Description

This festive Pavlova Christmas Tree features a delicate meringue crust with marshmallowy insides, layered with whipped cream and fresh berries. Perfect for holiday celebrations, this impressive dessert is both visually stunning and delicious, combining the lightness of pavlova with rich cream and vibrant fruit flavors. It’s stable enough to stand tall and can be prepared ahead for convenience.

Ingredients

Scale

Meringue

2/3 cup egg whites (from 5 – 6 large eggs, at room temperature)
1 1/4 cups caster sugar (superfine white sugar)
2 1/2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
1 1/4 tsp white vinegar

Berry Coulis

250g / 8oz frozen or fresh raspberries (no need to thaw)
2 tbsp caster sugar (superfine white sugar)

Whipped Cream

2 cups thickened/heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp caster sugar (superfine white sugar)

Assembly & Decoration

28cm / 11″ bamboo skewer (or 2 shorter skewers)
10 medium strawberries, cut into 1.75cm / 3/4″ rounds (“Strawberry Pillars”)
12 strawberries cut into 1cm dices (for scattering between layers)
Christmas tree star topper (edible or not, sticky taped to a toothpick)
125g / 4oz raspberries
16 small sprigs of rosemary
2 tbsp icing sugar / powdered sugar (for dusting)
Additional diced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and any other fruit you fancy for decoration

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Meringue: Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with parchment paper. In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the caster sugar, one spoonful at a time, continuing to beat until the meringue is glossy and holds stiff peaks. Gently fold in the cornflour and white vinegar to stabilize the meringue, being careful not to deflate it.
Shape and Bake the Meringue: Spoon and shape the meringue into a large circular base on the lined tray with slightly raised edges. Bake the meringue slowly at a low temperature until it is crisp on the outside and marshmallow soft inside, approximately 60 minutes. Once baked, switch off the oven and allow the meringue to cool completely inside the oven with the door slightly ajar.
Make the Raspberry Coulis: Combine the frozen or fresh raspberries with caster sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook while stirring until the raspberries break down and release their juices. Remove from heat and strain to remove the seeds, setting the smooth coulis aside to cool.
Whip the Cream: In a chilled bowl, beat the thickened or heavy cream with vanilla extract and caster sugar until medium to stiff peaks form. Keep the whipped cream refrigerated until ready for assembly.
Assemble the Pavlova Christmas Tree: Secure the bamboo skewer(s) vertically in the center of the meringue base. Layer the meringue rounds with whipped cream and scatter the diced strawberries and raspberries between each layer to mimic the shape of a Christmas tree. Use the strawberry rounds vertically aligned as “Strawberry Pillars” around or inside the tree for added structure and decoration.
Decorate the Tree: Place the fresh raspberries, rosemary sprigs (to resemble pine branches), and additional berries creatively around the assembled tree. Dust the top lightly with icing sugar to simulate snow. Finish by placing the Christmas tree star topper at the peak of the assembled pavlova tree.
Serve: Chill the assembled pavlova tree until ready to serve. Slice carefully to maintain the shape and enjoy this festive and light dessert.

Notes

Recipe video available to help visualize the process.
The Pavlova features a delicate meringue crust with a marshmallowy interior, layered with cream and berries for a classic flavor experience.
Both the pavlova base and raspberry coulis can be made a day ahead, making preparation easier on the day of serving.
Involve children in assembling the Christmas tree for a fun family activity.
Careful reading of the full recipe and viewing process photos and video improves chances of success.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 275 kcal
Sugar: 28 g
Sodium: 39 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 9 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 34 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 3 g
Cholesterol: 54 mg