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

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

Mini Pavlova Recipe #SundaySupper (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you overbeat pavlova? ›

Overbeating egg white breaks down the structure and the meringue is likely to collapse during baking. Beat until firm peaks form, then start adding sugar. If the egg white starts to separate or looks curdled, it's overbeaten and you'll need to start again with fresh egg whites.

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.

Why do you put cornstarch in pavlova? ›

Our answer. Nigella's pavlovas, such as Lemon Pavlova (from SIMPLY NIGELLA), contain cornflour (cornstarch) in the meringue. The cornflour helps the meringue to stay soft in the centre, to give the contrast of crisp crust and marshmallowy interior.

Why is my mini pavlova sticky? ›

The website of chef Nigella Lawson explains that a sticky pavlova is caused by excess moisture (via Nigella). If you're in a hot and humid climate this is going to be really difficult to avoid. Make sure you are using the correct type of sugar (caster sugar) and that you've added a pinch of cream of tartar.

What went wrong with my pavlova? ›

Egg whites can be over whisked & sugar will not dissolve in over whisked egg whites. I've noticed on a lot of stand mixers that the stated speed for whisking egg whites is nearly full bore. If you whisk them at this set speed you will not have enough time to add the sugar before the egg whites are over whisked.

How do you know 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.

Why do you put vinegar in pavlova? ›

If you've noticed that most pavlova recipes add cornflour and something acidic, often vinegar but sometimes lemon juice or cram of tartar, here's why: adding starch and acid creates a more stable foam and helps prevent several potential problems.

Do you leave oven door open when cooking pavlova? ›

Reduce oven temperature to 110-120°C when you add the pavlova. Bake for the amount of time in the recipe without opening the door to peek. At the end of the cooking time, turn oven off, prop the door ajar and leave inside to cool. Store cooled pavlova in an airtight container until ready for serving.

What happens if you forget to put vinegar in a pavlova? ›

It is also possible to use lemon juice or cream of tartar as alternatives. Both of these should be used in the same quantity as the vinegar, for this particular recipe 1 teaspoon. Cream of tartar is sometimes known as tartaric acid.

Why is my pavlova marshmallow? ›

A pavlova meringue differs from a regular meringue as it is not dried out. Instead it is baked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time, giving a soft marshmallow-like centre. The addition of cornflour (cornstarch) to the meringue also helps to keep the centre of the meringue soft.

What does adding vinegar to meringue do? ›

Acid. Whether it be vinegar, lemon juice, cream of tartar, or a combination, an acid will greatly improve the structure of meringue. Acid not only helps meringue whip up and aerate more quickly, it also keeps it stable. Without acid, meringue is more likely to collapse either during or after mixing.

Why are my mini pavlovas chewy? ›

Also, on very hot humid days and/or if the pavs are not stored in a cool dry room, they can get sticky and chewy. What I do – I typically bake the night before then leave them overnight in the oven. Pop them straight into a container then use them that day at lunch or dinner.

Can I make a pavlova the day before? ›

Pavlovas are best made the day before eating, so if it's a wet or humid Christmas Eve, have a back-up dessert. You'll need bowls. Many bowls. And they need to be very dry, and very clean.

Can you still eat a weeping pavlova? ›

Just cover it up with whipped cream and a couple of strawberries - no one will be the wiser. They weep when they haven't been beaten enough....

What happens if you overmix meringue? ›

Over whip the egg whites and you risk making them too firm and they will risk losing the moisture that they hold. This will affect your meringue's crispness, as well as making it more likely to collapse or weep beads of sugar. As my meringue guru Gary Mehigan advises: “If you over whip the egg whites you cannot fix it.

How do you fix over beaten meringue? ›

To fix broken, overbeaten egg whites, you can add an additional white and whisk briefly, just to incorporate its moisture into the original group. But don't take it too far or you'll be back where you started.

What happens if you overbeat egg whites for 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.

What does over whipped meringue look like? ›

Over-beaten meringue takes on a coarse and grainy appearance. Over-beaten meringue invades without warning. The thing is, no matter how long you beat the egg whites, to the eye they appear smooth and firm. But try to fold them into a heavy batter.

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