Pavlova is like a big meringue cookie topped with whipped cream and fruit.  It has a gooey center, which is the result of the chemical reaction between the egg whites, vinegar and starch.
I thought it might be fun for Halloween to make a chocolate pavlova with something orange on top.  It was good, but very rich.  The kids were bouncing off the walls all evening from the chocolate.

Be sure to serve it within an hour or two after making.

chocolate pavlova with glacéed tangerines

4 large egg whites at room temperature
3/4 cup (150g) superfine sugar
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon white vinegar
4 tablespoons cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
ganache (recipe follows)
chocolate whipped cream (recipe follows)
glacéed tangerines (recipe follows)–make them while the pavlova bakes.

1.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  With a pencil, trace a 7 or 8 inch circle.  Turn paper over so that the markings face down.
2.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees.  Beat egg whites until foamy.  Add in sugar a tablespoon at a time and beat on high until stiff peaks form.
3.  Fold in cornstarch and vinegar, and mix until well incorporated.  Fold in cocoa powder.
4.  With a spatula, spread the meringue on top of the parchment paper, using the pencil markings as a guide to make a large circle.  Bake for 70-90 minutes.  Allow to cool completely.  Drizzle with ganache, then top with chocolate whipped cream, and tangerines.

ganache

1/4 cup (65g) heavy cream
1/2 cup (85g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Microwave heavy cream until almost boiling, about 30-45 seconds.  Pour in chocolate and vanilla.  Let sit for one minute to allow chocolate to melt.  Whisk until smooth.

chocolate whipped cream

1 cup (250g) heavy cream
2 tablespoons cocoa powder (natural or Dutch process)
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk cream until smooth, stiff peaks form (I let mine go too long—they weren’t smooth).  Fold in cocoa, sugar, and vanilla.

glacéed tangerines

juice of 2 tangerines
2 tangerines, thinly sliced, seeds removed
segments of 2 tangerines, seeds removed
1/2 cup (100g) sugar
1 vanilla bean

Put all tangerine segments, slices and juice in a small pot.  Add in sugar.  Slice vanilla bean and scrape out seeds.  Add into pot.  Bring to a boil, and simmer on medium low heat, until juices begin to thicken, and are the consistency of maple syrup.  Allow to cool completely.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 2:21 pm and is filed under recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.