Pavlova

Pavlova is a Kiwi Christmas classic! With its crisp meringue shell and soft fluffy centre, it's a light dessert, perfect for summer celebrations. Top with fluffy whipped cream and seasonal fresh fruit for a showstopping dessert!

 

​The recipe for a lofty meringue cake evolved slowly in both Australia and New Zealand, but the name arrived in 1935 when Bert Sachse, chef at the Esplanade Hotel in Perth, named his cake in honour of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Chef Sachse later acknowledged that the recipe he used was from a 1929 cookery book, The New Zealand Dairy Exporter. 

12 hours
Prep Time
(15)
Pavlova

Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • 2 cups Chelsea caster sugar
  • 1½ tsp vinegar
  • 1½ tsp vanilla essence
  • 1½ tsp Edmonds Fielder’s Cornflour
  • whipped cream and fresh fruit

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 150˚C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a 20cm circle on the baking paper. Turn over the baking paper so that the pencil line doesn’t transfer to your pavlova. 
  2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff, then add the sugar very gradually while still beating. Keep beating for 5 minutes to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Slow the beater speed and add the vinegar, vanilla and cornflour. 
  4. Pile the meringue in the centre of the circle and use a spatula to spread it out to the edge of the circle keeping it as round and even as possible. Make a slight dip in the top.
  5. Bake for 45 minutes, then leave to cool in the oven overnight. 
  6. Using two spatulas, lift it carefully onto a serving plate and fill the central depression with whipped cream and fresh fruit. 

Add your review

Joanne

No need to make a slight dip in the top, as I've yet to make this pavlova without it caving in by itself. It bakes beautifully and rises, but will always crack and fall in the middle as it cools. Other than that, this is a good recipe. Fill the hole with cream and sail on. Edmonds, this recipe needs a nicer, glossier photo for Pinterest (the decoration could be better).

LIZ

Great recipe, never fails when I measure it right. Thank you Edmonds my dependable cook book for all time.

Kim

Whanau favourite at Christmas time in Melbourne, passionfruit, kiwifruit strawberries and even flake. Heaps of cream.

Kathy Franklin

Never made pav before , I'm impressed!

Hanz

Simple and easy to follow. Came out perfect, despite being my first time making a pavlova. 5 stars :)

:)

So yum! Make sure to make it prior to your event as it takes some experimenting to get it perfect! Like for example my oven is quite hot so the 45 minute cooking time is slightly too long so next time I’ll reduce the time to around 35 ish minutes as don’t forget it continues cooking in the oven

Cynthia Adams

I ALWAYS when making a pavlova, cook it on the plate I am going to serve it on!! After all pottery and/or China is fired at a very high temperature, much higher than when cooking a pavlova!!

Mrs. John O’Malley

When I was living in NZ my Sister in Law gave me a copy of the Edmonds Cookbook and it never failed me. It’s been a while so I needed the again because we’re in California now and I want to make a Pav for my Husband’s birthday. Thank you!!

Chris

Turned out a crisp shell and chewy on the inside , perfectly delicious

Robyn

My favorite all time pav to make for Christmas!!!!