This Pavlova recipe makes a delicious treat for a hot summer day. Choose your own topping for this delight that tastes as dreamy as it looks!
If you’re holding a Summer soiree why not try my Sweet Peach Iced Tea recipe, or Erren’s Strawberry Cocktail to serve after dessert?
Believe it or not, before I moved to England, I never heard of Pavlova! Boy, was I missing out!
My closest English friend just loves the stuff and when I started this blog, she started requesting it. I have to say, I haven’t made meringue in – well without aging myself, I’ll just say a REALLY long time!
I was a little intimidated and kept putting it off. Then after seeing the twentieth Pavlova made on a cooking show this season, I decided to give it a try. Who knew you could make meringue in a food processor (with the whisk attachment of course)?
It took no time at all and much to my surprise, when I opened the oven after baking them, they looked like proper meringues! The true test came later when I cut them open to see if they had the marshmallowy center. Spoiler alert – they did!
Why This Recipe Works
- Pavlova is really an easy dessert to make. Once you try it, you will make it over and over again.
- The creamy texture and marshmallow center make for a light dessert perfect for summer.
- Top this dessert with whatever fresh fruit is in season and a lovely whipped cream.
Now I am a huge Pavlova fan! The crisp, marshmallow of the meringue, combined with the creamy fresh cream and mixed fruit is unbelievably delicious!
Step By Step Instructions
- Whisk the egg whites with a mixer until they form stiff peaks.
- Add sugar and whisk intermittently.
- Mix in the vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla.
- Spread the meringue mixture on a baking tray.
- Bake at a low temperature for an hour.
- Add fruit and cream.
- Serve & Enjoy!
Step By Step Instructions
Start out by making the template for the meringues using two dessert plates on the baking paper.
Use a pencil and then turn it over so it doesn’t bake on the pencil side.
A slow bake helps create the marshmallow center. They cool in the oven (with the oven turned off of course). Once cooled (I left mine overnight), they are ready to fill.
Then spread the meringue onto the template making a crater in the middle.
Bake on a low heat (300˚F) for an hour.
Serve with fresh fruit and cream.
Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- If you plan to make it ahead, make the meringues and don’t fill them until you plan to serve them. They will keep (unfilled) for a good few days in a well-sealed container.
- Once filled, you can store them in the fridge for about two days.
- You can leave them to cool overnight in the oven if needed.
- Stack Pavlova with cream and fruit in between layers for a cake-like dessert.
- Add fruit puree with the meringue before baking for extra flavor.
Other Great Recipes
FAQs
You can make a pavlova the day before, just keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
Both use egg whites to be whipped into a foam, with sugar and are baked at a low temperature until dry. However, meringue is crispy and dry all the way through and pavlova is crispy on the outside and soft and marshmallow-like in middle (and usually served topped with fruit and cream).
You can use mascarpone as an alternative to cream. If the mascarpone is firm stir in a splash of milk until it is at spreading consistency.
Yes you can leave the meringue in the oven overnight, then take out when ready to serve.
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Let’s Make Pavlova
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 1¼ cups superfine sugar
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
For the fruit:
- 2 cups mixed fruit of your choice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2-4 tablespoons caster/superfine sugar to taste
For the cream:
- 1¼ cup whipping cream
- 6-8 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon skimmed milk powder
Equipment Needed
- parchment paper
- pencil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300F/150C
- Using a pencil, mark out the circumference of two dessert plates on parchment paper (about 3 inches apart from each other) for two Pavlovas or a dinner plate for one Pavlova. Flip the paper over so you are baking on the side without the pencil marks. You can see the circles through the paper.
- Whisk the egg whites with a mixer until they form stiff peaks, then whisk in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the meringue looks glossy.
- Whisk in the vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla.
- Spread the meringue inside the circles, creating a crater in the middle by making the sides a higher than the middle.
- Bake for 1 hour, then turn off the oven and let the Pavlova cool completely inside the oven (they can even be left overnight)
For the fruit:
- When the meringue is cool, peel and cut the fruit (if needed). Add it to a medium bowl then add the water and sugar and mix to create juices.
For the cream:
- Add powdered sugar (to taste), skimmed milk powder (This is to help give the whipped cream structure so it doesn’t flatten out too quickly), and vanilla to the cream.
- Using a food processor, whip the cream until it thickens (this doesn’t take long at all so check often).
- Spread half of the whipped cream into the craters of each Pavlova and do the same with the fruit.
- My Pavlovas lasted two days in the fridge before going soft. However, each environment is different, so I recommend serving on the day of the assembly.
Nutrition Information:
Update Notes: This post was originally published in July of 2015, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions and tips in April of 2021.
Jenn Smith says
I’ve made this several times and it is delicious!
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Jenn, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, it is delicious isn’t it?
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
YUM!!! I love this delicious version!!!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you, Erin!
Sara Welch says
I know what I will be having for dessert tonight! This looks incredible and easy too!
Melanie Bauer says
Looks scrumptious! Definitely a huge hit, so excited to give this a try!
Taylor says
This sounds like a must try! Love the fresh fruit on top. Yum!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you think so Taylor thank you!
Chrissie Baker says
I LOVE pavlovas, and when I saw the first image in this post, I literally sighed out loud! These look soooo good!
Erren's Kitchen says
That is awesome to hear thank you, Chrissie!
Beth Pierce says
This is everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Looking forward to enjoying this after dinner this week!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Beth, You will love it!
Face says
Looks great, and very easy to make. I made mine into pavlova wreath. Great for a christmas centre peice.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/90/11/54/901154ee5b638823daaa71c7c3cce095.jpg
skinnyandsingle says
They should be fluffy in the middle 🙂 mmmm
patty says
These look beautiful. I have never had a pavlova and have always been confused by all the recipes. Should they be soft in the center like marshmallows or crispy all the way through? Thank you. Patty