Mary Berry Pavlova Wreath Food

MARY BERRY'S CHRISTMAS PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/315°F/Gas 3. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and draw a 30cm circle on the paper. Draw a 15cm circle in the centre of the 30cm circle.
• Put six egg whites into a mixing bowl and whisk with an electric whisk until they look like clouds. Gradually add the sugar a little at a time, whisking on maximum speed until they are stiff and glossy. Mix the vinegar and cornflour in a cup until smooth, then stir into the bowl.
• Spoon the meringue between the 2 circles on the baking parchment, to make a wreath shape. Using a large spoon, make a trench in the meringue for the cream and fruit to sit in. Slide into the oven, then immediately reduce the temperature to 140°C/120°C fan/275°F/Gas 1 and bake for 1 hour-1 hour 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the pavlova inside for an hour or overnight to dry.
• To assemble, whip the cream, vanilla and icing sugar until just stiff. Spoon the cream into the trench in the meringue. Arrange the strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pomegranate on top and decorate with a few mint leaves, if using. To serve, dust with icing sugar and cut in wedges.The pavlova can be made up to 1 month ahead and stored: wrap it in clingfilm and then foil and keep in a cool place.

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a clean, dry bowl until foamy. Add the granulated sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla and continue whipping until stiff, smooth and glossy, about 8 minutes more. On a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit a sheet pan, use a pencil to draw or trace a circle 9-inches in diameter. Line the sheet pan with the parchment, pencil side down (you should still be able to see the circle). Spoon the egg whites into the circle, using the back of the spoon to smooth the top and sides of the disk. Bake in the center of the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 degrees and bake until the meringue has puffed up and cracked on the top and the surface is lightly browned to the color of cafe au lait, about 45 minutes more. Turn off the oven, prop the oven door open, and let the pavlova cool in the oven at least 30 minutes, to room temperature. This ensures a gradual cooling, which protects the delicate meringue.
• Whip the cream and brown sugar together until stiff. Spoon it in the center of the cooled pavlova and spread out to within 1/2-inch of the edge. Arrange the slices of kiwi around the edge. Arrange the slices of strawberry in the middle. To serve, slice into wedges with a serrated knife.

HOLIDAY BERRY MERINGUE WREATH

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 225 degrees F. Line the back of a baking sheet with parchment. Use a 12-inch bowl as a stencil: Flip it upside down and trace a 12-inch circle onto the parchment. Use a 9-inch bowl to trace a circle inside the 12- inch one. This is the outline of your wreath.
• For the wreath: Combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the very clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 minute more. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff, shiny peaks form, 13 to 15 minutes.
• Build the wreath: Using the template on the parchment as your guide, drop dollops of meringue in a line along the inside of the 12-inch circle. Use a rubber spatula to help clean off your spoon between dollops. Following the 9-inch circle and slightly overlapping the outer ring of meringue, make an inner ring of meringue dollops to fill in the rest of the template. Flatten the meringue slightly with the back of the spoon, making sure to keep a lot of peaks. Bake the meringue until it is dry, crisp, and pearly white on the outside, about 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the cranberry sauce: Bring the cranberries, sugar and lemon juice to a simmer in medium saucepan and cook until the cranberries are soft and just begin to burst and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Gently fold in the raspberries and pomegranate seeds. Whip the heavy cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.
• Before serving, spread the whipped cream on the meringue. Spoon over the cranberry sauce and sprinkle with mint leaves.

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.