Two-Tier Cherry Pavlova with Vanilla Custard Cream

Hi friends!! Happy Friday! <3

I’m here today with a recipe that would be perfect for a weekend dessert or for when you have friends coming over. I feel like Pavlova is an absolute summer staple, you have to make it at least once every summer. I love how many different ways you can serve it: one big Pavlova, two tiers, mini Pavlovas … and then you can completely change the flavour depending on what fruit you use and what you want to serve it with. Citrus, cherries, poached pears in wine, berries, there are so many options.

For years, I mostly made Pavlova the classic way, with lots of whipped cream and fresh fruit or berries. And honestly, it’s still such a good dessert, especially when the fruit is really ripe and full of flavour. But earlier this year, I developed a recipe for mini Pavlovas with orange custard, whipped cream and poached rhubarb, and that was when I really started playing around with different fillings. The custard adds this silky, slightly richer layer alongside the whipped cream, and it works so well with the crisp, marshmallowy meringue and something fruity and slightly tart on top.

Since then, I’ve been much more interested in playing around with different Pavlova combinations, and cherry had been on my list for ages. I’d saved so many versions of it on Pinterest, and every time I thought, I really need to make this. So I finally did.

And I’m very happy to report that this one has officially made it into my top three pavlova combinations.

This version has two layers of pavlova, loads of vanilla custard cream and a really flavourful cherry compote. The cherries are sweet and tart, the cream is super silky and very vanilla-y, and then you have that crisp outside and soft marshmallowy pavlova in the middle. Such a good combination. I added fresh cherries on top too because it’s summer AND peak cherry season, so obviously I had to.

And when I say plenty of cream, I mean plenty. I made quite a generous amount of vanilla custard cream and still had a little left over. Not remotely a problem, a spoonful of that soft vanilla cream with the cherries is basically a dessert in itself.

Mine also became increasingly messy as I was photographing it, partly because it’s ridiculously hot at the moment and partly because I definitely wasn’t restrained with the filling. But Pavlova is allowed to be messy. I think that’s half the fun.

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