Red White and Blue Pavlovas
Patricia @ ButterYum
Here's a simple dessert for your Indepedence Day celebration. Plan ahead - the meringue disks need to bake in a low oven for 90 minutes, then rest in the oven overnight. Then all you have to do is top them with freshly whipped cream and berries. One word of caution - don't attempt to make meringue in high humidity (it's very humid outside here, but we have the ac on in the house so I didn't have any trouble).
Draw 4-inch cirles on the back side of parchment paper and use as a guide so all of your pavlovas are the same size.
Items used to make this recipe:
(affiliate links)
Pure vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/2WBEbu0
parchment sheets https://amzn.to/35JLS5o
half sheet pan https://amzn.to/3dwUuis
Red White and Blue Pavlovas
Ingredients
6 egg whites, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
a pinch of fine salt
1 cup superfine sugar
2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
3 cups fresh whipped cream (recipe below)
Directions
Preheat oven to 225F.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla bean paste, and a pinch of salt; use a whisk to mix the ingredients and break up the eggs until they're frothy.
Place bowl on stand mixer and use whip attachment to whip egg whites until they reach soft peaks; sprinkle sugar in slowly and continue whipping until the whites are glossy and they reach the stiff peak stage.
Place meringue in a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip or use a spoon to form 4-inch circles of meringue on parchment paper lined sheet pans.
Bake meringue disks for 90 minutes, then turn the oven off and allow meringues to cool completely without opening the door (I often leave them in there overnight).
Store in an airtight container. Makes at least 12 4-inch meringue disks.
To Make 6 Pavlovas:
Place 6 meringue disks on dessert plates; top each with 1/2 cup whipped cream and 1/3 cup mixed berries. Serve right away.
Notes
For best results, do not attempt to make meringues during high humidity weather.
To make whipped cream: combine 1 1/2 cups heavy cream with 3 tablespoons of confectioner's sugar and 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Use a whisk or hand held electric beater to whip until doubled in volume.
