Pavlova
Our children love this dessert—the older love making it and all three love eating it! The crisp exterior contrasts with the marshmallowy interior. Berries and cream topping complete this delicious summertime treat. Originally served as part of: Summertime.
Ingredients
- ½ cup liquid, pasteurized egg whites (Whippin' Whites)
- ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup white, granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon raspberry vinegar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- fresh, lightly sweetened whipped cream
- fresh, strawberries and blackberries berries
Instructions
We start by preheating the oven to 350°.
Next, we put the measured amount of egg whites, still in the 1-cup measuring cup, into a large bowl of warm water. We want the egg whites to be surrounded by the warm water, but for the water in the bowl to not get into the measuring cup. This will gently bring the egg whites up to room temperature. We set it aside for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, we get the rest of the ingredients ready.
When the egg whites are ready, we add them to the bowl of our stand-up mixer. We also add the cream of tartar and salt. With the whisk attachment, we start on speed 2 and then gradually increase to speed 6 over the course of a minute. After 2 more minutes—when the mixture is foamy—we pour the sugar, cornstarch, vinegar and vanilla into the bowl in a stream. We increase the mixer to speed 8 and then speed 10 and continue to whip for another 4 minutes. We scrape down the sides, and check the consistency. We give it another minute or so until the mixture is thick, white, glossy and holds stiff peaks.
While the mixture is whipping, we draw a 9 inch circle (using a "Blues Clues party plate!) onto a piece of parchment paper and then place it pencil side down on our cookie sheet.
When the egg whites have reached stiff peaks, we spread them into the circle, using a spatula to smooth the sides and top. We also try to have the edges slightly higher than the center of the meringue since we will add toppings later.
The cookie sheet is placed in the center of the oven for 10 minutes. Then, the heat is reduced to 300° and we continue to bake for another 50 minutes. We want the surface to be lightly browned. The oven is then turned off, and the door left ajar, for half an hour. This allows for a gradual cooling.
When it is time to serve, we cut a piece with a serrated knife and top with whipped cream and berries. The crisp exterior cracks and falls a bit onto the marshmallowy interior, but it all comes together with the cream and berries!
Ingredients
- ½ cup pasteurized liquid egg whites (Whippin' Whites)
- ⅛ tsp cream of tartar
- ⅛ tsp fine salt
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp raspberry vinegar
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- whipped cream (lightly sweetened)
- strawberries and blackberries
Instructions
What's a kid job?
A Kid job is a step kids can help with, with a grown-up nearby, not one they do on their own. Every kid is different, so go by what your child can do rather than by age. Roughly:
- Little ones (about 2 to 4) can stir, pour in ingredients a grown-up has measured, tear lettuce, wash vegetables and sprinkle toppings.
- Older kids (about 5 to 8) can also measure and level, crack eggs, whisk, roll and cut out dough, and put things together.
- Bigger kids can read the recipe aloud, keep track of the timer, and take on more of the cooking as they're ready.
Steps with a knife, microplane, skewers, stove, oven, grill or hot oil, or with raw meat, poultry or seafood, are marked Grown-up. Kids can still watch those, from a safe distance.
Heat the oven to 350°F. Set the measuring cup of egg whites in a bowl of warm water, without letting water in, for 10 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
Kid job
Put the whites, cream of tartar and salt in a stand mixer with the whisk. Raise the speed from 2 to 6 over 1 minute and whip 2 minutes, until foamy. Pour in the sugar, cornstarch, vinegar and vanilla in a stream, turn it up to 8 and then 10, and whip about 5 minutes more, until thick, glossy and holding stiff peaks.
Kid job
Meanwhile, trace a 9-inch circle on parchment (a party plate works) and lay it pencil side down on a cookie sheet. Spread the meringue into the circle, smoothing the sides and making the edge a little higher than the middle.
Bake in the center of the oven 10 minutes, then lower to 300°F and bake 50 minutes, until lightly browned. Turn off the oven and leave it inside with the door ajar 30 minutes to cool slowly.
Grown-up
Cut the pavlova into pieces with a serrated knife. The crisp top cracks into the marshmallowy middle.
Kid job
Top each piece with whipped cream and berries; the cream pulls it all together.