This Pavlova with Blackberry Compote is one of my favorite desserts to serve for company, because it’s really easy to make, and yet so impressive to guests!  

Few desserts are as heavenly as pavlova, and it’s so fun to make it for people who’ve never had it before because they’re always blown away.

Pavlova - On a Blue Plate with Cream and Blackberries On Top

What is Pavlova?

Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, it’s a three-part dessert with a meringue base, cream, and a fruit component.

If you’ve never had it before, the inside tastes kind of like a soft and light angel food cake with a crisp marshmallowy meringue edge.

It is the definition of melt-in-your-mouth delicious and it takes well to many different variations of flavor and fruit.

Pavlova Dessert - On a Blue Plate with Cream and Blackberries On Top

Because the meringue is so sweet, I like to prepare a blackberry compote for the top, adding a bit of lemon to give it more tangy flavor.

Making the compote is very simple, but you can always top the pavlova with chopped fruit if you prefer.

Also, all the pavlova components can be made ahead of time, which comes in handy for dinner parties. I’ll discuss this more below.

How to Make Pavlova:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine room temperature egg whites with cream of tartar and salt:

Egg Whites in a Stand Mixer Bowl

Whip that together until the egg white is foamy, then add sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and vinegar:

Whipped Egg Whites with Vanilla in Bowl

Keep whipping until the egg whites look thick and fluffy:

Whipped Meringue Mixture with Whisk Attachment

You want to end up at stiff peaks, which you can check for by flipping the beater upright and seeing the meringue stand up on its own:

Upside Down Whisk Attachment Showing Stiff Peak

Dollop the meringue onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, in as many or as little portions as you’d like.

You can do one giant disk, then cut to serve, or my preference is to do 6, which is perfect for individual portions:

Mini Pavlovas Spread on parchment

Bake the pavlova until it’s lightly golden on the outside:

Individual Pavlova Desserts on Parchment Paper

As noted in the instructions in the recipe box, try your best to let the pavlovas cool as slowly as possible, to prevent sinking and cracking.

But, if they do crack, don’t sweat it! The tops will be filled with chantilly cream and blackberry compote, so imperfections are easy to hide.

This particular batch, I had an overexcited toddler open my oven and they fell slightly. But when I served them to my visiting family, they didn’t even notice because of the cream and berries.

How to Make Blackberry Compote:

I love making a tangy compote for my fruit component, and the tart nature and color of blackberries make them my first choice.

However, you could also do fresh macerated fruit if you prefer, and try other types of berries, like strawberries or raspberries.

To make the compote, simply combine frozen blackberries, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a saucepan:

Blackberries, Lemon Zest, and Sugar in saucepan

Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the blackberries become jammy and soft:

Blackberry Compote in Saucepan

I intentionally don’t add any sugar to the compote, as the meringue is tremendously sweet and is best balanced by a more sour fruit topping.

If you find it too tart, you can simply add sugar to taste while it’s still hot, making sure the sugar granules dissolve before pulling it completely off the stove.

When you’re ready to serve the pavlova, place a meringue on each plate, and top with sweetened whipped cream, and a few spoonfuls of the blackberry compote:

Pavlova Dessert Recipe - on Blue Plate with Whipped Cream and blackberry sauce

Once assembled, the pavlovas should be eaten right away, but know that you can make all three components in advance.

How to Make Pavlova Ahead of Time:

Pavlova meringues can be made ahead of time and held at room temperature or in the freezer.

Room temperature: Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. In this case, it’s extremely handy to have a baking sheet with a lid (affiliate), so you don’t have to move the pavlovas around and risk breaking.

Freezer: First note that you have to be very careful with freezing since the meringues are delicate, and they can break while handling them or if they get jostled around in the freezer. But you can freeze them up to two weeks in advance. All you have to do is thaw them at room temperature for a few hours before serving.

Chantilly Cream: Ideally make this a few hours before serving, but no more than 1 day in advance.

Blackberry Compote: Can be made two days in advance. 

Just one word of warning: Like any kind of meringue, I don’t recommend making pavlova on a rainy or humid day, as the pavlovas can lose their crispiness quickly and get gummy. 

Baklava and Peanut Butter Pie are two of my other knock-their-socks-off desserts that are completely make-ahead. See more ideas in my dessert section. Enjoy!

Pavlova Tips and Questions:

Can Pavlova be frozen? Yes, I’ve done it for the meringue base, but know that it’s extremely easy for the pavlova to break because it’s so delicate. Be careful in handling. Let the pavlova thaw at room temperature for a few hours before assembling.

Is Pavlova Gluten-free? Yes, and it can be made dairy-free by serving with a coconut cream instead.

Pavlova On a Blue Plate with Cream and Blackberries On Top

Pavlova with Blackberry Compote

This Pavlova with Blackberry Compote is an impressive dessert that's perfect for special occasions or dinner parties. 
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Ingredients

For the Pavlova:

  • 1/2 cup egg whites at room temperature
  • 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp red or white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Chantilly Cream:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Blackberry Compote:

  • 12 oz frozen blackberries (or fresh)
  • 1 tbsp sugar optional
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • zest of 1 lemon

Instructions 

To Make the Pavlova:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on medium high speed for 60 seconds, until foamy. 
  • Add the sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla and continue whipping on high speed for 2-3 minutes, to stiff peaks.
  • Dollop the meringue onto the parchment paper in 6 individual mounds. Carefully shape them with a spoon, making sure they’re not more than 1.5 inches tall.
  • Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to 300 degrees. Continue baking for another 40 minutes. Over this time, your meringue will puff up, take on a lightly browned color, and crack slightly. Turn the oven off, and prop your oven door open slightly so your pavlova can cool very gradually. Leave it in the oven with the door propped for at least 30 minutes.

To Make the Chantilly Cream:

  • Pour the heavy cream into a bowl, and whip with a hand or stand mixer for about 30 seconds until it thickens slightly. Add the sugar and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until you get soft peaks.

To Make the Blackberry Compote:

  • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, and cook on medium heat for 8-10 minutes, until the blackberries soften and release their liquid. 

To Assemble Each Pavlova:

  • Place a meringue on an individual serving plate, then add a few spoonfuls of Chantilly cream, followed by a few spoonfuls of blackberry compote. Serve promptly, and enjoy! 

Notes

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten.
As with any meringue, make sure your bowl and whipping utensils are spotlessly clean, and take care not to get a single drop of egg yolk mixed with the egg whites. Any small speck of dirt, drop of oil, or fat (from the egg yolks) may prevent the egg whites from whipping up. 

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal, Carbohydrates: 67g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 147mg, Potassium: 247mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 60g, Vitamin A: 1055IU, Vitamin C: 19.6mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Post updated in March 2019. Originally published January 2011.