• Refrigerate until cold.
• Two to four hours before serving, spoon the whipped cream into the well in the center of the cooled Pavlova.
• Use a spoon to form a well in the whipped cream.
• Spoon the orange curd into the well in the whipped cream.
• Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.