john whaite

John Whaite's towering pavlova will reign supreme at any summer gathering. While it’s not particularly complicated, it does require a little planning, so gather your ingredients and set aside a bit of time.

Coronation pavlova tower

rhubarb,

300 g caster sugar

strawberries

tbsp cornflour

balls stem ginger, chopped

Step 1

Put the rhubarb in a deep roasting tin (about 25cm x 35cm), then add 200g caster sugar and the port (or wine or cordial) and toss together. Ensure all the chunks are in a single layer – the more closely packed, the better – then cover and chill overnight. Hull and halve the strawberries and toss with the remaining 100g caster sugar. Put on a tray or large lipped plate; cover and chill overnight.

Step 2

For the meringue, preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Line 2 large baking sheets with baking parchment and draw on 4 circles: one 23cm in diameter, one 18cm, one 15cm and the final one 10cm. Put the egg whites into the bowl of a freestanding mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a bowl and electric beaters). Whisk on a high speed until the egg whites form a thick foam. Add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and whisk until you have a very thick, glossy meringue and there are very few granules of sugar left (test by rubbing a little of the mixture between your thumb and forefinger).

Step 3

Divide the mixture between the 4 circles and spread it out to form thick discs, all the same height. Put in the oven and reduce the temperature to 140ºC, gas mark 1. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, then turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and let the meringues cool inside (overnight if possible). If, once cool, the meringues are a little sticky because of humidity, bake them for 1 hour more at just 80ºC, gas mark ¼, to crisp them up.

Step 4

For the rhubarb, preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Pour the juice from the tin of rhubarb into a pan and set aside. Ensure the rhubarb is evenly spaced in the roasting tin and bake for 10-15 minutes until soft but not overly mushy. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Drain off any liquid and pat dry with kitchen paper.

Step 5

Add the juice from the tray of strawberries to the pan of rhubarb liquid. In a small jug, mix together the cornflour with 3 tbsp of the liquid and stir to dissolve. Bring the pan of juices to a boil, then add the cornflour mixture a little at a time, whisking after each addition, just until it thickens up to a coating consistency. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Step 6

In a large bowl, use a balloon whisk to whip the cream with the icing sugar, vanilla bean paste and Greek yogurt until it holds its shape well.

Step 7

Set the largest meringue on a cake stand or large flat plate. Dollop on just over ¼ of the cream mixture. Scatter over some strawberries and rhubarb. Repeat, using all the cream and meringue and most of the fruit, finishing with a cream layer. Decorate the top with the remaining fruit, and brush with the thickened syrup. Scatter over the ginger and, just before serving, drizzle over more syrup, letting it dribble all the way down the tower.

John Whaite shares his recipe for a light, fruity layer cake with chocolate ganache and simple sponge

White chocolate & raspberry cake

butter,

white chocolate,

eggs

caster sugar

self-raising flour

raspberries, fresh or frozen

white chocolate, chopped

double cream

sugar,

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of 2 x 20cm round, loose-bottomed cake tins. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof mixing bowl, set over a pan of barely simmering water and allow to melt slowly, stirring occasionally.

When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove from the heat and allow to cool for 1-2 mins, then beat in the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk. Fold in the flour and raspberries.

Gently pour the mixture into the tins and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (the raspberries may leave a residue on the skewer, so don’t be fooled by their juiciness). Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the tins for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack.

To make the ganache, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with 100ml of the cream, set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted into the cream and you are left with a smooth, glossy ganache. Leave the ganache to cool to room temperature, then beat in the rest of the cream.

When the cakes have cooled, sandwich them together with the chocolate ganache. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

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Coronation pavlova tower

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Coronation pavlova tower

White chocolate & raspberry cake

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