Nutty Chocolate Pavlova Tree

Jacki said: Find your favourite Pavlova recipe, or use the one below, and made a few quick and easy changes to the way it is put together and you have a Pavlova Tree or a Pavlova in a jar – great to serve on Christmas day and for party favours for your guests.

Ingredients: -

6 egg whites (room temperature)

330 gms caster sugar

1 tbs cornflour

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

25gms cocoa powder

6 Ferrero chocolates, crushed

600mls thickened cream

1 vanilla bean, scraped

1/3 cup icing sugar

Pistacchio nuts, hulled and crushed

Punnet of blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 140°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add in the caster sugar. Continue beating until meringue is thick and glossy, about 5-7 minutes. Sift cocoa powder into meringue and fold in the crushed ferrero chocolates.

3. If making the pavlova tree, spoon the meringue mixture into rounds on your baking paper using different sizes circles.  This will achieve the Christmas tree cone shape. Make as many rounds as you like and make the tree as high or wide as you like.

4. Put the trays in the oven and immediately lower the temperature to 120°C. Depending in the size of your shells the cooking time will take between 1 and 1½ hours. Keep checking. The shells will be ready when the surfaces are hard.  Turn the oven off and leave the door ajar until the oven is cooled.

5. To make chantilly cream, beat thickened cream together with the scraped vanilla bean and icing sugar until stiff peaks are achieved.

6. To assemble, get your favourite cake stand and place a small blob of cream on the stand and start layering the pavlova shells, with the larger circles on the bottom and work your way up.  In between each layer, pipe the chantilly cream with sprinkle with the pistachio nuts and blueberries. Top the tree with a swirl of cream and a luscious blueberry.

Recipe by Jacki of Blissfully Sweet Cakes - www.blissfullysweetcakes.blogspot.com

Photography by Leanne of Sweet Style - www.sweetstyle.com.au

Adding a little 2 bites sweetness to your Christmas table

Catherine said: There is something about a gingerbread house that screams Christmas. I’m not sure if I can pinpoint what makes gingerbread so special. Whether it’s that wonderful spice aroma that fills the home, the laughter and creativity that your children display when decorating gingerbread or the anticipation and build up to Christmas Day when everyone can enjoy the flavour and find what treats are hidden beneath the roof. What I especially love about making a gingerbread house is the coming together of family and friends and sharing my love of baking.

In saying that I would love to share my love for baking with you and inspire you to bake and create your own creative gingerbread house. Due to gingerbread becoming increasingly popular over the last few years, there are many kits available that include templates and premixes. Aldi, Ikea, Myer and major grocery chains have these kits available but most gingerbread recipes have basic ingredients and most of which are staples in your pantry. You can Google a ‘gingerbread recipe’ and choose one that suits your tastes. I use a recipe with other spices which includes equal cinnamon and ginger – my children love this recipe and it creates a beautiful colour!

You can also search ‘gingerbread template’ on Google images and choose your preferred size and shape. Special gingerbread house cutters are also available from specialty cake decorating stores. I would also recommend making your gingerbread house over two days. Day one for baking of the pieces, allowing them to cool and day two for the assembly and final decorations.

The recipe of this amazing {Gingerbread House} was featured in the Christmas edition of My Little Jedi Online Magazine. Click here to view it. Enjoy x

Article written by Catherine Graetz www.2bites.com.au

Gingerbread DIY tutorual by Catherine Graetz 

Photography by www.natalieboog.com