Is it just me, or do you get really excited when berries start coming down in price during the summer months? FINALLY I don’t have to pay $8.99 for a big thing of strawberries!
This Summer Berry Pavlova is an awesome summer dessert. Perfect for just after grilling sessions on the back patio. I love it because it isn’t a super heavy dessert so it is perfect for hot summer nights. The fresh berries are refreshing and pack a little bit of nutrition into your dessert. I actually don’t feel too guilty about eating this dessert because it is far lighter then your standard cake. It is finished with a dreamy dollop of fresh whipped cream. Summer eating doesn’t get any better then this! And seriously how beautiful are these to look at? If you are looking for a “WOW” factor dessert to take to a party this summer, this Summer Berry Pavlova is just that.
Typically, Pavlova is made with a larger meringue circle, however I love a mini dessert. If you’d like to make one large meringue disk, simply pipe in one big circle. You can use an icing spatula to create peaks or patterns if you want it to look super fancy. With all the beautiful, bright berries it is so easy to make this dessert look beautiful without spending too much time on decorating! If you make one large meringue disk, just pile up your berries and whipped cream on top, and slice it like a cake.
Meringue Making Tips
Meringue is easy to make, so don’t be intimidated! Above are the 3 stages of whipping the meringue:
- Soft peaks
- 1/2 the sugar added
- Finished
Your meringue will be nice and glossy when it is finished. If you rub a little between your fingers you shouldn’t feel any grit of sugar. I took a spatula and very gently put it into my piping bag fitted with a Ateco 850 tip. Sometimes people take a cup or bowl and make circles on their parchment paper with a sharpie (flip the parchment paper over then so that the marker won’t get on your meringue) as a guide. I didn’t feel this was necessary because I didn’t care if they weren’t all exactly the same as they were just for my family. My kids have no idea what meringue even is, so they would never look at them and wonder why they aren’t the same. The perks of your audience being babies and toddlers! 🙂
Summer Berry Pavlova
By Published: June 22, 2018
- Yield: 6 (6 Servings)
Is it just me, or do you get really excited when berries start coming down in price during the summer months? FINALLY I …
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 2 cups fresh berries
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream for whipped cream
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar of whipped cream
- fresh mint for garnishing
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream optional, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Grab a piping tip and bag (I used an Ateco 850) and set aside.
- Fresh whipped cream: Place heavy cream in stand mixer and whip on high speed until soft peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. While whipping, sprinkle in 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar. Be careful not to over-mix!
- Separate 4 egg whites from yolks and allow whites to come to room temperature. Place in the bowl of a stand mixer and begin to whip at high speed until soft peaks form. You will know you are at soft peaks when your whites a bubbly and doubling in volume. Begin adding powdered sugar slowly, one Tablespoon at a time. Egg whites will become thick and glossy. Beat an additional 2-3 minutes. Add vinegar and beat until just combined.
- Gently put meringue in a piping bag. On a sheet try lined with parchment paper, pipe individual circles. I made mine 2 layers high. Place tray in oven, and reduce heat to 200 degrees. Bake 90 minutes, then turn oven off, leaving the meringue circles in the oven to cool. When cooled, remove from oven and gently remove from parchment paper.
- To finish: Place meringue circle on the bottom. Layer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, berries, whipped cream, and fresh mint. Serve immediately.
