This Mini Pavlova with Strawberries and Cream recipe is the perfect light-tasting summer dessert that’s gluten-free and packed with sweet cream & fresh strawberries!
Want more dessert recipes? Make these Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake Trifles with Fresh Berries, or try this recipe for Vanilla Bean Custard Fruit Tarts with Honey Glazed Fruit.
Strawberries are my favourite fruit and so naturally strawberry season is my favourite time of year. Where I live the local farmers markets are full of tables piled high with local strawberries and I just can’t get enough. This Mini Pavlova with Strawberries and Cream recipe is one of my favourite desserts to make in the summertime! It’s pretty easy to make with just a few simple tips, it’s gluten-free, and it’s a delicious light-tasting option for sweltering hot days! Trust me, you’re going to love it! If you’ve never made meringue before this Mini Pavlova recipe is a great one to start with – only a few basic ingredients and supplies are required to make the meringue.
Ingredients for Mini Pavlova with Strawberries and Cream
- egg whites at room temperature
- granulated sugar
- cream of tartar
- whipping cream
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- a clean, dry bowl
- a good stand mixer or hand mixer
- a piping bag
- a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
How to Make Mini Pavlova
Time needed: 1 hour and 5 minutes.
- Make sure your bowl is extra clean and dry.
Any leftover oils in the bowl from previous recipes or even from oily dish soap will prevent the egg whites from getting to full volume and it can cause your meringue to collapse while baking. Be sure your bowl is perfectly clean and dry!
- Add the sugar slowly.
Wait until the egg whites have whipped to a nice foamy texture before adding the sugar slowly in a steady stream. Any harsh movements will deflate the air bubbles you’re working so hard to put into the meringue to give it structure as it bakes.
- Don’t underbake or overbake (Be patient!).
Nobody likes a browned, burnt or collapsed meringue – bake at a low temperature for a long period of time so the meringues can dry out sufficiently, and don’t let them become brown…this will cause them to taste burnt!
- Be creative!
Once your meringues are baked and cooled completely, fill them with whipped cream or whipped topping and top with the fruit of your choice – we love berries, but almost any fruit works!
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS SUMMER DESSERT IDEAS?
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How long do I bake the Mini Pavlovas?
Bake the Mini Pavlovas for 45 to 50 minutes or until the meringues appear dry on the outside and the inside of the nests but haven’t browned at all on the sides or bottom.
Can I make the Mini Pavlovas ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the meringues and store under a light kitchen towel up to 18 hours ahead of serving. Assemble with the whipped cream and strawberries directly before serving.
Want more dessert recipes? Make a Lemon Raspberry Glazed Bundt Cake, or try this recipe for No Fail Homemade Angel Food Cake.
I hope you enjoy this Mini Pavlova recipe as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below, what’s your favourite summer dessert featuring fresh strawberries? I’d love to know!
Looking for more delicious desserts? You’ll LOVE these!
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Mascarpone Buttercream
- Double Chocolate Cupcakes
- Black Forest Icebox Cake
- Chocolate Mocha Tiramisu Icebox Cake
- Strawberry Cheesecake Fruit Dip
- Easy No Bake Oreo Cheesecake
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS SUMMER DESSERT IDEAS?
GET MY SUMMER DESSERTS E-COOKBOOK!
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Mini Pavlova with Strawberries and Cream
Recipe: Ingredients
- 4 egg whites at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
For serving:
- 1 1/2 cups whipping cream (or use 2 to 2 1/2 cups whipped topping)
- 2 teaspoons powdered sugar (leave out if using whipped topping)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries washed, dried, and hulled
Recipe: Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Turn the parchment paper over and trace 6-8 small circles with a dark permanent marker, spaced evenly and apart from one another. Turn the parchment paper back over again so you can see the circles through the paper, but the ink won’t transfer to the meringues. Set aside.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer, or in the bowl of your stand mixer, whip the room temperature egg whites on medium speed until foamy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Once foamy, add the cream of tartar and continue whipping on medium high speed.
- Add the sugar slowly in a steady stream while the egg whites continue whipping and begin to turn white and glossy. Adding the sugar slowly ensures that the egg white mixture stays fluffy and light (dumping the sugar in all at one would crush the air out of the egg white mixture).
- Whip on high speed until the mixture reaches stiff peaks. You’ll know the peaks are stiff when you remove the beater attachment, turn it upside down, and the meringue mixture stands almost straight up.
- Add the meringue mixture to a piping bag with a large round opening (or a large star tip – your choice!).
- Pipe the meringues onto the prepared baking sheet starting in the middle of the circle and piping around until you reach the outside of the circle. Then pipe one more layer just around the outside of the circle, to create the "nest" effect.
- Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 to 50 minutes, or until the meringues appear dry on the outside and inside of the nests, but haven’t browned at all on the bottom or sides.
- Let the meringues cool completely to room temperature on the baking sheets.
- In the meantime, whip the whipping cream and add the sugar as it whips to soft by slightly stiff peaks.
- Add the vanilla extract into the cream as it whips.
- Mash 2-3 strawberries and drain the extra liquid from the mashed strawberries. Fold the mashed strawberries into the whipped cream.
- Dollop a portion of the strawberry cream into each of the meringue nests after they have cooled completely.
- Slice the other fresh strawberries and top the cream with the fresh berries and serve immediately.
- Alternatively, serve with plain whipped cream and add the fresh strawberries on top (skip the mashed strawberries step).
Recipe: Notes
Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.