This crispy Mini Pavlova Recipe with Chocolate ganache is filled with chopped pecans and topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. It’s the best summer dessert!
Do you love meringue? You absolutely have to try these mini meringue bites with chocolate cream and berries and these chocolate meringue cookies.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love this Mini Pavlova recipe with chocolate in the summer. It’s light and delicious, making it the perfect treat, especially when you add fresh seasonal berries.
- TASTE: The meringue base is sugar-sweet with a rich chocolate filling and nutty pecans inside. The creamy whipped topping and ripe berries are the perfect addition.
- TEXTURE: These mini pavlova are made with thick ganache, airy meringue, and fluffy whipped cream. The texture is very light, crisp, and mild.
- TIME: This recipe will take about 2 hours to make.
- EASE: With a few simple ingredients and step-by-step photos to guide you, you’ll find this dessert is a lot easier to make than it looks.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Eggs- The meringue base for these mini pavlova is made from egg whites. Be sure to separate the yolks out carefully and let them come to room temperature.
- Cream of tartar- This ingredient keeps the proteins in the egg whites from sticking together, holding the air bubbles as they are whipped into soft peaks.
- Semisweet chocolate- Go with chips as they will melt quickly and easily.
- Heavy cream- This will be the base for the whipped cream, as well as what gives the chocolate ganache it’s creamy smoothness. You’ll need both hot and cold for this recipe.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make it dairy-free- Substitute dairy-free chocolate chips to make your ganache and this dessert will be gluten-free and dairy-free, great for those with food allergies.
- Substitute other nuts- You can substitute the pecans with walnuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, or hazelnuts. Or if anyone has an allergy, skip the nuts altogether.
- Add different toppings- Besides berries and whipped cream, try these mini pavlova with mascarpone, kiwi slices, almond slivers, powdered sugar, or strawberry jam.
- Substitute another filling- Fill the pavlova with blueberry pie filling, Nutella, lemon curd, or an infused mascarpone cheese, among other options.
How to Make Mini Pavlova Recipe with Chocolate
- Prepare the parchment paper. Start by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper, then tracing 12 circles (3 1/2 inches in diameter) on it. Flip it over and set aside.
- Make the meringue. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt, and whisk on high speed until soft peaks form. Then slowly add the sugar. Once you see stiff peaks form (about 10 minutes), add the cornstarch and vanilla, and beat until incorporated.
- Pipe the mini pavlova meringue. Fill a disposable pastry bag with the meringue and pipe it in a circular motion, starting from the center. Then pipe out a border on the top.
Pro Tip: When piping the meringue, I like to use a Wilton 1E piping tip. It’s perfect for the shape and size I want for these mini pavlova.
- Make the pavlova. Bake in the oven at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 30 minutes on the conventional setting. Then turn the oven off and let the pavlova sit in the oven for another 30 minutes.
- Make the ganache. For the ganache, pour the hot heavy over the semisweet chocolate chips and let sit for a minute or so before mixing until smooth.
- Add it to the pavlova. Now add the ganache to a piping bag and drizzle it inside each pavlova, coating the entire bottom, and sprinkle some chopped toasted pecans on top.
- Make the whipped cream. For the cream topping, combine the cold heavy whipping cream with the sugar and vanilla. Beat on high speed using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Add toppings to the mini pavlova. Place the whipped cream into a piping bag and add a tip (I use a 1M piping tip). Pipe the cream onto each pavlova and top with some berries. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Use room temperature eggs- Cold eggs don’t whip well, so use room temperature egg whites to ensure they gain the right volume for a meringue. 70 degrees is best.
- Set your oven- When baking the meringues, always make sure your oven is set to the conventional setting (with the fan NOT running). You don’t want to blow it around.
- Keep the oven door closed- Never open the oven during baking (nope, not even to peak at them). It introduces cold air too fast, causing the pavlova to crack.
- Use hot heavy cream in the ganache- You heat the heavy cream first because it will melt the chocolate while also combining with it. Hot cream won’t cause it to seize like cold will.
FAQs
What is the difference between a meringue and a pavlova?
While they are similar because they use egg whites that are whipped into a foam and baked on low until they are dry, a meringue is dry throughout with a crispy texture. A pavlova, on the other hand, is crispy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside.
Why is my mini pavlova chewy?
If your mini pavlova has turned out chewy, it’s probably because you did not bake it long enough. Make sure you bake it on a low temperature, then allow it to sit in the residual heat so it has time to sufficiently dry out. Otherwise, it will end up chewy.
Serving Suggestions
This Mini Pavlova Recipe with Chocolate is a delicious summertime dessert. Enjoy it with your favorite coffee, desserts, and fruits. Here are some ideas.
- Cookies: Serve this summer treat with Raspberry Macarons, Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, or Amaretti Cookies (VIDEO).
- Fruits: Enjoy this berries and cream-topped sweet with some Mini Fruit Tarts, Fruit Pizza, or fresh fruit and a Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.
- Chocolate: Add some chocolate shavings on top or pair these Mini Pavlova with Nutella Brownies, Chocolate Pot De Creme, or Chocolate Lava Cake (Video).
- Drinks: Treat yourself to this dessert with a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Try it with this Caramel Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat) or Iced Caramel Macchiato.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: This Mini Pavlova recipe can be made in advance to a certain point. You can make the meringue, let it cool, and then place them into an airtight container until ready to serve with the cream topping.
Storing: Once the pavlova dessert is finished with the berries and cream on top, they will keep for about 4 hours at room temperature.
Freeze: You can freeze the meringue from these pavlova in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. But once they are topped with cream and berries, they can’t be frozen.
More Delicious Desserts!
Watch how to make this dessert here:
Full Recipe Instructions
Mini Pavlova Recipe
Mini crispy meringue pavlova recipe filled with chocolate ganache, chopped pecans, a simple whipped cream topping, and fresh berries. Best summer dessert recipe!
Print Pin Rate Servings: 12 pavlovas
Calories: 274kcal
Ingredients
- 5 egg whites
- 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Pecans
Instructions
- Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. I used a 21.5 x 14.5 size. Now trace about 12 (3 1/2 inch circles onto the parchment paper. Then flip it over and set it aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer add 5 room temperature egg whites, 1/8 tsp cream of tartar and a pinch of salt. whisk on high speed until soft peaks form.
- Now slowly add 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Once you see stiff peaks form (about 10 minutes) 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch and 2 tsp vanilla. Beat just until incorporated.
- Now place a 1E piping tip into a disposable pastry bag and snip off the end. Begin piping the meringue in a circular motion starting from the center. Then you’ll want to pipe out a border on the top.
- Bake the pavlovas at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 30 mins on the conventional setting. Then turn the oven off and let the Pavlova sit in the oven for another 30 minutes.
- For the ganache- pour 1/4 cup hot heavy over 1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips. Let it sit for a minute so and mix until smooth.
- Now add the ganache to a piping bag and drizzle it inside each pavlova. You want to coat the entire bottom. I like to spread it around with a small spatula. Now sprinkle some chopped toasted pecans on top of the ganache.
- For the cream topping- Combine 1 1/4 cup of cold heavy whipping cream with 1 tbsp granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Beat on high speed using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Now place the whipped cream into a piping bag using the piping tip of your choice. I used a 1M piping tip.
- Pipe the cream onto each pavlova and top with some berries. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!
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Katia says
First time making these and they turned out great! Kids couldn’t wait for them to be finally ready, they look so pretty and surprisingly easy to make if follow the directions. Thanks for the detailed recipe!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you for taking the time to write such kind feedback Katia 🙂
Tsvety says
Hi! Can I use vinegar instead cream of tartar? And how much? Thank you
simplyhomecooked says
I have never tried substituting vinegar for the cream of tartar so I am not too sure.
Olga says
These look fantastic! Do they turn out fluffy on the inside and crunchy outside or crunchy all the way?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Olga, they are light and crunchy on the outside with a slight chewiness on the inside. I hope you enjoy this recipe!