Description
Feather-light pavlova shells with crisp exteriors and marshmallow-soft centers, crowned with clouds of softly whipped cream, ruby pomegranate seeds, and a tiny sugared cookie star.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 egg whites, room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream, cold
- 3 TBSP powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Fresh pomegranate seeds
- Tiny cookie stars (shortbread, gingerbread, or sugar cookie)
- Optional: powdered sugar snow
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Using a stand or hand mixer, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add sugar, one spoonful at a time, whipping constantly until glossy, stiff peaks form — about 5–7 minutes.
- Add vanilla, vinegar, and cornstarch. Beat just 10 seconds longer to combine.
- Spoon 6–8 mounds onto the baking sheet.
- Use the back of a spoon to create a little nest indentation on each.
- Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven and let pavlovas cool inside oven, door closed — this prevents cracking.
- They should be crisp outside, soft like marshmallow inside.
- Beat cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until soft, pillowy peaks form.
- Do not overbeat — we want silk, not stiff frosting.
- Place pavlova nests on a serving plate.
- Spoon or pipe generous swirls of whipped cream into each nest.
- Scatter pomegranate seeds like jewels across snow.
- Top each with a mini cookie star.
- Dust everything with a whisper of powdered sugar.
Notes
- Ensure egg whites are at room temperature for best results.
- Do not open the oven door while the pavlovas are cooling to prevent cracking.
- Use a gentle hand when whipping the cream to maintain its light texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Australian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 nest
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg