Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas

Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    8 people 30-40 minutes
    Cook Time Passive Time
    80 minutes 1+ hours
    Servings Prep Time
    8 people 30-40 minutes
    Cook Time Passive Time
    80 minutes 1+ hours
    Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      8 people 30-40 minutes
      Cook Time Passive Time
      80 minutes 1+ hours
      Servings Prep Time
      8 people 30-40 minutes
      Cook Time Passive Time
      80 minutes 1+ hours
      Ingredients
      Mini Pavlovas
      Lemon Cream
      Servings: people
      Instructions
      Mini Pavlovas
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment and mark out 8-3" circles. Flip parchment over.
      2. Combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Whip until soft peaks are starting to form. Gradually add sugar, about a tablespoon at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl and continue to whip on high speed until stiff and glossy, about 6-7 minutes using a stand mixer.
      3. Add vanilla and whip to combine.
      4. Sift cornstarch over the meringue and fold to combine.
      5. Fit a large piping bag with your desired tip, I used a Wilton 1M.
      6. Fill the piping bag with meringue and squeeze a dab of meringue onto the corners of the parchment to stick it to the baking tray. This will help keep the parchment from moving while you pipe. Place the baking tray on a slightly damp kitchen towel to prevent the tray from moving. Fill in the traced circle, creating a base. Continue to pipe along the edge of the base for two turns, creating a basket.
      7. Place the tray in the oven on the middle rack and immediately turn oven temperature to 225°F. Bake for 80 minutes, turn off the oven and allow meringues to remain undisturbed in the oven until completely cool. Meringues will be firm and hollow sounding with a slight bit of tackiness and chew in the bottom layer.
      Lemon Cream
      1. Combine all ingredients except butter in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens, about 7-8 minutes. Whisk in butter until smooth.
      2. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before covering with plastic wrap directly on the surface. Allow to cool completely and chill until ready to use.
      3. When ready to assemble pavlovas, which should be no more than 2 hours in advance, whip heavy cream until stiff. Fold whipped cream into lemon curd and fill meringues generously. Top with fresh blueberries and serve.
      Recipe Notes

      -Using egg whites at room temperature will result in more volume.

      -If unable to use castor or superfine sugar, simply grind regular granulated sugar in a mini coffee grinder for about 10 seconds.  Even this is not true castor sugar, it breaks down the sugar enough for better absorption into the meringue.

      Lemon Poppy Seed Tartlets

      Lemon Poppy Seed Tartlets
      Print Recipe
        Servings
        8 tartlets
        Servings
        8 tartlets
        Lemon Poppy Seed Tartlets
        Print Recipe
          Servings
          8 tartlets
          Servings
          8 tartlets
          Ingredients
          Shells
          Lemon Curd
          Topping
          Servings: tartlets
          Instructions
          Tart Shells
          1. In a food processor pulse together flour, sugar, salt and poppy seeds. Add butter and pulse to combine. The mixture will be crumbly and the butter should be pea size. In a small bowl whisk together yolk, water and lemon juice. Pour into processor and pulse to combine.
          2. Scoop approximately 1/4 cup of dough into each tart shell. Gently press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides to cover the entire tart pan. Prick the bottoms of the shells with a form and chill for 20 minutes.
          3. In a preheated 350℉ oven bake the tart shells on a baking sheet for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. Remove and cool on a wire rack. Remove tart shells from pan and fill with lemon curd. Each shell will hold approximately 3 Tbsp of lemon curd.
          Lemon Curd
          1. In a heavy saucepan whisk together all ingredients except the butter. Add butter all at once and stir over medium low heat, whisking constantly until butter is melted and the curd has thickened. Pour through a fine sieve, cover immediately with plastic wrap directly on the curd surface, chill.
          Topping
          1. With an electric mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add icing sugar and lemon juice and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Garnish the tartlets as desired with a piping bag or dollop, sprinkle with poppy seeds.
          Recipe Notes

          The tart shells can be made ahead up to two days, stored in an airtight container. The Lemon Curd recipe makes more than you will need to fill the tart shells.  It will keep for one week, covered and refrigerated. Wonderful on muffins or scones.  Can also freeze the lemon curd for future use.

          Recipe Source:  Adapted just slightly from Epicurious Lemon and Poppy Seed Tartlets, April 2001