Photo of Chocolate-berry pavlova by WW

Chocolate-berry pavlova

9
Points®
Total Time
4 hr 5 min
Prep
35 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Serves
12
Difficulty
Easy
This beautiful pavlova will make the sweet finale to any spring party. A chocolatey-crunchy meringue is topped with a mascarpone mixture and topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate shavings for a refreshing and irresistible dessert. In the summertime, you could use fresh raspberries, blueberries or blackberries instead. The delicate meringue base is slowly baked to achieve a crispy exterior and soft, marshmallow-like interior. You can make the components a few days in advance and keep them separate until ready to serve. Store the meringues in airtight container at room temperature and the mascarpone mixture in the refrigerator. For best results, we recommend enjoying it immediately after it’s assembled.

Ingredients

Egg whites

4 large, at room temperature

Cream of tartar

¼ tsp

Table salt

tsp

Sugar

1 cup(s), superfine variety

Unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ cup(s), sifted

Mascarpone

½ cup(s)

Low fat cream cheese

4 oz, Neufchatel, softened

Sugar

1½ Tbsp, granulated

1% low fat milk

1 Tbsp

Vanilla extract

½ tsp

Strawberries

½ pound(s), hulled and sliced (or raspberries)

Bittersweet chocolate

1 oz

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. To make meringue, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in large bowl until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Add superfine sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
  3. Sift cocoa over beaten whites in three additions, gently folding with rubber spatula just until cocoa is incorporated, being careful not to deflate the meringue. Spoon meringue onto prepared baking sheet and spread to form 9-inch nest with 1-inch- high edge.
  4. Bake meringue 1 1/2 hours. Turn oven off and let meringue cool in oven 2 hours. Remove from oven and slide meringue with parchment onto wire rack and let cool completely.
  5. To make filling, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat together mascarpone, cream cheese, milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl until smooth.
  6. To serve, transfer meringue to serving plate. Spoon mascarpone mixture into center of meringue and top with strawberries. Using vegetable peeler, shave chocolate over berries. Using serrated knife, cut pavlova into 12 wedges and serve immediately.
  7. Serving size: 1 wedge