Sugar-Free Keto 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.

Sugar free sweeteners are fine and will not prevent ketosis, although it is preferable to use a liquid suspension (Splenda drops etc) because the powdered form does have some carbs.

Sugar: fine granulated. But, you can make this with turbinado (grind it in a food processor) and even with brown sugar (but not fully – we'll talk about it more soon). NOTE: you cannot make a sugar-free meringue and you should not reduce the amount of sugar; sugar is what keeps the meringue stable.

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.

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.

One cup of superfine sugar or packed brown sugar is equal to 1 cup of granulated sugar; 1-3/4 cups powdered sugar equals 1 cup granulated. Superfine sugar may dissolve more readily and produce a smoother glossier meringue, but volume will not be as great.

It also contains little to no carbs or calories, making it suitable for a keto diet. Stevia is available as a liquid or powder and is versatile, which means people can use it in everything from beverages to baking.

Erythritol is a good keto-friendly option, as it has a glycemic index of 0 and works well in both cooking and baking. Plus, due to its small particle size, erythritol tends to be better tolerated than other sugar alcohols ( 12 , 13 ). Still, xylitol, sorbitol, and isomalt are all suitable on a keto diet.

And the very lowest that yielded a reasonable result was a ratio of 2 teaspoons of sugar per egg white, or one-eighth the typical amount of sugar. At that level of sugar, the pavlova becomes less flowy, and more airy and crisp, almost styrofoam-y. Two of my kids actually preferred this version!

Do you need sugar in meringue? ›

While it may seem daunting, a basic meringue is nothing more than a mixture of beaten egg whites and sugar.

Some pavlova recipes call for mixing cornstarch into the sugar before adding it to the egg whites. 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.

The initial higher temperature of the oven helps the meringue pavlova expand and kick start the process of forming and setting of its crust. The lower temperature is needed to cook the center without drying it out, and to dry out the crisp shell.

Egg whites can be over whisked & sugar will not dissolve in over whisked egg whites. I've noticed on a lot of stand mixers that the stated speed for whisking egg whites is nearly full bore. If you whisk them at this set speed you will not have enough time to add the sugar before the egg whites are over whisked.

White sugar is milled into smaller crystals. It's also called superfine sugar. It dissolves more easily, making it perfect for recipes like custard from scratch, meringues and cakes. In most recipes you can substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar and vice versa.

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.

Use ultrafine Baker's Sugar for meringues and other baked goods – it dissolves faster than regular granulated sugar. Use ultrafine Baker's Sugar to help prevent “weeping” or sogginess. Meringues will weep if there's any undissolved sugar. Don't put granulated sugar in a food processor to achieve a finer grain.

The sugar acts as a stabilizer by binding with the water and giving a stable shape to the meringue. The addition of sugar is the critical point in the production of meringue, as it can reduce the foam formation in the beginning and has to be gradually added only after the foaming has begun [3].