Pavlova

I love anything meringue-like! From meringue cookies, lemon meringue pies, divinity, cloud pudding, or marshmallows. My very favorite of all is a Pavlova (pav-LOH-vah)! It was named for Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. It is a meringue based dessert topped with fruit and whipped cream. It is a dessert that always brings rave reviews, it always looks so pretty. The meringue has a crispy exterior with a chewy, mashmallowy center topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I make it whenever I have left over egg whites or I use carton egg whites. It takes minutes to put into the oven, but it slowly bakes for 45 minutes and then you let it sit until cooled for at least an hour. You should plan for 2 hours when making it.

Pavlova Serves 12

1/3 cup water 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

5 egg whites, (1 ¼ cups) room temperature ½ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 ½ cups super fine sugar* 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ Cups heavy cream 1/2 Cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups Fresh Fruit of your choice, approximately

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small glass bowl stir together the cornstarch and water. Put into the microwave, cook on high, stirring every 20 seconds until thickened. Set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl whisk egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar, and beat to combine. With the mixer running add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until all is added. Increase mixer speed to high. Beat the whites until thick, glossy and stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and cornstarch mixture and beat on high speed combine about 1 minute.

Scoop twelve ½ cup-ish portions of the meringue onto prepared baking sheets. Use the back of the spoon to form a well in the center of each meringue. This will help to hold the cream and fruit.

Bake the meringues until dry and crisp on the edges, about 45 minutes. Shut off oven, do not open the oven, and let the meringues cool completely for about 1 hour. If you are not serving immediately keep them in a dry spot. When ready to serve: Make the whipped cream, in a medium sized bowl beat the cream until foamy, add sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks. Add vanilla and beat until just combined.

To assemble Pavlovas: Place each one onto a serving plate and top the meringue with some whipped cream and then with fresh fruit of your choice. I love raspberries, kiwi, pomegranates, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, blueberries, or blackberries. I also love to combine fruits together, like strawberries and bananas.

** You can buy super fine sugar, but to make it just put the sugar into a blender for a minute or two.

** This is a completely Gluten Free dessert.

Hope you enjoy making this fun dessert. It always reminds me of snow drifts, which we seem to have a lot of these days. Jan@DairyKeen.com

Tags: Gluten Free