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

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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 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

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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)

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Comments

  • Anna
    August 20, 2014

    My favorite desert are medovik,spartak,your raspberry pretzel jello and anything chocolate:)

    Reply

  • Vita
    August 20, 2014

    I love your Blog! Every time I have guest coming over for breakfast,lunch,dinner or just tea.. always go on here to get ideas and easy recipes.. I want to make this pavlova.. It looks so good! :)) I have made the Boccone Dolce Cake couple times and loved it… Am excited to try this recipe this coming weekned.. And I hope I win the gift card.. That would be awsome.. Thank you 🙂

    Reply

  • re morgan
    August 20, 2014

    My favorite dessert is pecan pralines in bourbon sauce atop cheesecake.

    Reply

  • Ruthie
    August 20, 2014

    This is a hard question. So many great desserts! One of my favorites would be peach pie with vanilla ice cream melting on top;)

    Reply

  • Margot C
    August 20, 2014

    I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/502177660689481728

    Reply

  • Margot C
    August 20, 2014

    I love a Dark Chocolate Cake with Raspberries and Vanilla Ice Cream.

    Reply

  • Ana
    August 20, 2014

    My favorite dessert is brid’s milk cake 🙂

    Reply

  • ksenia moore
    August 20, 2014

    cheesecake all the way!

    Reply

  • Inna
    August 20, 2014

    Ooo my favorite dessert(s) have to be poppyseed roulade or something cheesy and creamy like pumpkin cheesecake!

    Reply

  • Alya Myrmyr
    August 20, 2014

    I love cheesecake!

    Reply

  • Nadya T
    August 20, 2014

    Congrats! hehe don’t you mean your only child? since you only have one?

    Reply

  • Heather S
    August 20, 2014

    Tweet!
    https://twitter.com/KaizenFashion/status/502134314566291457

    Reply

  • Heather S
    August 20, 2014

    My favorite dessert is cheesecake 🙂

    Reply

  • lena
    August 20, 2014

    I Love Love TRES LECHE!! makes me want some just thinking about it! haha Im going to be making it for hubby bday in a week and now I might make this 😉 LOVE allll your recipes!
    Be Blessed

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 20, 2014

      Thanks so much Lena 🙂 God bless you too!

      Reply

  • Julie
    August 20, 2014

    I love any fruity dessert! Your Pavolva recipe and photos look like a perfect, light delight!

    Reply

  • Svetlana Pilyuhin
    August 20, 2014

    My favorite desert is Waffle with cooked condensed milk!!! Brings me back to my childhood – memories from weddings/birthdays where we had lots of different colors of waffles…
    DeLiCiOuS!!!

    Reply

  • Bobbi Holyfield
    August 19, 2014

    I Love love loveyour banana bread, so delicious! 🙂

    Reply

  • Nadia
    August 19, 2014

    I love the pretzel jello cake also got from one of your recipes! I make it for any parties or just for us! We love it! Thank You for great recipes!

    Reply

  • Anna
    August 19, 2014

    My weakness is ice cream, or velvet cake, or sweets in general 🙂

    Reply

  • Yana Y.
    August 19, 2014

    Cheesecake!

    Reply

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