Individual Pavlovas With Tropical Fruit

1. FOR THE MERINGUES: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 cup sugar and whip until glossy, stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Scoop six 1⁄2-cup mounds of meringue onto prepared sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Gently make small, bowllike indentation in each meringue using back of spoon. Bake until meringues have smooth, dry, and firm exteriors, about 1-1⁄2 hours. Turn oven off and leave meringues in oven until completely dry and hard, about 2 hours. (Meringue shells can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.)
4. FOR THE FRUIT: Gently toss mango, kiwis, and pineapple with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let sit at room temperature until sugar has dissolved and fruit is juicy, about 30 minutes.
5. FOR THE TOPPING: Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip heavy cream, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. (Whipped cream can be refrigerated in fine-mesh strainer set over small bowl and covered with plastic wrap for up to 8 hours.)
6. To assemble, place meringue shells on individual plates and spoon about 1⁄3 cup whipped cream into each shell. Top with about 1⁄2 cup fruit (some fruit and juice will fall onto plate). Serve immediately.

INDIVIDUAL PAVLOVAS WITH MIXED BERRIES
Substitute 7-1⁄2 ounces each raspberries and blueberries and 5 ounces blackberries for mango, kiwi, and pineapple.

INDIVIDUAL PAVLOVAS WITH STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND PEACHES
If your peaches are firm, you should be able to peel them with a vegetable peeler. If they are too soft and ripe to withstand the pressure of a peeler, you’ll need to blanch them in a pot of simmering water for 15 seconds and then shock them in a bowl of ice water before peeling.
Substitute 5 ounces strawberries, hulled and sliced thin, 5 ounces blueberries, and 2 peaches, peeled, halved, pitted, and sliced 1⁄4 inch thick, for mango, kiwi, and pineapple.

SHAPING PAVLOVAS
After scooping 1⁄2-cup mounds of meringue onto prepared sheet, gently make small, bowl-shaped indentations in each meringue using back of spoon.