Imagine a meringue that’s crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, slathered with luscious lemon curd and light whipped cream, then sprinkled with toasted almond and coconut. This lemon pavlova is a bright ray of sunshine on a dreary winter day.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by JORD Wood Watches but all photos, words and opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me!
It’s no secret that I love Christmas.
It’s my favourite time of the year (well, apart from my birthday lol). And this year Christmas came extra early.
First, Meyer lemons – one of my favourite things! – started appearing on shelves at our store so I proceeded to hoard them (hey, they’re only available for a limited time) and immediately got so overwhelmed with lemon baking thoughts.
Second, I received a lovely gift in the mail – a dark sandalwood and slate Frankie 35 wood watch from JORD Wood Watches. I’ve never had a wood watch before and this timepiece is exceptional. Looks like I found yet another reason to love the season!
Why you’ll love lemon pavlova
But back to this delicious lemon pavlova.
The meringue was perfectly crunchy outside but sticky and chewy inside.
The homemade lemon curd was sweet and tart.
The homemade whipped cream added freshness to the bite. While the toasted almonds and coconut provided texture.
It was a fantastic treat.
Tips for making the perfect meringue
I know a lot of people are wary of making meringue and working with egg whites so here are some things I’ve learned along the way that I hope will help:
- Make sure your egg whites are room temperature. They whip better and you’d get better volume. It’s easier to separate egg whites from the yolks when the eggs are cold though so what I do is separate the whites from the yolks while the eggs are cold straight out of the fridge then bring the whites to room temperature in a separate bowl (usually 15-20 minutes, or however long it takes for me to prep everything else).
- Speaking of yolks, make sure none of it get to your egg whites. It will spell disaster.
- Also make sure your bowl and whisk are dry and grease free. Don’t use a plastic bowl because oil tends to stick to them; stainless steel or glass bowls are the best.
- When adding sugar, do so gradually (I usually do about a tablespoon at a time). Don’t dump a cup of sugar all at once – your meringue might not come together or if it does, it will take longer.
- This is optional for some people but I always use cream of tartar or white vinegar to stabilize my meringue. It does not affect the taste – it just makes the meringue firmer and less likely to fall apart.
Assembly
Now that’s out of the way, it’s time to assemble!
I’m a heavy froster so it follows that I’m also a heavy pavlova-assembler (what can I say, I get carried away). So my first pavlova was way too sweet.
The lesson here is: taste your components first. See how much of each would lead to that perfect bite then start piling them on!
Make a lemon pavlova this holiday season. It’s a bright, light holiday dessert. Happy holidays!
Lemon Pavlova with Toasted Almonds & Coconut
Ingredients
For the Meringue:
- 4 pieces egg whites from large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the Lemon Curd:
- See recipe for homemade lemon curd below. You can also buy a jar of your favourite ready-made brand.
For the Whipped Cream:
- See recipe for homemade whipped cream. You can also use ready-made.
For the Toppings:
- ½ cup almonds toasted and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut toasted
Instructions
For the Meringue:
- Preheat your oven to 275F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw 4 circles on it that's 4 inches in diameter, leaving a space around each circle. Flip the parchment paper so that the marks are on the bottom and and set aside.
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites at medium high speed until you reach soft peaks.
- Add the sugar a little at a time until you're almost at stiff peaks.
- Add vanilla extract and white vinegar and continue beating until your meringue is stiff and shiny.
- Transfer your meringue onto your lined baking sheet, scooping it into your 4 circles.
- Bake for 45 minutes then turn off the oven and leave the meringues inside the oven overnight to dry.
- Carefully lift the meringue off the parchment paper and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve.
For the Lemon Curd:
- See this recipe for homemade lemon curd. You can also buy a jar of your favourite ready-made brand.
For the Whipped Cream:
- See this recipe for homemade whipped cream. You can also use ready-made.
Assembly:
- Take your meringue and spread a good amount of lemon curd on top.
- Put a dollop of whipped cream on top of the lemon curd then sprinkle with toasted almonds and toasted coconuts.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking!
Did you make lemon pavlova? What are your favourite lemon desserts? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear all about it.
Robin
That’s a cool and unique watch. I know what I want for Christmas. Clicking to get the $25 discount now!
Jolina
Awesome! Hope you enjoy your JORD watch as much as I do!
Elizabeth
I just found a new love for meringue … that’s because of Pavlova. I like the addition of lemon curd and whipped cream.
Nicole Burkholder
Those watches are so cool! I’ve seen them all over social media and my husband REALLY wants one. And I bet that dessert was great, too 🙂
Jolina
Hi Nicole! You know I’ve seen them around too and I’m so happy that now I have one. It’s really something else. So is the hubby getting one for Christmas? Get one for yourself too! 🙂 They are pretty cool.
Ali
This looks so yummy! I made my first meringue this weekend, so may be brave enough to try this recipe out!
Jolina
Awesome! Meringue can be quite addicting to make and do once you get over that first hurdle 🙂 You’d enjoy putting this together for sure. Thanks Ali!
Crystal
Mmmm…. lemon and toasted walnuts sounds so good together.
Bianca
Pavlova is one of those desserts that looks difficult and impressive but it’s effortless to make…also love your pictures- I’m drooling!
Jolina
I totally agree, even the name is impressive lol. Thanks Bianca!
Gillian
I love pavlovas. They are not as hard to make ax they look and always a crowd pleasure. Lemon curd and coconut are a a great combo.
Jolina
Right?? They are stunning to look at but really simple to put together – those are the best recipes IMO haha. Thanks Gillian! Hope you get to try this combo one day soon!
Mallory Mitchell
I can’t decide which I like more, the watch or the recipe!! I absolutely love lemon so I’m going to have to try this one out 🙂
Jolina
LOL yes that’s a pretty tough choice! 🙂 Hope you like this Mallory. I’d love to hear how it goes.
Divya
You had me at coconut! Anything topped with shredded coconut is bound to be delicious in my opinion!
Jolina
OMG I totally agree! I just find myself sprinkling toasted coconut on the weirdest things haha.
Christine
I’ve never attempted a dessert like this one. It looks so light and bright and utterly delicious.
Jolina
Hi Christine! It’s incredibly simple to make but does not look it – those are the best aren’t they? LOL. BTW – totally jealous of your photo with Gordon Ramsay!
Kandja Sylla
Oh my! This is one dessert I will make and probably not share lol! I just love lemon and pavlova. Thanks for the recipe. xx
Jolina
Lol nothing wrong with that 🙂 Or you can make individual portions!
Lisa Sell
Thanks for this recipe. I’ve been looking for a fruity, lighter alternative for Christmas dessert. Looks like I’ve found it!
Jolina
You’re most welcome Lisa! Hope you like it 🙂
Clarissa
This sounds SO delicious! With all the cinnamon-y, nutmeg-y and peppermint-y things right now, a lemon dessert would be so refreshing <3
Jolina
I absolutely agree! It’s a nice break from all things chocolatey (nothing wrong with chocolate though!). I’m a huge fan of lemon, it’s really one of the few things I like about winter 🙂
Diana Rambles
I have never had Pavlova, but it looks divine! I love anything lemon flavored.
Kim Lee
Such a great gift idea and the pavlova looks super yummy too!