This pavlova cake, while very unique in flavor is simply dreamy in looks, taste, and texture. The cake is made of three layers of marshmallow-like meringue, stuck together with fluffy sweet cream, and mounds of strawberries. The entire thing is absolutely marvelous and sweet with just enough crunch and color. I decided to make my pavlova into a sugar forest with tall trees and pretty flowers. This dessert would be perfect for many occasions. I made mine for Easter. Now, it’s time to dive into the recipe! P.S. If you like the cake please go vote for it on the Baking speed challenge!

Supplies

Pavlova Ingredients

8 egg whites, I used carton egg whites simply because there are so many of them in this recipe
2 1/2 cups superfine bakers sugar
2 tsp vinegar

Meringue cookies

4 egg whites
1 cup superfine bakers sugar
2 pinches of salt
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp vanilla
Gel food coloring

Cream filling

4 cups of heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar (you can add more or less to suit your taste)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
About 8 large strawberries or any other fresh fruit that you like you could also change the fruit depending on the occasion

You will also need

Parchment paper
Piping bags
Piping tips
Pans
Mixing bowls
Stand mixer
Ovens

Step 1: Pavlovas

We will start by making the actual pavlova. If you want you could start with the meringue details. If you have never had pavlova before, you are in for a treat. This is one of my most favorite desserts in the world and, it is relatively easy to make.

8 egg whites, I used carton egg whites simply because there are so many of them in this recipe
2 1/2 cups superfine bakers sugar
2 tsp vinegar

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
Put The egg sugar and vinegar in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment
Whisk on high speed until the meringue can hold it's own shape
On a piece of parchment measure out three 7 in circles with a pencil, flip the parchment over so the pencil side is no longer exposed and fit to a cookie sheet
Evenly fill the circles with the meringue and smooth out
Bake the pavlovas for one hour
When the time is up, do not take the pavlovas out turn the oven off and wait for them to cool completely, this prevents cracks.
Set aside

Step 2: Meringue Cookie Decorations

Next are the meringue cookie details. You will want to plan this part out beforehand because each batch of meringue takes an hour and a half to bake. These are very tasty and add a nice pop to the cake. If I had to describe them I would say they most resemble Lucky Charms Cereal marshmallows, both in taste and texture.

4 egg whites
1 cup superfine bakers sugar
2 pinches of salt
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp vanilla
Gel food coloring

Preheat oven to 210 degrees F, if you have two ovens use them!
Boil a pot of water
In the bowl of your stand mixer add the egg whites, sugar and salt
Place the bowl over the boiling water and whisk
The mixture is done when you can dip your fingers in and the mixture is no longer grainy and it resembles white foam, careful it will be very hot
Place the bowl in the stand mixer and add the cream of tartar and vanilla
Whip on high until the meringue is very stiff, it will be stiffer than the pavlova
Put the meringue in separate mixing bowls
Dye the meringue you will need more brown and green, and small amounts of red, yellow, and blue, you can change the colors if you like
Put the colors in piping bags, the brown bag fitted with a medium round tip, and the green with a medium leaf tip
Draw a tree on a piece of paper, make sure it's not too tall, use the picture I included as a reference
Put a piece of parchment paper over the tree and tape it down, pipe the tree using the outline then pipe the leaves
On a separate piece of parchment make a sheet with the remaining green meringue, but leave out about 2 tablespoons worth
Make flowers using the colored meringues, start with a dot in the middle and pipe 5-6 dots around the edge, you will want larger flowers that you can add a stem to with the green, and then make mini flowers
Use the remaining meringue to make bushes and small trees using a template
Bake everything for 90 minutes

Step 3: Cream Filling

Now it’s time for the cream of the cake, this brings the whole thing together very nicely.

4 cups of heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar (you can add more or less to suit your taste)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
About 8 large strawberries or any other fresh fruit that you like you could also change the fruit depending on the occasion

Add the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a bowl
Whip the cream on high until you have stiff peaks
Cut the strawberries into small cubes

Step 4: Assembly

This is the best part, assembling the cake! You will have to wait to assemble until everything is baked, otherwise, the meringue will start to dissolve. Be careful during this prosses, everything is very fragile.

Remove about a tablespoon of cream from the bowl
On a cake stand place one pavlova
Add place 1/3 of the cream and smooth out, add half the strawberries
Place another pavlova on top, add another third of cream on top and add the remaining strawberries
Place the last pavlova and the remaining cream on top
In a blender or using your hands, smash the green sheet of the meringue until it is fine dust
Cover the top of the pavlova with the dust
Cut a slit in the middle of the cake
Add the tree
Then using the reserved cream add the mini flowers to the tree and boshes
Add the rest of the flowers, bushes, and small trees

Step 5: The Cake Is Done

Now it is time to dig into this scrumptious masterpiece. Eat it immediately or everything will dissolve, due to the moisture from the strawberries and cream. If you wish, make the components beforehand (keep them in a dry place) and assemble the day of. Enjoy!