Christmas Keto Pavlova - Low Carb Dessert Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my sugar not dissolving in my pavlova? ›

Beat the egg whites only until soft peaks form before you start adding the sugar; if you beat the whites until they are stiff and dry, the sugar will take longer to dissolve. To check that the sugar is properly dissolved rub a small quantity of the egg-white mixture between your fingertips to see if it's smooth.

The secret to a good, crisp pavlova is in the drying of the meringue after cooking. If there is a lot of moisture in the air, whether from humidity or even other cooking you are doing in the kitchen, you will have problems. That's why the “Pavlova Nazi” in me insists on no boiling saucepans during pav time.

If you add the sugar too quickly then the mixture will never acquire the stiff consistency you want. You also need to be careful if you've used extra ingredients to flavour your meringues. Oils (such as those in nuts or zest) and liquids can stop the egg whites from stiffening, so you have to experiment with amounts.

Pavlova is made in a similar way to meringue. Egg whites (and sometimes salt) are beaten to a very stiff consistency, gradually adding caster sugar before folding in vinegar or lemon juice (or another edible acid), cornflour, and vanilla essence.

A couple of times I have accidently put too much sugar in & I only realised that after everything had been added & the sugar was not dissolving. The last time that happened I put in another egg white to the whisked mix. The result - the sugar dissolved & the meringues were fine.

Vinegar added to the meringue will lower the pH of the egg whites. This acidic environment will also help to stabilize the egg white foam, preventing the meringue from collapsing too much. The acidity helps to unravel the protein and prevent the proteins from binding together too tightly.

Unfortunately there is one major problem associated with leaving the pav in the oven for too long - weeping pavs. Weeping can occur when the middle of the pav has dried out too much. Essentially when the marshmallow in the middle is above 100 C, some of the water associated with the egg white is going to turn to steam.

You can also leave the pavlova in your oven overnight. Don't be concerned if your pavlova has cracked. This is completely normal. Taking the pavlova out of the oven right away will subject it to a dramatic change in temperature, which may cause it to collapse.

If you do happen to overbeat your meringue (which may end up looking clumpy and watery) you can try to save it by adding another egg white.

A small amount of cream of tartar or vinegar can be added to the mixture at the beginning of whipping to help stabilize the foam and make it less likely to collapse. Don't use plastic bowls—they can retain a film of fat from previously mixed or stored items that can deflate the meringue.

How do you fix a runny pavlova mix? ›

Fixing runny meringue is usually as simple as whisking more air into the mixture and waiting for it to develop stiff peaks. You can also add another egg white or a teaspoon of cornstarch to get the mix to the consistency you need.

Pavlova is high in sugar, which absorbs moisture from other ingredients and the atmosphere. Making a meringue on a very humid day can result in a weeping, soft or sticky pavlova. To reduce the chance of this happening, use a recipe that uses cornflour in the meringue base.

Bake the meringue: Bake for 60 to 70 minutes for 1 large pavlova, or 50 to 60 minutes for mini-pavlovas. The pavlovas are done when the outsides are dry to the touch. The interior of a properly cooked pavlova should be marshmallowy. It's fine if cracks form in the crust.

In its relaunched online edition, the dictionary says the first recorded Pavlova recipe appeared in New Zealand in 1927. This was in a book called Davis Dainty Dishes, published by the Davis Gelatine company, and it was a multi-coloured jelly dish.

pavlova, meringue-based dessert of Australian and New Zealand origin that is commonly topped with whipped cream and fruit and served at holidays. New Zealanders and Australians compete for ownership of pavlova, which in both countries is an iconic national delicacy.

If you don't mix your meringue well, undissolved sugar will make it gritty and can cause weeping to boot. Test that the sugar is dissolved by rubbing a dab of the meringue between your fingers. If you still feel granules, it's not dissolved and you need to continue mixing.

The most common reasons for soupy meringue is underbeating, and adding the sugar too soon, leaving out the cream of tartar, and having grease or water in the bowl or on your beaters. Most people won't have this problem, but if you buy farm fresh eggs, they make better meringue after they're at least three days old.

Here's what you can do: Whisk the mixture longer: One common reason for runny meringue is not whisking the mixture enough. To fix this, continue whisking the meringue for up to 15 minutes. This extended whisking time will help stiffen up the mixture and give it the desired consistency [1].