Mini Pavlovas Strawberries Cream (Printer-friendly)

Crisp meringue nests filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries for a refreshing finish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meringue

01 - 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
02 - 1 cup superfine sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

06 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
07 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberries

09 - 1.5 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
10 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a clean, dry bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.
03 - Gradually add superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating continuously until stiff, glossy peaks form and sugar is completely dissolved.
04 - Gently fold in cornstarch, white vinegar, and vanilla extract using a spatula until fully incorporated.
05 - Spoon or pipe meringue into 6 small nests on the prepared baking sheet, creating a slight indentation in the center of each nest.
06 - Bake for 1 hour, then turn off the oven and allow meringues to cool completely inside with the door slightly ajar for at least 30 minutes.
07 - While meringues cool, combine sliced strawberries with granulated sugar and lemon juice. Allow to macerate for 15 minutes.
08 - Whip cold heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
09 - Place each cooled meringue nest on a serving plate. Fill the center with whipped cream and top with macerated strawberries.
10 - Serve immediately for optimal texture and presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you just needed a mixer and some patience.
  • The crispy-then-creamy-then-juicy texture combination is honestly addictive and feels a bit fancy without being fussy.
  • You can make the meringue nests ahead and assemble them minutes before serving, which means less stress when guests arrive.
02 -
  • Room temperature egg whites are non-negotiable; they whip to three times the volume of cold ones, and that makes the difference between success and disappointment.
  • If your meringues crack during baking, don't panic; the cracks get hidden by cream and berries, and it's honestly part of their rustic charm.
03 -
  • The biggest secret is keeping everything cold; cold cream, cold bowl, cold beaters, and it whips twice as fast and holds its shape longer.
  • If your berries are bland, macerate them longer with a pinch of salt instead of just sugar; the salt brings out their natural sweetness in a way that feels almost like magic.
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