Pecan Coconut Pavlova with Lemon Cream

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Citrus. Crunch. Coconut. Pecans. Cream. These are some of my favorite flavors combined into one dessert.

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  • 12

Ingredients

  • Pavlova:
  • 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup boiling water
  • 4 1/2 ounces (3/4 cup) hazelnuts, browned and ground
  • Lemon Cream:
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons icing sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

For Pavlova:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350°F. Spread 1 cup coconut on large baking sheet. Spread hazelnuts on another baking sheet. Toast until golden, stirring twice, about 15 minutes. Cool. Maintain oven temperature. Ground the hazelnuts in a blender or food processor.

Line another large baking sheet with foil. Whisk egg whites, cornstarch, vinegar, vanilla, and salt in large bowl until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in boiling water slowly (so the eggs don’t curdle), beating until whites are stiff and glossy. Fold in toasted coconut and hazelnuts. Spoon meringue onto center of prepared baking sheet and spread to 9-inch-diameter circle (or several smaller ones) with slightly raised edges. Sprinkle with ½ cup untoasted coconut.

Bake meringue 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200°F and bake until dry and crisp outside and just cooked through inside, about 1 hour. Turn off oven. Let meringue stand in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely.

For Lemon Cream:
In a bowl, whisk eggs and egg yolks. Melt butter on the top of a double boiler. Whisk in sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Slowly whisk in egg mixture. Whisk until thick and thermometer inserted into mixture registers 178°F to 180°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Press plastic wrap on top and chill 4 hours. You can make this 2 days ahead and keep it chilled.

In a chilled bowl, whip the cream with the icing sugar and vanilla. Fold the chilled lemon mixture into the whipping cream.

To Assemble:
Place the meringue on the bottom. Top with lemon cream. Optionally, place another meringue on top. Dust with icing sugar.

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