Step by step

Method

27 steps

1. 1

   Ina Garten suggests a 4 extra-large egg white pavlova baked into a 9-inch round for one and half hours at 180, and a one-hour cool-down in the oven.

2. 2

   Don’t learn this the hard way: it ain’t enough heat.

3. 3

   The Joy of Baking , which after pleading emails to pastry chefs is my absolutely favorite online baking resource, suggests a four large egg white 7-inch circle at 250 for one and a quarter hours, and a full cool-down with the door ajar.

4. 4

   I was still convinced mine wasn’t baked and popped it back for another 15 last night.

5. 5

   It picked up a tiny bit of color early on in the baking, so I dialed it back 25 degrees, but in the end–this morning, mind you–I am mostly, fairly certain it is the proper texture inside, though I won’t really know until much later this evening.

6. 6

   That proper texture, by the way, would be marshmallow and I dare you not to love it.

7. 7

   Preheat oven to 250°F (130°C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 7 inch (18 cm) circle on the paper.

8. 8

   Pour the vanilla and vinegar into a small cup. Stir the cornstarch into the sugar in a small bowl.

9. 9

   In a large bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites and salt, starting on low, increasing incrementally to medium speed until soft peaks/trails start to become visible, and the egg white bubbles are very small and uniform, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

10. 10

    Increase speed to medium-high, slowly and gradually sprinkling in the sugar-cornstarch mixture.

11. 11

    A few minutes after these dry ingredients are added, slowly pour in the vanilla and vinegar (if you didn’t use cream of tartar.) Increase speed a bit and whip until meringue is glossy, and stiff peaks form when the whisk is lifted, 4 to 5 minutes.

12. 12

    Gently spread the meringue inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper, smoothing the edges, making sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher than the center. (You want a slight well in the center of the meringue to place the whipped cream and fruit.)

13. 13

    Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the outside is dry and takes on a very pale cream color.

14. 14

    Check on meringues at least once during the baking time.

15. 15

    If they appear to be taking on color or cracking, reduce temperature 25 degrees, and turn pan around.

16. 16

    Turn the oven off, leave the door slightly ajar, and let the meringue cool completely in the oven. (The outside of the meringue will feel firm to the touch, if gently pressed, but as it cools you will get a little cracking and you will see that the inside is soft and marshmallowy.)

17. 17

    Puree the raspberries in a food processor, blender or immersion blender.

18. 18

    Press the puree through a fine-mesh strainer with the back of a spoon, removing the seeds.

19. 19

    Heat the puree in a small pot with three tablespoons of sugar, until it is heated through and the sugar is dissolved.

20. 20

    Whip the cream in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.

21. 21

    When it starts to thicken, add the sugar gradually and then the vanilla, beating the cream until firm.

22. 22

    Be careful not to over-do it, or might end up with a bowl of homemade butter.

23. 23

    Mix these with 1/2 cup of the raspberry sauce (recipe above).

24. 24

    Pavlova Assembly When the meringue disk is cooled, put it on a plate.

25. 25

    Spread the top completely with the sweetened whipped cream.

26. 26

    Add the mixed berries and sauce mixture, spooning them carefully into the middle of the pavlova, leaving a border of cream and meringue.

27. 27

    Serve immediately in large scoops with extra raspberry sauce.