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The Perfect Pavlova | Step By Step Guide

Pavlova with whipped cream, lemon curd and fresh berries. This recipe will make two small pavlovas (15cm/6in) or one large 20cm (8in). Since the pavlova needs time to cool it is best baked a day or several hours in advance.Make sure to read the step by step guide and FAQs in the main post before making your first pavlova. Please note that oven temperatures are given in both Celsius and Fahrenheit - pick the right one for your oven/location.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Additional Time
5 hrs
Total Time
7 hrs
Servings: 8
Calories: 524 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: European

Ingredients

For the pavlova
  • 1 ¼ cuos (180ml) egg whites from 6 large eggs
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar (optional)
  • 1 2/3 cups (350g) sugar caster / superfine
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch (cornflour)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
To fill and decorate
  • 2 cups (500ml) double cream
  • 1 cup (125g) sugar , powdered / icing
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
  • 6 tbsp lemon or passionfruit curd (optional)
  • 2 cups (280g) fresh berries
  • sugar powdered / icing, to dust

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to to 130C (270F) and place the shelf in the middle or lower end of the oven. Line a large tray with baking paper and trace a 20cm (8in) circle on it.
  2. Wipe your mixer bowl with lemon juice. Put the egg whites and cream of tartar in the mixing bowl and briefly mix together with a balloon whisk to combine.
  3. Start whisking on LOW SPEED until the egg whites start to form large and then smaller bubbles and become foamy.
  4. Continue whisking on medium-low speed until the egg whites have formed soft peaks. Start adding the sugar one tablespoon at a time while whisking on medium speed. Be patient, it can take as long as 10 minutes for all the sugar to be incorporated.
  5. Increase the speed to medium high and continue whisking until the meringue is stiff and glossy. Feel a small amount of meringue between your fingers – if it feels gritty then the sugar hasn’t fully dissolved yet.
  6. Continue to whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved and the meringue is stiff and glossy.Add the lemon juice (or vinegar), cornflour and vanilla paste and whisk them in for 30 seconds.
  7. Pile the meringue on your tray, quite high, to fill the circle you traced. Use an offset spatula to shape it, making a small indent in the cener. Alternatively you can pipe the meringue for a more structured look.
  8. Bake for 20 minutes then REDUCE the oven temperature to 90°C (195°F) or up to 110°C (225°F) please see notes about altitude. Bake for a further 90 minutes without opening the oven door. Turn the oven off and leave the pavlova to cool inside the oven for 5-6 hours or overnight to avoid cracks. At this point you can store the cooled meringue shells in an airtight container for several days.*** READERS BAKING AT HIGH ALTITUDE: Bake at 110°C (230°F).
  9. Whisk the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract until you have soft to medium peaks.
  10. Ripple the lemon curd into the whipped cream and fill the pavlova once you are ready to serve (do not fill in advance). Pile a handful of fresh berries over the top and serve with a dusting of icing sugar.

Nutrition Information

Calories 524kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 66g (22%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 17g (85%) Cholesterol 103mg (34%) Sodium 67mg (3%) Potassium 129mg (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 61g (122%) Vitamin A 1120IU (22%) Vitamin C 2.1mg (2%) Calcium 53mg (5%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 524

% Daily Value*

Calories 524kcal 26%
Carbohydrates 66g 22%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 17g 85%
Cholesterol 103mg 34%
Sodium 67mg 3%
Potassium 129mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 61g 122%
Vitamin A 1120IU 22%
Vitamin C 2.1mg 2%
Calcium 53mg 5%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.