Pavlovas are a crisp meringue base typically spread with fluffy whipped cream, sometimes curd, and topped with fresh fruit. But really, is anything ever “typical” anymore? We’ve seen every component of a Pavlova take on different variation, from coffee and chocolate flavored meringue bases, to other fluffy cream-like spreads and mousses, to every kind of fresh fruit, fruit compote, nuts, and even herbs.

As fitting as the original version is for summer, with the lightness of whipped cream and fresh fruit, we thought we’d swap out the whipped cream for the quintessential creamy dreaminess of summer: ice cream, straight from your Thermador Freedom® Collection built-in fridge freezer! What we’ve ended up with is something that tastes like a chocolate covered strawberry: two chocolate meringues layered with chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and raspberry ice cream, fresh summer-ripe strawberries and chocolate sauce.

This Chocolate Covered Strawberry Ice Cream Pavlova is the perfect kind of show-stopping dessert for a group or a party. Make sure to have all the components separate and ready to assemble just before serving. The meringues can be baked days in advance if kept cool and dry, slice the berries, and you can even scoop the ice cream ahead of time, and keep the scoops frozen in your Thermador refrigerator freezer until serving time.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Ice Cream Double Layer Pavlova 

Makes one double-layer Pavlova, enough for 1 – 10 people

Ingredients for the Pavlova’s Meringue Base:

6 large egg whites – Best if egg whites are room temperature and the mixing bowl is very cold, and clean of any kind of oil/grease (like yolk or oil from your hands)

1½ cups superfine sugar – Superfine sugar is different from confectioner’s/powdered sugar (which contains cornstarch). If you can’t find super-fine sugar, just make it at home by processing it in a food processor or blender for about three minutes on medium speed. Careful when you process it, it will give off a sugar “dust” that you don’t want to inhale.

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

2 oz. dark chocolate, finely chopped

Ingredients for the Pavlova:

1 pint chocolate ice cream

1 pint vanilla ice cream

1 pint strawberry ice cream

1 pint raspberry sorbet

1 basket super summer-ripe strawberries, sliced into halves

Chocolate sauce for drizzling

Before you make the Pavlova’s Meringue Base make sure to preheat your Thermador oven to 350F.

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit a large baking sheet. Draw two 8-inch diameter circles with pencil on the parchment. (If two circles don’t fit, make each meringue base layer on a separate baking sheet.) Turn the paper over on the baking sheet so that the pencil drawn circle side in down.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and shiny peaks form. Beat in superfine sugar a few spoonfuls at a time until stiff, shiny peaks form off the beaters and in the bowl.

Sprinkle sifted cocoa, balsamic vinegar and chopped chocolate over the beaten egg whites in the bowl, and then gently fold until everything is incorporated. Divide and spoon the chocolate meringue between the two circles on the parchment paper, spreading it to just about ½-inch inside the pencil mark; the meringue will spread during baking. Try to make the edges ever so slightly higher (like a rim) to hold in the fillings later.

Place the baking sheets in the pre-heated Thermador oven, then turn the temperature down to 350º. Bake the meringues until they are dry to the touch, about 1 hour. Turn off the heat, prop open the oven door, and allow the meringues to cool down completely inside the oven. The cooled meringues can be stored in an air tight container in a cool, dry place for a couple of days.

To assemble the Pavlova place one chocolate meringue on a serving platter, with rimmed edges to catch any melted ice cream if desired. Place small scoops of the different ice cream in a single layer on top. Place the second meringue layer on top, adding another layer of ice cream scoops. Top with fresh sliced strawberries then drizzle with chocolate sauce or hot fudge.

Serve immediately. No part of this dessert can be stored once it is assembled so enjoy all of it!