Easy Homemade Pavlova (2024)

How to make the perfect pavlova, a Kiwi Christmas classic! Once you master easy homemade pavlova, you will never buy one again! Covered in whipped cream and fresh summer berries it's the perfect dessert.

Well this is embarassing. Can you believe I have never made a pavlova before?! I have no idea why, because I looooove pavlova but I guess it's because my Granny or my mum always made them. So today, we tackle and win with easy homemade pavlova!

For some reason I had the idea in my head that pavlova was this totally technical and really scary thing to make. Um, it's not. Seriously. Not even a little bit. And they're so much fun to make! Really simple ingredients, simple method and cooking is a breeze. The hardest part about it is choosing how to decorate it! Which obviously, because it's summer and Christmas time, berries are the only option.

To make this process even less scary for you, let's break down the ingredients and the steps.

Pavlova ingredients

1. Egg whites - the key here is to use older eggs as they whip up better than fresher eggs. Also, make sure they are at room temperature.
2. Caster sugar - caster sugar is a lot finer than regular white sugar, so it dissolves quicker in the eggs. If you don't have caster sugar, whizz up regular sugar in the food processor until it is finer.
3. White vinegar - this helps to stabilise the whipped egg whites.
4. Cornflour - helps the pav hold it's shape when it's cooking.
5. Vanilla extract - this is optional, but I like adding it for flavour.

How to make the perfect pavlova

The method is super easy. Whisk the egg whites using an electric beater or stand mixer until they form peaks. Slowly add the sugar over a couple of minutes, continuing to whisk all the time. Once all of the sugar has been added, whisk for another 8 minutes on high speed. When this time is up, the mixture will form stiff peaks and will look thick and glossy. If you rub a little between your fingers you will only be able to feel the sugar granules slightly. Add the remaining ingredients and combine.

All that's left to do is spoon it onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and make pretty swirls with the spoon on the top and down the sides. If it's easier for you, you can mark a circle in pencil on the baking paper as a guide to how big to make the pav. I made my circle about 18cm but it does spread a little bit so if you have a plate you want it to sit on, make the circle a couple of centimeters smaller than the plate.

When it comes to baking, I like to bake it at 180°C for the first 5 minutes, then turn it down to 130°C for the last hour. The initial hotter temperature is what helps make the outside crisp. Once the timer goes off, turn off the oven but leave the pavlova in there until the oven has cooled completely. Then remove the pavlova. LOOK AT IT!!!! SO beautiful!

Top it with whipped cream, berry couli and as many summer berries as you can get your hands on. The pavlova will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days undecorated if you want to make it in advance and decorate it on the day.

It's the perfect festive Christmas Day dessert.

Happy pavlova making!

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