A step-by-step guide to master the pavlova; a simple and beautiful special occasion cake from @natashaskitchen

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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 celebrate but 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
A step-by-step guide to master the pavlova; a simple and beautiful special occasion cake from @natashaskitchen

Ingredients for Pavlova Cake:

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

Ingredients for Frosting:

1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp granulated sugar

Ingredients for Topping:

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

Very Berry Pavlova Recipe-7

*Tip 1: Pavlova 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.

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, 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.

Very Berry Pavlova Recipe

2. 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.

Very Berry Pavlova Recipe-8

Very Berry Pavlova Recipe-9

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 serve right 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 make cream ahead 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.

Very Berry Pavlova Recipe-2

A step-by-step guide to master the pavlova; a simple and beautiful special occasion cake from @natashaskitchen

Berry Pavlova Cake Recipe

4.91 from 98 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
A step-by-step guide to master the pavlova; a simple and beautiful special occasion cake from @natashaskitchen
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.

Ingredients 

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.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Berry Pavlova Cake
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Final Final Picmonkey Hashtag banner

A step-by-step guide to master the pavlova; a simple and beautiful special occasion cake from @natashaskitchen

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

4.91 from 98 votes (26 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Veronica
    September 16, 2014

    https://natashaskitchen.com/2014/08/19/very-berry-pavlova-recipe-and-giveaway/

    #SweepstakesEntry

    love lemon meringue pie!

    https://twitter.com/vtevs12

    Reply

  • Anna Rotari
    September 16, 2014

    I absolutely love molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream

    Reply

  • olga
    September 16, 2014

    Thank you for ur giveaway!

    Reply

  • Ilona
    September 16, 2014

    My favorite dessert is a hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge!

    Reply

  • Svetlana
    September 16, 2014

    Very yummy cake , love your recipes .

    Reply

  • Thomas Murphy
    September 16, 2014

    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/511959068370829312

    Reply

  • Thomas Murphy
    September 16, 2014

    Cheesecake is my favorite dessert.

    Reply

  • Inna
    September 16, 2014

    Love Medovij(Medovik) cake 🙂 Your Pavlova looks beautiful!:)

    Reply

  • Ana Hrizhynku
    September 16, 2014

    Thank you for the giveaway. I must say that my favorite dessert now is your biskvit cake, you know the one with wine syrup. Yumm.

    Reply

  • Tatyana
    September 16, 2014

    I love the raspberry pretzel jello dessert! On a few occasions made it for my coworkers and they all just loved it!!! Thank you for all of the recipes!

    Reply

  • Alla
    September 16, 2014

    Excited about trying those pavlova recipe, it’s my hubby’s favorite dessert. Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

    Reply

  • Tanya
    September 16, 2014

    I love the chocolate spartak!:)

    Reply

  • Mila L
    September 16, 2014

    Tiramisu and fruit tarts are my favorite at the moment. I love berries and love coffee so I guess that may explain why those 2 are my favorite. 🙂

    Reply

  • Katerina P
    September 16, 2014

    This looks delicious! Love all the berries, and the gift card doesn’t sound to bad either 😉

    Reply

  • Paul
    September 16, 2014

    definitely chcolate cake!

    Reply

  • lyuba
    September 16, 2014

    My family is in love with your tiramisu cake.

    Reply

  • Julia
    September 16, 2014

    fav dessert is banana bread or honey cake!

    Reply

  • Dina Shk.
    September 16, 2014

    My favorite desert is macaroons! I have tried making pavlova cake by your recipe and it was delicious! Thank you!

    Reply

  • Alla K
    September 16, 2014

    Honey cake. Love it.

    Reply

  • Nat Kravchuk
    September 16, 2014

    https://twitter.com/natKravchuk/status/511920863823015936

    Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.