Published: May 29, 2026
Serves: 8-10
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours (includes cooling time— great for making ahead!)
Ingredients
- 6 Egg Whites
- 0.25 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
- 1.33 Cups Cup Caster (superfine) Sugar (blend granulated white sugar to make finer)
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons Arrowroot
- 2 Tablespoons White Vineager
- 10 Ounces Whipped Cream
- 1 Cup Fresh Strawberries
- 1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F
- Beat egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla until stiff peaks form
- Add sugar in tablespoons, beating until all sugar is added and meringue is glossy and thick
- Stir in cornstarch, arrowroot and vinegar
- Pile onto a baking pan lined with baking paper, in a circle approx 8 inches in diameter
- Turn oven down to 200 degrees F and bake for 2 hours, or until the outside is firm but not browned
- Turn off oven and let cool down for at least an hour (or overnight)
- To serve, top with whipped cream and fruit
Meet Penny Bolden | Marine Corps Spouse
I’ve moved eight times since leaving Australia in my twenties, when I landed in San Diego and met and married a Marine. I didn’t plan to stay, but between assignments on both coasts and three years in Madrid, I’ve spent more than three decades building a life far from where I started.
Pavlova has been my tie to home.
Food does something no photo or phone call can. One bite, and I’m right back home — the smell of the grill, long summer days, and every backyard “barbie” I grew up with. It’s instant time travel.
As a Marine Corps spouse, I’ve gathered recipes from friends across the U.S. and Spain, each one adding to the story of where we’ve been. But pavlova is the one I always bring. It’s my signature dish — my way of showing up and sharing a piece of where I come from.
Every time I serve it, the questions start. Conversations follow. And just like that, something simple becomes a point of connection.
Through every move, Pavlova has remained mine. A reminder that even when home feels far away, there are ways to carry it with you — and share it with others.
The Shared Table Menu
Drink: Rainbow Sherbet Punch
Starter: PCS Proof Hummus Bar
Main: Grandpa's Steak Marinade
Side: Maddie’s Twice-Baked Potatoes (with a touch of Korean flair)
Dessert: Red, White & Blue Pavlova! (this recipe)
Cooking this recipe for your Fourth of July celebration? Join our "Cooking Group" in The Neighborhood now through July 4 for a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 Instacart gift cards to help stock your kitchen.
Posted In: Family Life, Instacart, Recipes