Pavlova with Lemon Curd: Low Carb Pavlova Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for caster sugar in pavlova? ›

Powdered icing sugar (not icing mixture) is preferable to caster or granulated sugar. If you do happen to overbeat your meringue (which may end up looking clumpy and watery) you can try to save it by adding another egg white.

A typical pavlova recipe might have a ratio of 1/4 cup of sugar per egg white in the recipe. I found that I could cut the sugar in half with no noticeable impact on texture and taste.

What's the Difference Between Pavlova and Meringue? Pavlovas and meringues are both made of whipped egg white, but a Pavlova has a delicate crispy exterior with pillowy soft marshmallow inside, while meringue is dry and crisp all the way through.

The cornflour helps the meringue to stay soft in the centre, to give the contrast of crisp crust and marshmallowy interior. If you are allergic to corn then we understand that you can use potato starch as an alternative.

There are several healthy alternatives to caster sugar. For hot drinks, we recommend stevia or honey to sweeten the drink and add nutrients to your drink. In baking, coconut sugar is a great caster sugar alternative, as are some sugar alcohols like xylitol, as well as monk fruit sweeteners.

The meringue mixture splits on standing before baking.

Sugar stabilises a meringue mixture, so the lower the sugar content, the less stable the mixture will be.

The main problem, of course, is that as you allude to, when you bake it you'll basically end up with dried-out egg. It won't have any flavour at all. If you're just reducing the sugar then maybe this isn't a problem.

A meringue topping makes any pie special, and when made with brown sugar, even more so. This easy meringue is made with the typical egg whites and vanilla, but instead of white sugar, brown sugar is used, making the perfect topping for butterscotch, caramel, and banana cream pies.

The acid will actually help stabilise your whipped whites too. That's why we add cream of tartar to our pavlova recipes. If you use a little more vinegar in the meringue, you'll encourage a soft centre and a crisp shell.

Why does my pavlova go chewy? ›

Sugar makes the pavlova mixture strong and stable, and is responsible for that super hard shiny crust. I found that as you reduce the sugar or increase the brown sugar (it has more moisture), the final result is a chewier, with a more fragile, shattery crust.

Pavlova: Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that is made with a crispy outer layer and a soft, marshmallow-like center. It is often topped with fruit and whipped cream. Dacquoise: Dacquoise is a French dessert that is made from layers of meringue and whipped cream, often with a flavor such as chocolate or nuts.

Unfortunately there is one major problem associated with leaving the pav in the oven for too long - weeping pavs. Weeping can occur when the middle of the pav has dried out too much. Essentially when the marshmallow in the middle is above 100 C, some of the water associated with the egg white is going to turn to steam.

While this old family recipe is made without cornstarch, some say it helps to absorb any extra moisture, keeping the meringue completely dry, which could be especially helpful in humid environments. If you'd like to add it, I recommend stirring 2 teaspoons into the sugar before adding it to the egg whites.

Pavlova shell isn't crisp: is it humid? Pavlovas love to soak up moisture, so avoid making them on humid days. Egg whites won't whip: make sure your metal or glass mixing bowl is completely clean and dry, with no oily residue.

Granulated sugar will usually work just fine as a caster sugar alternative. Substitute on a 1:1 ratio (if your recipe calls for a cup of caster sugar, use a cup of granulated sugar).

If you want, you can add some crème of tartar (an acidic powder) to the meringue to stabilize the mixture. Add icing sugar instead of caster sugar as it dissolves quickly and it will make the process a little easier. Incorporate the sugar slowly as you beat it through the meringue.

Caster sugar is the usual option for meringues – the small grains dissolve easily in the foamy mixture.

Can I use granulated sugar instead of caster sugar? Yes. While caster sugar and granulated sugar are not exactly the same, they can be swapped 1:1 in baking recipes. Caster sugar is slightly finer and dissolves more easily, but in my experience, this doesn't affect most baking recipes if swapped with granulated sugar.