Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (2024)

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My Mini Pavlova recipe is a show-stopping, elegant dessert made with a light and airy meringue and a mascarpone filling finished with fresh berries. It is a gorgeous holiday dessert and perfect for parties!

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (1)
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  • Mini Pavlovas
  • What are Pavlovas?
  • Best Pavlova Recipe Ingredients
  • Mini Pavlovas Recipe
  • Pavlova Recipes Tips
  • How to Separate Egg Whites from Yolks
  • Mini Pavlova Recipe FAQs
  • Pavlova Recipe Toppings
  • Finger Food Desserts
  • 📋 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

Mini Pavlovas

My individual pavlovas are just irresistible, made with mascarpone, homemade whipped cream filling, and light, crisp meringue cups, which are the perfect bite-size desserts to make if you want to impress family and friends. Everyone will be asking you to share the recipe!

The most important part of this recipe is the pavlova meringue. A meringue recipe for pavlovas is made differently from a regular meringue. The best pavlova recipes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, which calls for adding cornstarch to the mixture!

This is a holiday recipe requested by my family year after year!

They were absolutely delicious and recipe was easy to follow. Thanks for a great recipe!

Claire on Pinterest

What are Pavlovas?

Pavlovas are a meringue dessert with a creamy topping and fresh fruits for garnish. It has a crisp meringue crust but is soft, creamy, and light on the inside. Traditionally, it is served as one large cake, but I prefer mini pavlovas! Pavlova is named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is a popular dessert worldwide, especially as a Christmas dessert!

Best Pavlova Recipe Ingredients

  • egg whites
  • caster sugar
  • cream of tartar
  • cornstarch
  • vanilla extract
  • whipping cream
  • mascarpone
  • fresh fruits (your choice; I use berries, like raspberries and blueberries)

Mini Pavlovas Recipe

How to Make Pavlova Meringue

  1. Preheat ovento 320°F. Line two baking tins with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl,using an electric mixer at high speed, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
  3. Gradually add the sugar and the cream of tartarand keep beating at high speed.Add the cornstarch and vanilla extract. Beat until stiff peaks form.
  4. Pipe the meringueonto the prepared tins. First pipe a small circle and then pipe on top of it, around the edges, in order to form a well.
  5. Put one baking tin in the ovenand immediately lower the temperature to 245°F.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, and lower the temperature to about 200°F.
  7. Bake until the meringue is dry when touched carefully. Turn off the ovenand open the door halfway. Leave the meringues inside to cool down. This will prevent the temperature change from being too drastic and causing the meringue to crack.
Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (2)

Individual Pavlovas Filling

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. In another large bowl, whip the cream until thick. Using a rubber spatula, gradually add the whipped cream to the mascarpone.
  2. Pipe or spoon the filling into the holes of the mini pavlovas. Top with fresh berries and mint leaves.
  3. Serve immediately.

This recipe is perfect in every way, very thorough and tasty!

Iva
Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (3)

Pavlova Recipes Tips

  • Baking properly is the key. For perfect pavlova bites with no cracks or burns, bake them at a low temperature. The best thing to do is to preheat the oven to a higher temperature, and then gradually lower it during the baking until you switch the oven off.
  • Don’t take the baking pan out immediately! You need to leave the mini pavlovas inside the oven to cool down, with the door open halfway. This is the best way to avoid cracks in your pavlova meringue.
  • Add the topping and the decoration right before serving, otherwise, the meringue will get soggy from the moisture.
  • If you do not have a piping bag, you can make one by cutting the end of a large plastic bag. Or, you can use a spoon. You do not need a piping tip for this mini pavlova recipe.

How to Separate Egg Whites from Yolks

This recipe calls for egg whites. To separate egg whites from the yolks, follow one of these methods. Note: keep eggs chill before cracking. It’s easier to separate egg whites from cold eggs.

  1. Crack the egg into your hand over a bowl. Catch the yolk with your palm and let the white drip into the bowl.
  2. Alternatively, crack the egg across the widest part of the shell. Break in half over the bowl and tilt the egg halves back and forth to catch the yolk in one half and allow the white to drip out into the bowl.
  3. Or, you can crack the egg onto a slotted spoon. The yolk will catch on the spoon and allow the white to drip through into the bowl.

Mini Pavlova Recipe FAQs

Can I make a pavlova ahead of time?

You can make the meringue a day ahead of time, although we recommend making them the day of or no earlier than the day before for best results.

How so I store pavlovas?

You can store the baked meringues outside of the refrigerator at room temperature in an airtight container if you would like to make them ahead of time and have them ready to serve.
Store the filling separately from the meringues.
Fill the pavlovas when ready to serve, otherwise they will get mushy.

Do I need to use cornstarch?

Cornstarch should not be omitted from this recipe – it is necessary to make the pavlova meringue as light and crisp as it is with a fluffy inside. If you need to use a substitute, use potato starch.

Love this recipe! It’s my new go-to!

Lisa

Pavlova Recipe Toppings

  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Peach slices
  • Apricots
  • Kiwi slices
  • lemon curd

You can use whatever fruit you like to top your bite-size pavlovas. We love fresh berries, but other fresh fruits make delicious additions as well.

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (5)

Finger Food Desserts

  • Keylime Bars
  • Milk Pie Bar Squares
  • Crumbl Cookie Recipe
  • Pumpkin Pie Cookies

This recipe is a perfect ending to a holiday meal. I love serving pavlovas when I entertain and make a slow-roasted prime rib or standing rib roast. And for another great Christmas treat, try my guide on How to Make Salami Roses!

So easy to make and such a show-stopper!

Sarah on Pinterest

📋 Recipe

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (6)

Mini Pavlova Recipe

Isabel Laessig

Impress everyone with this mini pavlova recipe! Mini pavlovas are great finger food desserts for parties, and are so easy to make.

4.71 from 41 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine New Zealand

Servings 35 mini pavlovas

Calories 80 kcal

Ingredients

Pavlova Meringue:

  • 4
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • ½ tsp.
  • 1,5 tsps.
  • 2 tsps.

Mascarpone Filling:

  • 1 cup mascarpone
  • 1 cup cold
  • 2 tbs
  • 1 tsp.
  • fresh berries
  • mint leaves (optional)

Cooking Conversions

See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

Instructions

Pavlova Meringue

  • Preheat oven to 320°F. Line two baking tins with parchment paper.

  • In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer at high speed, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.

    4 egg whites

  • Gradually add the sugar and the cream of tartar and keep beating at high speed.

    1 cup caster sugar, ½ tsp. cream of tartar

  • Add the cornstarch and vanilla extract. Beat until stiff peaks form.

    1,5 tsps. cornstarch, 2 tsps. vanilla extract

  • Pipe the meringue onto the prepared tins. First pipe a small circle and then pipe on top of it, around the edges, in order to form a well.

    Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (7)

  • Put one baking tin in the oven and immediately lower the temperature to 245°F. Bake for 30 minutes, and lower the temperature to about 200°F. Bake until the meringue is dry when touched carefully.

  • Turn off the oven and open the door half way. Leave the meringues inside to cool down. This will prevent the temperature change from being too drastic and causing the meringue to crack.

    Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (8)

Mascarpone Filling

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone together with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.

    1 cup mascarpone, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 2 tbs powdered sugar

    Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (9)

  • In another large bowl, whip the cream until thick. Then, using a rubber spatula, gradually add the whipped cream to the mascarpone.

    1 cup whipping cream

  • Pipe or spoon the filling into the holes of the mini pavlovas. Top with fresh berries and mint leaves. Serve immediately.

    mint leaves, fresh berries

    Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (10)

Notes

RECIPE TIPS:

  • Don’t store filled pavlovas for more than few hours. You can keep pavlova meringues for few days in the fridge, in an airtight container. Place them in the container after they are completely cool. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to a month. To do that, the best way is to wrap them with plastic wrap as they are on the baking tin with the parchment paper.
  • Baking properly is the key: To achieve perfectly white pavlovas with no cracks, bake them at low temperature. The best is if you preheat the oven to higher temperature and then gradually decrease it during the baking, until switching the oven off.Don’t take the tin out immediately!You need to leave it to cool down inside the oven, with the door half open. That’s thebest way to avoid cracksas they are caused by temperature changes.
  • Add the topping and the decorationright before serving, otherwise the meringue will get soaked by the moisture, and we want it crispy.
  • Alternatively, you can just spoon the meringue on the sheets instead of piping, but that way your mini pavlovas will be slightly bigger.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pavlovaCalories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 12mgPotassium: 22mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mg

Keyword mini pavlova, mini pavlova recipe, mini pavlovas, pavlova recipe

Did you try this recipe?Tag on social and leave a comment below!

Photography by Daniela Lambova.

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (11)

About Isabel Laessig

Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

» About Me

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DeeCee says

    Can you use cream cheese instead of mascarpone?

    Reply

    • Isabel Laessig says

      Hi! Yes, this should work out just fine – and will be delicious! You may need to add a little extra whipped cream to get the texture to where it needs to be, but I’d mix it 1:1 to begin with and only mix in more whipped cream if you find it needs more. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Gloria says

    You say to line two tins with paper but then put one in the oven. What about the other one? Does it go in later? I’m confused

    Reply

    • Isabel Laessig says

      Hi Gloria! We had enough to make two batches, and generally you will want to make these one batch at a time.

      Reply

« Older Comments

Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a meringue and a 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.

Why didn't my pavlova go crispy? ›

The secret to a good, crisp pavlova is in the drying of the meringue after cooking. If there is a lot of moisture in the air, whether from humidity or even other cooking you are doing in the kitchen, you will have problems. That's why the “Pavlova Nazi” in me insists on no boiling saucepans during pav time.

What does vinegar do 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 do I keep my pavlova from getting soggy? ›

To store pavlova and avoid it turning soft, follow these steps:
  1. Make your pavlova on a dry (not humid) day. Allow pavlova to cool in the oven with the door ajar until completely cooled.
  2. Place in an airtight container and seal tightly. ...
  3. Store in the pantry or other cool, dark place. ...
  4. Store for up to 2 days maximum.

What does vinegar do for meringue? ›

The cornflour and vinegar that is added strengthens the egg white and make it more stable and you get the marshmallowy centres from the shorter cooking time.

What kind of meringue is best for pavlova? ›

French meringue is the least stable of the three meringue types but the lightest and the most airy. It is often used for making individual meringues, pavlovas, and torte layers with the addition of ground nuts. It is also the type of meringue used to make oeufs a la neige (snow eggs) and sweet soufflés.

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

The pavlova should be white or slightly beige in colour, crisp to the touch and soft on the inside. 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.

Can you overbeat pavlova? ›

If you do happen to overbeat your meringue (which may end up looking clumpy and watery) you can try to save it by adding another egg white.

Why are my mini pavlovas sticky? ›

Meringues contain a fairly high proportion of sugar and this is the main cause of the problem. Sugar tends to attract water (the scientific term is hygroscopic) and will absorb any moisture in the air around it, particularly if the atmosphere is humid.

Why put cornstarch in pavlova? ›

A Note on Corn Starch

Some pavlova recipes call for mixing cornstarch into the sugar before adding it to the egg whites. While this old family recipe is made without cornstarch, some say it helps to absorb any extra moisture, keeping the meringue completely dry, which could be especially helpful in humid environments.

How to tell 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.

Is baking paper or foil better for cooking pavlova? ›

Make sure your utensils and egg whites are free of any grease. Do not use parchment paper or a greased and floured baking sheet– the meringue will often stick to them. Use aluminum foil.

How to store mini pavlovas? ›

Store your pavlova in a dry, airtight container.

If your pavlova is left in the open, the sugar in the meringue will absorb moisture in your kitchen's air. This added moisture will turn your crispy meringue into a soft and sticky mess. An airtight container will help shield your meringue from moisture in the air.

Why does pavlova flop? ›

The extra air expands in the oven and can overstretch the cells of whisked egg white, causing them to break and the meringue to collapse. Whisk the egg whites until they reach peaks where the tip just flops over, then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time.

How to tell if pavlova is undercooked? ›

If the middle of your pav doesn't reach 80 C the marshmallow is not completely cooked & it will not be stable. Too much unstable marshmallow, the pav will collapse & it will weep. Below are photos of raw meringue & the corresponding pav baked at 90 C.

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? ›

The resulting texture is light and airy, and the taste is sweet and ethereal. Meringue can be used in various desserts, including pies, cakes, and cookies, as a topping or an ingredient. There are three basic types of meringue: French, Swiss, and Italian.

What is the difference between 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.

Why is pavlova not white? ›

The outside of a pavlova meringue may not be quite as brilliantly white as a crisp meringue because of the higher oven temperature but it should not be buff coloured or dark brown. If the meringue is taking on too much colour then the oven temperature is too high.

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