Name: Single serve festive pavlovas
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: Pavlovas; 4 egg whites; 1 cup caster sugar; 1 tablespoon vinegar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoon cornflour; To serve; 300 millilitre cream, whipped to soft peaks; 2 cup fresh berries, plus 1/2 cup extra; 1 heaped tbsp icing sugar; mint leaves, to garnish; edible flowers, to garnish

Single serve festive pavlovas

Making individual pavlovas, which each person can load with as much cream, berries and coulis as they wish, is the way to go at Christmas. Getting the perfect balance of crunchy exterior and marshmallow centre can be tricky, but this recipe works every time!

Makes 6

Cook

Ingredients

Pavlovas

4 egg whites

1 cup caster sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoon cornflour

To serve

300 millilitre cream, whipped to soft peaks

2 cup fresh berries, plus 1/2 cup extra

1 heaped tbsp icing sugar

mint leaves, to garnish

edible flowers, to garnish

Method

Pavlovas

1.Preheat oven to 150°C fan bake. Line an oven tray with a sheet of baking paper.

2.Using an electric beater, whip the egg whites until thick, then add the sugar, a third at a time. Pour in the vinegar somewhere along the way too.

3.Keep beating until the sugar is dissolved and the mix is thick, glossy and very stiff.

4.Add the vanilla and cornflour, then beat until just combined (5 seconds or so).

5.Using a tablespoon, shape spoonfuls of mixture into six even-sized rounds onto the tray (use your pinky to scoop the mix off the spoon).

6.With the back of a wet spoon, smooth the top of each pavlova and make a slight indentation in each one (this is where the toppings will sit later).

7.Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the oven off and leave for another 1½ hours, keeping the door closed.

To serve

8.To serve, place on individual plates or a platter accompanied with bowls of cream, berries and coulis made by pureéing ½ cup berries with the icing sugar.

9.Garnish with the mint leaves and flowers.