Chocolate Swirled Mini Pavlova Food

CHOCOLATE-SWIRLED MINI PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250°F.
• Beat egg whites and vinegar in medium bowl with mixer on high speed 1 min. or until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating constantly until stiff peaks form. Add cornstarch; beat on medium speed just until blended.
• Add chocolate to egg white mixture; stir gently just until swirled.
• Drop egg white mixture into 9 mounds, 4 inches apart, on parchment-covered baking sheet, using about 1/2 cup egg white mixture for each mound. Spread each into 2-1/2 inch round with back of spoon, slightly indenting center of each round.
• Bake 1 hour; cool completely.
• Top with COOL WHIP and strawberries just before serving.

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.

MINI DARK CHOCOLATE, BLACKBERRY & BAY PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• To make the meringue, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, or in quick bursts in the microwave. Allow to cool. Mix together the sugar, cream of tartar and cornflour.
• Put the egg whites in a stand mixer or a metal or ceramic bowl. Using an electric whisk, whisk on a low-medium speed for a few mins until stiff peaks form, then slowly start to add in the sugar mixture, 1½ tbsp at a time, whisking between each addition until the sugar has dissolved and is well incorporated into the meringue. Once you have a thick, glossy meringue that holds its shape on the whisk, pour over the melted chocolate and swirl it in so you have a rippled meringue - avoid overmixing to retain the swirl effect.
• Heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½ and use a little of the meringue mix from the whisk to stick some baking parchment to two baking sheets, then dollop on little mounds of meringue, or, if you prefer, make a nest shape by flattening the meringue down with the back of a spoon. Bake the meringues for 1 hr 10 mins until crisp and pulling away from the parchment. Leave to sit in the oven until completely cool.
• Meanwhile, weigh out 150g of the blackberries and put in a non-reactive pan (such as stainless steel) with the sugar and bay leaves. Cook over a gentle heat for a few mins, stirring so that the blackberries start to break down into a loose compote and release their juice. Leave the mixture to cool, then stir through the remaining blackberries. Set aside.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form, then fold through the natural yogurt. Swirl through a couple of spoonfuls of the blackberry and bay juices so you have a ripple effect. Add a spoonful of the cream mixture to each meringue and spoon over the blackberries and their juices. Discard the bay leaves. Best eaten on the day of baking.

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.

MINI CHOCOLATE PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°F.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl with mixer on high speed 2 min. or until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating constantly until stiff peaks form.
• Spoon egg white mixture into large piping bag fitted with star tip. Use to pipe egg white mixture into 10 (3-inch) rounds, 1 inch apart, on each of 2 parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 1-1/2 hours, rearranging baking sheets on oven racks after 45 min. Turn oven off. Let meringues stand in oven (with door closed) 15 min. Remove meringues from oven; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, beat pudding mix and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Place meringues on platter just before serving. Spoon pudding into separate piping bag fitted with star tip. Use to pipe pudding onto meringues; sprinkle with chocolate chips.