June 27, 2010

Daring Bakers Chocolate Pavlova

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Pavlova
pavlova with light chocolate meringue topped with dark chocolate mousse, kiwifruit, and candied mandarin oranges

The June 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Dawn from Doable and Delicious. Dawn challenged the Daring Bakers to make Chocolate Pavlovas and Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse. The challenge recipe is based on a recipe from the book Chocolate Epiphany by Francois Payard.

I've seen recipes and photos of pavlovas but have never eaten nor tried to make them. I love meringues whether they are crispy, soft, or mixed with ground nuts and it was good to find out that the Daring Bakers are challenged to make pavlovas.

I changed the original recipe using just a quarter of the cocoa powder, omitted the confectioner's sugar, and baked it for a little over 1 hour which is half the recommended baking hours. The meringues came out crispy but still a little soft inside. I liked it. The recipe also calls for a mascarpone sauce that has 6 eggs yolks but I thought it was too rich. I'm sorry Dawn for not making the sauce this time. I will make it for another dessert because it sounds absolutely divine.

I made another one with slightly more chocolaty meringue but made a lighter mousse. I topped the cake with sliced mango and blueberries. This one has a more pillowy interior. I liked it too.

Chocolate Pavlova

This one is my favorite, a plain vanilla meringue shell topped with sweet strawberry halves and slightly sour sliced kiwifruit. I followed Audax's recipe which is very similar to the one in my British desserts cookbook. The shell has a crispy almost crackly exterior with soft marshmallow innards, is light as feather and has melt-in-your-mouth quality. Super-duper delicious!

Pavlova

Thanks Dawn for a thoroughly enjoyable challenge.:)

17 comments:

pastry said...

Very meticulous and detailed job. Well done!

Audax said...

You made 3 versions exquisite effort I really like the mango one well done it looks marvellous. Thanks for linking to my blog your vanilla classic pav looks perfect I like how you placed cream on the sides which makes it look so elegant. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm impressed with your 3 variations. My favorite one is the pavlova with mango and blueberries - YUM!!! Good job!

Anonymous said...

I think I actually just hit my tooth on my computer monitor while I was trying to sink my teeth into that mango pavlova!! All of your pavlovas look amazing! Fantastic job!

chef_d said...

Beautiful fruit pavlovas! Great job !

UFRV said...

WOW, three pavolvas and each of them look so beautiful :-) Nicely done!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Your pavs are gorgeous. I also topped mine with mango as its the season for them where I live.

Lot-O-Choc said...

Oh wow all 3 look delicious but i agree the plain meringue with the strawberries and kiwi looks so good!!

Joy said...

I liked how your candied the mandarin oranges. All of your versions are wonderful.

Pavithra Elangovan said...

WOw here is the beautiful work of art.. everything looks classic...

Nachiketa said...

3 versions.... each of them awesome..... :)

cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts - Nachiketa
Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts

Juliana said...

Oggi, they are gorgeous...love how you decorated...beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I'm loving the fruit on your pavlova, looks deliciously heathly!

Renata said...

stunning presentations! Congratulations!

Oggi said...

Thanks all! I enjoyed reading your entries.:)

Lisa said...

oggi, after seeing your completed challenges in the DK forum..I had to pop in and tell you how amazing your creativity and pastry work is! I only wish I could slice and arrange fruit half as lovely as you do! Beautiful pavlovas..all three preps!

Oggi said...

Lisa, thanks. I love your fruit pav tart, it's beautiful.:)

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