Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes 11 Pavlova Dessert Recipes for an Easy Meringue Masterpiece Named for a Russian ballerina, the pavlova is elegant, beautiful, and brings drama to the dinner table. By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani is a New York City-based writer with 24 years of experience working in professional publishing and communication roles in addition to being a food writer for six years with MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 25, 2024 Close Photo: Ryan Liebe There's nothing like a pavlova to elicit oohs and ahhs from your guests. At its most basic, the dessert, popular in Australia and New Zealand, is a puffed meringue with a crisp crust and a soft, light inside. Often topped with fruit or whipped cream, the pavlova is a bit of a blank slate upon which you can create many different delicious works of art. Despite its fanciful look, a pavlova recipe doesn't necessarily require fancy skills. And it definitely doesn't require fancy ingredients. To make the meringue, all you need are some pantry staples. Of course, a bit of patience and time are also nonnegotiables, but as long as you've got plenty of both, you're set. The toppings can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like—keep them seasonal and you can't go wrong. Your pavlova doesn't have to be perfect—like a ballerina's movements, it is sure to be ethereal. 45 Berry Desserts You'll Want to Make All Summer Long 01 of 11 Pavlova Wreath With Berries and Crème Fraîche Mike Krautter Arrange mini pavlovas in a circle and garnish each with sugar-encrusted berries and whipped cream, and you've got yourself one stunning (and surprisingly easy to make) dessert. View Recipe 02 of 11 Brown-Sugar Peach Pavlova Paola + Murray Poaching fruit helps soften it and enhance its taste and color, and the technique is put to terrific use here with peaches that you cook with lemon and vanilla. Their sweet and aromatic flavor is a perfect foil for fluffy whipped cream and meringue. View Recipe 03 of 11 Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova Kate Sears A cross between a pavlova and a Swiss roll, this dessert would be lovely at a spring luncheon or supper. Homemade rhubarb-strawberry jam has a beautiful ruby hue that looks so striking against the whipped cream. View Recipe 04 of 11 Rosy Rhubarb-Meringue Cake This show-stopping dessert starts with a meringue base baked in a springform pan, then topped with heaps of whipped cream and sweet rhubarb compote. It's a perfect dessert for spring or early summer. View Recipe 05 of 11 Easy Mini Pavlovas Bryan Gardner A DIY pavlova bar is an easy and fun way to close out a dinner party. Make the individual meringue shells ahead of time and then let guests assemble their own with fresh fruit and as much or as little whipped cream as they'd like. View Recipe 06 of 11 Strawberry-Lemonade Angel Pie Paola + Murray This untraditional pavlova has the meringue base you'd expect, but you form it into a shell and then cook the filling with some gelatin, which makes it sliceable. With strawberries and lemon, it's a perfect summer treat. View Recipe 07 of 11 Egg-Shaped Meringue Nests Gentl and Hyers These adorable yet simple handheld desserts are like a lemon meringue pie, minus the crust. They make a perfect finish to Easter dinner, but doubtless will be appreciated by guests at any time of year. View Recipe 08 of 11 Pavlova With Rhubarb and Pistachios Jonathan Lovekin You can't get more springy than this dazzling pavlova. It pairs the meringue base with sweet-tart rhubarb and crunchy pistachios, in a stunning pink-and-green masterpiece. View Recipe 09 of 11 Chocolate Pavlova Since pavlovas are typically served with fruit, this one breaks the mold, featuring rich chocolate instead. The addition of Dutch-process cocoa powder and dark brown sugar give the meringue a more creamy, dense, and moist texture. Before serving, spread it with a dark chocolate cream and then whipped cream for a truly decadent treat. View Recipe 10 of 11 Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie Ryan Liebe A slightly unusual spin on both pavlova and lemon meringue pie, this stunning dessert features a pillowy meringue base topped with lemon curd and whipped cream. Because it's baked in a pie plate, it's easier to cut than regular pavlova. View Recipe 11 of 11 Pavlova Wreath Julia Gartland Wow your guests with this gorgeous edible wreath. Serving is made easy by slicing off one pavlova per person. Each is filled with a sweetened skyr and heavy cream mixture, topped with colorful berries, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit