Holiday Berry Meringue Wreath Recipes

Steps:

• Mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, the bread flour, salt, yeast and 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water (105 degrees F to 110 degrees F) in a large bowl with a wooden spoon to make a wet and sticky dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until almost tripled in size, 2 to 3 hours (the top will flatten and begin to sink in the center). Divide the dough in half and transfer one piece to another bowl. Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
• Put a pizza stone or inverted rimmed baking sheet on the highest oven rack and put a broiler pan on the lowest rack; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, sprinkle each piece with 1/4 cup flour, then shape each into a smooth, taut ball. Cover the bowls loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Put a large piece of parchment paper on a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet and dust with flour. Using floured hands, pick up a ball of dough and poke your thumbs through the center to make a hole. Place on the parchment, then gently stretch the dough from the center to make a 9-inch-diameter ring with a 5-inch hole in the center. Sprinkle generously with flour. Lay out another sheet of parchment, dust with flour and repeat to shape the other ball of dough into a ring. Let rest, uncovered, 15 minutes.
• Holding kitchen shears at a 45 degrees F angle, make deep cuts at 1-to-1 1/2-inch intervals all the way around both dough rings, pulling the cut sections away from the center as you go to make "leaves." Let rest, uncovered, until plump, about 15 more minutes.
• Slide one dough wreath (on the parchment) directly onto the hot stone. Carefully pour 1 cup water into the broiler pan underneath to create steam; quickly shut the oven door. Bake until the bread is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Repeat with the second dough wreath, adding another cup of water to the broiler pan.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Trace a 10-inch-diameter circle on a piece of parchment with a pencil. Trace a 5 1/2-inch-diameter circle in center of larger circle. Place on a baking sheet, tracing-side down.
• Whisk egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla.
• Transfer mixture to a large piping bag fitted with a large plain tip (such as Ateco #808). Pipe 10 evenly spaced mounds (each about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches high) onto parchment in a circle, using traced ring as a guide. With the back of a spoon, create a hollow in each mound. Bake until ring easily lifts off parchment, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Turn off heat; let stand in oven 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add cranberries; return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Let cool in liquid. Drain cranberries and transfer to a wire rack; let dry 30 minutes. Roll 3 tablespoons of individual berries in sugar to coat.
• To serve, whisk skyr with heavy cream and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until silky; divide among hollows in pavlovas. Garnish with sugared and unsugared cranberries, pomegranate arils, currants, and mint.