PEAR & CHOCOLATE MINI PAVLOVAS

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Pear & chocolate mini pavlovas image

These dinky pavlovas look fantastic and are popular with all the family - and they're great to prepare ahead if you're short of time

Provided by Lesley Waters

Categories     Dessert, Dinner

Time 1h30m

Number Of Ingredients 12

3medium egg whites
175g caster sugar
1 tsp cornflour
½ tsp white wine vinegar
8small pears , peeled
2 tbsp clear honey
300ml good quality apple juice
1 cinnamon stick
147ml carton double cream
100g bar plain chocolate (70%), broken into pieces
284ml carton whipping cream
200g Greek yogurt , half fat

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Line 2 large baking sheets with non-stick baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff.
  • Gradually whisk in the sugar 1 tbsp at a time until the mixture is very stiff and shiny. Sift in the cornflour then, using a large metal spoon, fold in along with the vinegar. Divide the mixture into 8 mounds and place on the parchment paper. With a dessert spoon, flatten each one out to approximately 9cm in diameter and make a light indent in the centre of each.
  • Cook for 40-50 mins or until the meringue mixture is hard and the baking parchment peels away easily from the bottom of the each one. Cool on a wire rack. You can make these up to three days in advance and store in an airtight container or freeze for up to a month.
  • Using a sharp knife, score around and scoop out the core of the pears, keeping the stalk on. Place the pears in a medium pan in a single layer - they should fit quite tightly. Add the honey, apple juice and cinnamon stick. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover with a round of baking parchment and a lid. Simmer for 35-40 mins until pears are tender. Remove lid and paper, turn up the heat and allow the liquid to bubble away until it has turned to a sticky glaze. Leave to cool. Pears may be refrigerated for up to 2 days, coated in glaze and covered.
  • Meanwhile, make the chocolate sauce and cream filling. Add the double cream and chocolate to the pan and stir constantly over a gentle heat, until the chocolate has melted. Stir together the cream and Greek yogurt until thick, but still soft - it will thicken up without beating.
  • To serve, put the meringues on serving plates and top with a dollop of the cream filling. Place a glazed pear on top and drizzle with some warm chocolate sauce. Serve straight away, handing round any extra sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 441 calories, Fat 28.9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 17.5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 43 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 28.2 grams sugar, Fiber 1.8 grams fiber, Protein 4.9 grams protein, Sodium 0.2 milligram of sodium

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