Spooky Pavlova
I have always loved pavlovas. A pavlova is a crunchy meringue topped with a creamy pudding, whipped cream, and fruit. I wanted to bring Halloween to Pavlovas and thus the Spooky Pavolva was formed! This dessert is all-natural and gluten-free!
Supplies
Meringue:
- 4 eggs whites
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 tsp. of fine activated charcoal
Pastry Cream:
- 4 eggs yolks
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons cold butter
- 3 carrots
- 1/2 cup of water
Whipped Cream:
- 2-3 cups of heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 of a small pack of blackberries
- 1/4 cup of water
Toppings:
- Fruit(blueberries and blackberries)
- Chocolate Chips
Making the Meringue
- Preheat oven to 225 Fahrenheit
- Separate the egg whites and yolks into two bowls
- Whip the whites until foamy
- Slowly add in the sugar, one tablespoon at a time
- Whip until stiff peaks form
- Slowly fold in the activated charcoal
- Line a cookie sheet with baking parchment
- Place the meringue onto the parchment in a circle
- Bake for 2 hours or until hard to the touch
Making the Pastry Cream
- In a bowl add the egg yolks, sugar, and corn starch
- Mix together in a bowl
- Heat the milk on the stove
- Slowly pour the milk into the egg yolk mixture while whisking vigorously
- Pour back into the pan and heat on the stove
- Mix until thick
- Add in the butter for a more velvet texture
Coloring the Pastry Cream
- Clean and grate 3 carrots
- Blend the carrots in a blender with 1/2 cup of water
- Add the carrot juice to the pastry cream and mix
Making the Whipped Cream
- Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form
Coloring the Whipping Cream
- Blend 1/2 of a small package of blackberries with 1/4 cup of water
- On the stove reduce the blackberries into a thick mixture
- Let cool completely
- Add in the blackberry reduction into the whipping cream
Assembling the Pavlova
- Place the meringue on a cake stand
- Add on the orange pastry cream
- Smooth out the pastry cream
- Add the purple whipped cream on the pastry cream
- Add your choice of fruit
- Add any other toppings such as orange zest and chocolate chips