I just love this festive twits on the classic Pavlova. It is easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.
You will need:
For the meringue layers:
6 large egg whites (room temperature)
1 and a half cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or essence
For the topping:
2 cups whipping cream
4 tablespoons castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or essence
Fruit pulp or sauce (I used Woolies mixed berry sauce)
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup halved strawberries
apricots halved
For decoration (optional):
1 flake
mint leaves
icing sugar
This is how:
- Preheat the oven to 120 degrees celsius. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Draw three different sized circles to guide your meringue tree layers. For example 20, 15 and 10 cm. If you want to make more layers make two of the largest circle.
- On a medium-high speed beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Be sure to use a clean bowl. Gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form.
- Now gently fold the cornstarch, vinegar, and vanille extract into the stiff egg white mixture.
- Spoon or pipe the meringue into circles on the baking paper. Try to stay in the lines of the circles you drew. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the meringue is crisp and dry on the outside. Then turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside the oven with the door slightly ajar.
- Once your meringues have cooled, whip the cream with the castor sugar until soft peaks form.
- Now it’s time for the fun part – assembling the tree! To assemble the tree, place the largest meringue on a platter, spread a generous layer of whipped cream and top with fruit pulp, berries and apricots. Repeat with the remaining layers, stacking to resemble a Christmas tree.
- Dust your tree with crumbled flake chocolate and icing sugar. Top with a star (our little girl drew one we stuck onto a toothpick). Garnish with a few mint leaves if desired.
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas.
xxx
Original recipe from Recipes Aleena
