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Dark Chocolate Swirled Pavlovas with Cream Cheese Frosting

Servings 30 pavlovas

Ingredients

Pavlova

  • 7 oz dark chocolate
  • 14 large egg whites
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 4 cups white granulated sugar*
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp white vinegar

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temp
  • pinch of salt
  • splash of vanilla
  • 1 cup powdered sugar add an extra 1/4 cup if you prefer it sweeter
  • 4 cups heavy cream

Extra melted dark chocolate for drizzling

Fresh raspberries and strawberries

Powdered sugar for dusting

Mint leaves to garnish

Instructions

  • Add the chopped chocolate into a heat proof bowl and melt in 60 sec intervals in the microwave, stirring between each interval. Do not overheat. Cool completely.
  • Preheat oven to 212 F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Add egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt to stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat until frothy. Very slowly add half of the sugar (2 cups) and beat until egg whites become thick and very foamy. While beating add white vinegar and cornstarch and beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining 2 cups sugar VERY slowly and gradually until stiff, glossy peaks form. While beating, scrape down any bits of sugar around the sides. When you lift whisk attachment to check meringue peaks they shouldn't droop or flop around, but should hold their peak perfectly.
  • Add 3/4 of melted and cooled chocolate to pavlova. Fold gently with spatula to distribute chocolate a bit. But do not mix. You want the chocolate to have a swirled, marbled effect, and even scooping it out mixes the chocolate. So just fold chocolate in a bit to distribute, and you're done.
  • Use 2 metal spoons to scoop out big fluffy mounds of meringue unto your lined sheets. Make a little dip in the center with a spoon to make room for your frosting.
  • Once your pavlovas are scooped, drizzle the extra chocolate on top.
  • Bake meringue for 2 hrs and 30-40 min until pavlovas lift easily off parchment, and are dry and crisp on the outside. Check the center with a sharp knife. You want a very moist center, but not runny. Don't overbake pavlovas or they will be crisp without that soft center. You can store cool pavlovas for 2 days.*
  • For the frosting, beat cream cheese, salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth, scraping down the sides. Add heavy cream and continue beating until fluffy.

Assembly

  • Pipe or scoop a generous amount of cream on top. Drizzle with dark chocolate. Top with fresh raspberries and strawberries. Garnish with mint. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Use a high quality dark chocolate bar or baking chocolate. I used President's Choice. The darker the chocolate the better because it balances out the sweet meringue. Bittersweet chocolate could be excellent as well.
*It's best to use white sugar for meringue. Anything else discolors it.
*Pavlovas must be eaten after assembling. If they stand too long they become soggy. They cannot be refrigerated.