Strawberry Almond Pavlova Heart

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Strawberry Almond Pavlova Heart

February 10, 2016
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Strawberry Almond Pavlova Heart

Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

These Strawberry Almond Pavlova Hearts are absolutely irresistible. Talk about love at first sight!  

Pavlova. It’s a fancy, Russian term for meringue.  

And it forms up into some pretty awesome hearts! Just in time for Valentine’s Day. (hint hint)

Close Up of Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

These treats bake low and slow, so you can take your time preparing the other ingredients while they are baking in the oven. I used fresh California strawberries from Driscoll’s. (See my post HERE where I show you how you can see exactly which field your strawberries are coming from).  

Even though it’s only February, California strawberries are bright red and juicy, and the perfect topper for these special treats.  

Three Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

If you’ve never had Pavlova before, you are in for a major surprise. They are light and airy, but have a wonderful, luxurious texture. These particular meringues are the perfect base for the decadent cream and fruit you’ll be using. 

Ready to make Strawberry Almond Pavlova Hearts? 

As I’ve said before, I always start with fresh, California ingredients:

Ingredients: Sliced Almonds, Eggs, Strawberries

 

Cracking egg over egg separator to only get the egg whites

The main ingredient of a meringue is egg whites. I have this handy dandy egg separator that makes life easier in ensuring the yolk does not mix with the whites.  

 

Hearts traced onto paper over baking sheet

You can always make these into round pavlovas, but if you’d like to make the hearts and don’t trust your freehand, you can trace a heart cookie cutter onto parchment paper to create a guide for the meringue.  

 

Piping the meringue onto the traced hearts

Use a piping bag fitted with a large open tip; pipe the meringue onto the parchment paper, covering the entire heart shape.

 

Pipe meringue on edges of the heart

On the outer edges, pipe small dollops to create a raised edge and bake for two hours at 250 degrees.

 

Sugar being poured over strawberries

Mash strawberries

While they are cooking, place 1/2 lb. sliced strawberries into a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of sugar. Mash until pulverized and set aside.

 

Strawberry with tops cut

Slice the remaining strawberries for the tops. I added a groove cut to the strawberry before I started slicing to achieve an adorable heart shape to the finished product.

 

Whipped cream being added to center of baked meringue

Once the meringues are finished baking, add the fresh whipped cream to the center cavity.  

 

Top meringue with sliced strawberries

Top with the sliced strawberries.

 

Pour strawberry juice over sliced strawberries

Douse in the reserved strawberry juice.

 

Sprinkle almonds over Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

Sprinkle with crushed, slivered almonds.

 

Mint atop the Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

And enjoy to your ‘hearts’ content!

Strawberry Pavlova Hearts

Can’t get enough CA Grown strawberries? Try a Strawberry Spritzer or a Strawberry Chicken Salad!

strawberry almond pavlova

Strawberry Almond Pavlova

CA Grown
Heart shaped meringue shells are filled with sweet whipped cream and topped with juicy, California Grown strawberries. Talk about love at first sight!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 6 people
Calories 347 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs room temperature*
  • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon baker's sugar divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 pounds California strawberries*
  • 1 cup heavy cream*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds crushed*

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250.
  • Separate the egg whites from the yolks. Reserve the yolks for another use and beat the egg whites until frothy in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or using a hand mixer.
  • Add the cream of tartar and 3/4 cup of the sugar, 1 tablespoon at time, while the mixer is on med/high. Beat until stiff peaks are formed and sugar is dissolved, about 7-8 minutes. The meringue will be glossy, white and smooth.
  • Trace six 4-inch hearts onto parchment paper using a cookie cutter or by freehand. Pipe meringue mixture onto the parchment in a single layer, filling in the heart shapes.
  • Around the edges, pipe small dollops to form a raised edge.
  • Bake at 250 degrees for one hour. After an hour, turn the oven off and allow the meringues to sit in the oven for another hour while it cools.
  • Slice all the strawberries.
  • To make the strawberry juice, add 1 tablespoon of sugar to about 1/2 pound of the sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon and mash until pulverized.
  • To make the whipped cream, add 1 cup heavy cream with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whip until desired consistency.
  • Remove the meringues from the oven and pipe in the whipped cream to the centers.
  • Top with sliced strawberries and reserved strawberry juice.
  • Sprinkle crushed almonds over all and serve.

Notes

*this comes from California

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 23mgPotassium: 330mgFiber: 4gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 641IUVitamin C: 89mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg
Keyword strawberries, almonds, dessert, mint, meringue, pavlova, valentine, valentine's day, romantic, heart
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