Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (2024)

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (1)

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My husband and I have been married 11 years this month. Time, slow down! This is a very special anniversary for us. Our first child is 5 and will be starting school this year. We didn’t go out of town to celebratebut we did go out to our favorite fancy restaurant and then shared dessert at home.

If you want to surprise your spouse and make dessert extra special, you should try this loaded berry pavlova. It’s light, airy and filled with all the best summer berries. It is crisp on the outside and marshmallowy soft inside. A sweet end to a sweet day!

Let me start out by saying the pavlova is EASY. Meringue is neither complicated or time consuming. It takes some time to bake/dry out in the oven, but your oven does all of the work.

I’ll be sharing all of my tips on getting the correct consistency and provide step-by-step photos of the process to give you confidence to re-create the recipe or make your own variation at home

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Pavlova Cake:

6 egg whites, room temperature (*see tip 1below)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp corn starch
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 Tbspvanilla extract

Ingredients for Frosting:

1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp granulatedsugar

Ingredients for Topping:

4-5 cups fresh berries(blueberries, raspberries, small strawberries, blackberries..)** see tip 2below
1-2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (3)

*Tip 1:Pavlova eggs will beat best when they are atroom temperature. If you forget this step, place un-cracked eggs in warm water for 15 minutes to bring them to room temp.

**Tip 2: Keep berries dry and chilled prior to use.

How to Make a Berry Pavlova Cake:

Preheat the Oven to 250˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

1. Using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, beat6 egg whites and 1 1/2 cups sugar for 6 to 7 minutes on high speed, or until stiff peaks form. The mixture will be smooth and glossy.

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (4)

2. Add1/2 Tbsplemon juice, 1/2 Tbspvanilla extract and 2 tsp corn starch and continue mixing another 15 seconds or until well blended. Transfer immediately to a large sheet of parchment paper and use spatula to form a 10″ round ring, making adeepindent in the center to accommodate the cream and berries later. The center will rise so make a substantial well in the center.

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (5)

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (6)

3. Bake at 250˚F for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then turn off the oven and with door closed, let it sit inside the oven another 1 hour until cooled. You can keep it in the oven longer to cool since the oven will be off and you might have dinner plans ;).Remove pavlova from oven and let cool completely to room temp then cover and let stand in a dry, room temp room up to 2 days or assemble and serveright away.

How to Make the Topping:

1. Beat 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream with 2 Tbsp sugar on high speed 2-3 minutes or until frosting is stiff and spreadable but don’t over beat or it will become buttery. (note: you can makecreamahead of time, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use).

2. Just before serving, spread whipped cream over the pavlova and top with plenty of your favorite berries. Refrigerate leftovers. It’s best served right away.

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (7)

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (8)

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe

4.91 from 93 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (10)

This pavlova is light, airy and filled with all the best summer berries. A sweet end to a sweet day! Meringue is neither complicated or time consuming. It takes some time to bake/dry out in the oven, but your oven does all of the work. It is crisp on the outside and marshmallowy soft inside.

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Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites, room temperature (*see tip 1)
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 4-5 cups fresh berries, blueberries, raspberries, small strawberries, blackberries..** see tip 2
  • 1-2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

Instructions

How to Make a Berry Pavlova:

  • Preheat the Oven to 250˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, beat 6 egg whites and 1 1/2 cups sugar for 6 to 7 minutes on high speed, or until stiff peaks form. The mixture will be smooth and glossy.

  • Add 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract and 2 tsp corn starch and continue mixing another 15 seconds or until well blended.

  • Transfer immediately to a large sheet of parchment paper and use spatula to form a 10" round ring, making a deep indent in the center to accommodate the cream and berries later. The center will rise so make a substantial well in the center.

  • Bake at 250˚F for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then turn off the oven and with door closed, let it sit inside the oven another 1 hour until cooled. You can keep it in the oven longer to cool since the oven will be off and you might have dinner plans ;). Remove pavlova from oven and let cool completely to room temp then cover and and let stand in a dry, room temp room up to 2 days or assemble and serve right away.

How to Make the Topping:

  • Beat 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream with 2 Tbsp sugar on high speed 2-3 minutes or until frosting is stiff and spreadable but don't over beat or it will become buttery. (note: you can make cream ahead of time, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use).

  • Just before serving, spread whipped cream over the pavlova and top with plenty of your favorite berries. Refrigerate leftovers. It's best served right away.

Notes

*Tip 1: Pavolva eggs will beat best when they are at room temperature. If you forget this step, place un-cracked eggs in warm water for 15 minutes to bring them to room temp.
**Tip 2: Keep berries dry and chilled prior to use.

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: Berry Pavlova Cake

Skill Level: Easy/Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (11)

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (12)

I hope you love this easy and wonderful Berry Pavlova Recipe!! 🙂

Natasha Kravchuk

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (13)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is difference between meringue and pavlova? ›

What's the Difference Between Pavlova and Meringue? Pavlovas and meringues are both made of whipped egg white, but a Pavlova has a delicate crispy exterior with pillowy soft marshmallow inside, while meringue is dry and crisp all the way through.

Can I make pavlova the day before? ›

You can make it and leave it to cool in the oven overnight, or you can store a cooled, undecorated Pavlova in an airtight container. Once decorated with cream and toppings, they can be stored in the fridge until you're ready to serve, but they are best eaten that day.

What makes a pavlova chewy? ›

Sugar makes the pavlova mixture strong and stable, and is responsible for that super hard shiny crust. I found that as you reduce the sugar or increase the brown sugar (it has more moisture), the final result is a chewier, with a more fragile, shattery crust.

Why do you put vinegar in pavlova? ›

Vinegar added to the meringue will lower the pH of the egg whites. This acidic environment will also help to stabilize the egg white foam, preventing the meringue from collapsing too much. The acidity helps to unravel the protein and prevent the proteins from binding together too tightly.

How long can you keep a homemade pavlova? ›

If you store your pavlova in an airtight container or wrap it well in cling film, it should keep its taste and texture for up to 2 days. The pavlova will taste best if eaten the day after you make it. After you add fruit and whipped cream to your pavlova, you'll need to eat it within a few hours.

Can you use granulated sugar instead of caster sugar? ›

Caster Sugar Substitute

Granulated sugar will usually work just fine as a caster sugar alternative. Substitute on a 1:1 ratio (if your recipe calls for a cup of caster sugar, use a cup of granulated sugar).

Should you use fresh eggs for pavlova? ›

Make sure your eggs are fresh

“What the perfect meringues comes down to is just straight out, geeky science,” she says in Basics to Brilliance, where she makes meringue, and her pavlova, in episode 2. (Hay even measures her eggs in millilitres, not number of egg whites!)

How do I keep my pavlova from getting soggy? ›

Storing Pavlovas
  1. Wrap and Cover. Make sure that pavlovas are securely wrapped and then covered for extra protection.
  2. Keep Dry. Moisture is an enemy of meringues. ...
  3. Wait to Fill. To prevent the pavlovas weeping or becoming too soft, assemble a couple of hours or so before serving.
Nov 2, 2020

Why did my pavlova crack in the oven? ›

If there is a little bit of yolk in the mix the egg white & sugar foam won't be as stable as it could be. It also won't have reached the volume that it would normally get to. When it is in the oven the pav will increase in volume & will crack the outside.

How do you know when a pavlova is done? ›

How Do I Know My Pavlova Is Done? A perfectly baked pavlova should be pale and look dry, but a skewer inserted in the meringue should come out with a thick sticky, marshmallow-like consistency. If you aren't sure about the pavlova's doneness, turn the oven off, open the door and leave the meringue for up to an hour.

Why is my pavlova weeping in the oven? ›

If your meringue base is spreading or weeping it is likely that the egg whites were slightly over whisked before the sugar was added.

What happens if you put too much vinegar in pavlova? ›

If you have accidentally added too much vinegar, bake the same pavlova again at 150C for half an hour. This will crips it up but also give it a slightly darker colour. Just before serving, whip the cream and spoon it onto the top of the pavlova, leaving an edge of pavlova.

What happens if you overbeat pavlova? ›

Overbeating egg white breaks down the structure and the meringue is likely to collapse during baking. Beat until firm peaks form, then start adding sugar. If the egg white starts to separate or looks curdled, it's overbeaten and you'll need to start again with fresh egg whites.

Why do you put cornstarch in pavlova? ›

Our answer. Nigella's pavlovas, such as Lemon Pavlova (from SIMPLY NIGELLA), contain cornflour (cornstarch) in the meringue. The cornflour helps the meringue to stay soft in the centre, to give the contrast of crisp crust and marshmallowy interior.

Does pavlova taste like meringue? ›

Named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, a pavlova is essentially a meringue cake made of whipped egg whites and sugar. It's perfectly light and crisp on the outside, ever so slightly chewy, and the middle tastes like a light, airy marshmallow.

What are the 3 types of meringue? ›

But not all meringues are the same. There are in fact three major types: French, Swiss, and Italian. The distinction depends on how the key ingredients — egg whites and sugar — are combined and whether any heat is involved in the process.

Is pavlova a type of meringue? ›

Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert. Originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century, it was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Taking the form of a cake-like circular block of baked meringue, pavlova has a crisp crust and soft, light inside.

Is pavlova made of meringue? ›

As pavlova is a large meringue, it should have a soft and gooey middle (like a fully marshmallow centre) and a crispy shell on the outside. It's all in perfecting the meringue mixture with room temperature egg whites.

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