Pavlova

It’s the wonderful dessert that both Australians and New Zealanders call their own.

This easy pavlova recipe creates pav perfection, with a smooth and fluffy marshmallow centre encased in a delicate and crisp meringue shell.

Top it with whipped cream and fruit, add a little ice cream if you like, and get your dessert spoon at the ready because this dessert always disappears fast.

Pavlova: the dessert worth fighting for

This dessert not only sees family members fighting for the last slice, it’s also been fought over for decades by Australia and New Zealand. Both countries claim it as their own.

Which country does it really belong to?

We may never know. Perhaps both.

Does it really matter?

Of course not.

What I do know is that when something tastes this good, we can all celebrate.

The one thing most sources do agree on is that it’s named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who visited Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s.

Pavlova recipe: a new type of “cake”

Pavlova was initially named “Pavlova Cake” and was a more elaborate cake with layers of  jelly and meringue made separately.

It gradually evolved into the pavlova we now see on modern tables throughout Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the world – especially at Christmas time.

Nana Ling wrote out this recipe by hand in October 1941. She’s named it Pavlova Cake, but it’s the recipe for what we now know and love as pavlova.

You can, however, tell it’s something new and different for the time by the descriptive way she writes out the method:

“…turn off the gas when it is a deep creamy colour”

“…hard on the outside and like marshmallow inside”

She also talks about filling the hollow with cream and leaving it in the oven to cool. These are all things we continue to do today to create the perfect pav.

Creating the perfect pavlova

Here, I’ve used the exact ingredients Nana Ling lists in her original recipe. I’ve tweaked the cooking time slightly to suit modern ovens. 

Pavlovas can be a little tricky, and prone to burning, cracking, collapsing and weeping.

To avoid these nasties and create something that looks wonderful and tastes even better, here are a few tips that I’ve found helpful:

Tip 1: It’s all about the eggs

Use mid-sized eggs (60-65 grams) and don’t let any of the yolk get into the white as you separate the eggs. Not a drop!

I find whites that I’ve frozen and thawed out or whites that have been separated out and left in the fridge for a day work every bit as good as completely fresh egg whites. 

For best results, bring the whites to room temperature before whisking.

Tip 2: Make sure it’s caster sugar

The smaller grains of caster sugar dissolve more easily into the mixture. If the sugar doesn’t dissolve properly, it might leak from the pavlova during the cooking process. So make sure it’s caster sugar you use when making a pavlova.

Tip 3: Whip it good (but not too good)

Use the medium-high setting and a whisk attachment to whip the whites and then beat the whites and the sugar.

Don’t beat on the highest speed and don’t keep beating and beating. More beating doesn’t equal a better or fluffier pavlova. Instead, follow the instructions in the recipe card below, making sure you have a thick and glossy mixture with a smooth texture.

Tip 4: Get it into shape

When spreading the mixture onto the tray, you want a lovely rounded shape which is flat on top. Your edges should dome in a little towards the centre rather than looking straight like a cake. This helps create a strong and stable pavlova that won’t collapse. 

 Tip 5: Get creative

I’ve decorated this pavlova with my own favourites. Fresh cream, chopped strawberries, peaches, passionfruit and kiwifruit.

You can also dust the edges with icing sugar.

Growing up, the pavs at our big family parties were always the thing that made me run to the table when someone shouted “dessert time”. In one word, they were amazing – however I did have to dodge the banana that was often used to decorate.

But that’s the great thing about this dessert. You can get creative and decorate your pavlova just how you like it.

How do you like to decorate pavlova? Do you have any secrets to the perfect pav that I haven’t mentioned here? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Troubleshooting: Pavlova problems and FAQs

Q. My pavlova cracked. What did I do wrong?

A. If it’s just a few cracks, that’s fine. Expect a few cracks.

However, make sure you leave your pavlova in the oven to cool if there are a few too many cracks.

Also, be sure not to make the cream for decorating too stiff or it will be harder to decorate without causing even more cracks. Use the cream when decorating to hold the existing cracks together.

Q. My pavlova looks too brown.

A. Your oven is too hot. Try turning it down a little next time.

Q. My pavlova collapsed, what can I do?

A. There are several reasons why your pavlova may collapse.

First, you may not have whipped the eggs and sugar well enough. Make sure you achieve the thick, glossy mixture and rub a little between your fingers to make sure the sugar is dissolved.

If you open the oven door too soon after it’s cooked, you also risk a collapsed pavlova.

Q. Why doesn’t your recipe use cornflour?

A. Nana Ling’s original recipe from 1941 did not include cornflour and I’ve stuck to her exact ingredient list.

I’ve read various explanations as to why it is included, from preventing weeping to ensuring a marshmallow centre. This recipe works without the cornflour and in my book the pavlova tastes better since I can sometimes taste the cornflour in pavlovas that incorporate it as an ingredient.

Q. Can I use this recipe to make mini pavlovas?

A. I’ve adjusted this recipe and created a separate post for both mini pavlovas and a pavlova grazing board.

Storing Pavlova

You should make your pavlova the day before and then store it in the oven (or an airtight container) and then decorate it no more than a few hours before serving.

Store decorated pavlova in the fridge and enjoy leftovers (if there are any) the next day.

Pavlova doesn’t freeze well.

Nana Ling’s original Pavlova recipe

Keep scrolling for the tested and tweaked version in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. It contains more precise instructions that included in the original recipe.