If you’re looking for a dessert that feels romantic, light, and effortlessly elegant, these Valentine’s Day Heart Pavlovas are exactly what you need. Crisp on the outside, soft and marshmallow-like on the inside, and shaped into delicate hearts, they’re the perfect sweet treat to celebrate love — whether that’s with a partner, friends, family, or yourself.

Made with just a few simple ingredients, these mini pavlovas look impressive but are surprisingly easy to prepare. They can be baked ahead of time, customized with your favorite fillings, and decorated in endless ways. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or anytime you want a dessert that feels special without being heavy.

What Are Heart-Shaped Pavlovas?

• A pavlova is a classic meringue-based dessert known for its crisp shell and soft, airy center. Traditionally topped with whipped cream and fruit, pavlova is light, elegant, and naturally gluten-free.
• For this Valentine’s version, the meringue is piped into heart shapes, with slightly raised edges to hold the filling. The hearts are baked low and slow, then left to dry completely in the oven. Once cooled, they’re filled just before serving with cream, berries, fruit, pudding, or jam.
• The result is a dessert that’s beautiful, romantic, and incredibly satisfying — without feeling too rich.

Why You’ll Love These Valentine’s Day Pavlovas

• Light and airy, not heavy or overly sweet
• Crisp outside, soft and marshmallow-like inside
• Perfect heart shape for Valentine’s Day
• Naturally gluten-free
• Made with just a handful of ingredients
• Can be prepared a day ahead
• Easy to customize with endless toppings

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Heart Pavlovas

• Egg whites: The base of the pavlova. When whipped, egg whites create the structure and signature airy texture.
• Sugar: Stabilizes the meringue and gives pavlova its crisp shell and glossy finish.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a soft, marshmallow-like center instead of a dry meringue.
• Salt: A small pinch enhances flavor and balances sweetness.
• Food coloring (optional): Used to gently tint the meringue pink for a Valentine’s Day look. Gel food coloring works best.

For Making the Pavlovas, Here Are the Essential Tools You’ll Need

• Mixing Bowl: A completely clean, dry, and grease-free bowl is essential for whipping egg whites properly. Any fat residue can prevent the meringue from reaching stiff peaks.
• Electric Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: Used to whip the egg whites and sugar into a stable, glossy meringue. An electric mixer makes it much easier to achieve the right texture.
• Piping Bag: Allows you to pipe neat, defined heart shapes and control the thickness of the pavlova edges.
• Piping Nozzle (Star or Round): A star nozzle creates a decorative texture, while a round nozzle gives clean, smooth lines. Both work beautifully for heart-shaped pavlovas.
• Baking Tray: Provides an even surface for baking the pavlovas and ensures consistent heat distribution.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and makes it easy to lift the pavlovas off the tray once baked.
• Spatula or Spoon: Useful for gently folding in food coloring or smoothing the center of the heart shapes if needed.

Here is the full Recipe for the Heart Pavlovas

Ingredients:

For the Pavlova Hearts

• 2 egg whites
• 100 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
• 5 g (1 tsp) cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt
• Pink gel food coloring (optional)

For Filling & Topping (optional)

• 200 ml (3/4 cup + 2 tbsp) heavy whipping cream
• 20 g (2 tbsp) powdered sugar
• Fresh berries or fruit
• Jam, lemon curd, or vanilla pudding (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare the Oven and Tray
   Preheat your oven to 100°C (210°F) using top and bottom heat. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. You can lightly draw heart shapes on the parchment as a guide, then flip it over so the ink doesn’t touch the meringue.
   
2. Whip the Egg Whites
   Place the egg whites and a pinch of salt into a clean bowl. Whip until soft peaks form. The mixture should look foamy and start to hold shape, but still be soft.
   
3. Add Sugar and Cornstarch
   Mix the sugar and cornstarch together. Slowly add this mixture to the egg whites, one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to whip. This step is crucial for a stable, glossy meringue.
   Continue whipping until the meringue is thick, shiny, and holds stiff peaks. When you lift the whisk, the peaks should stand upright without collapsing.
   
4. Color the Meringue (Optional)
   If you want pink pavlovas, gently fold in a small amount of gel food coloring at the very end. Use a toothpick and add color gradually. You can mix fully for an even pink or lightly swirl for a marble effect.
   
5. Pipe the Heart Shapes
   Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fitted with a nozzle.
   Pipe heart shapes onto the parchment paper. Go around the edges twice to create a slightly raised border, then fill in the center evenly. This creates a small “nest” to hold the filling later.
   
6. Bake Low and Slow
   Place the tray into the oven and bake for about 70 minutes. The pavlovas should remain pale and feel dry to the touch.
   Once baking time is done, turn off the oven and leave the pavlovas inside for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. This slow cooling helps prevent cracks and ensures the perfect texture.

Tips for Perfect Pavlovas

• Use room-temperature egg whites
• Make sure your bowl and whisk are completely clean
• Add sugar slowly for stability
• Bake at a low temperature only
• Let the pavlovas cool fully in the oven
• Fill just before serving for best texture

Filling Ideas for Valentine’s Pavlovas

• Vanilla whipped cream
• Vanilla pudding or pastry cream
• Fresh strawberries or raspberries
• Mixed berries
• Fruit compote or jam
• Lemon curd
• Chocolate shavings or curls

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

• Unfilled pavlovas can be made 1–2 days ahead
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature
• Do not refrigerate unfilled pavlovas
• Fill shortly before serving

These Valentine’s Day Heart Pavlovas are proof that simple ingredients can create something truly special. Light, crisp, and filled with whatever you love most, they’re the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a sweet, thoughtful, and beautiful way.

Whether you make them for someone special or just for yourself, they’re guaranteed to impress.

Happy baking!!

More Baking Ideas:

• Strawberries & Cream Cookies – Soft, buttery cookies infused with fresh strawberries and a velvety cream filling – the ultimate summer treat!
• White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies -Delight in the perfect balance of sweet white chocolate and tart raspberries with every bite of these irresistible cookies.
• Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies -These zesty lemon cookies with a hint of poppy seed crunch will brighten up your day with a refreshing burst of flavor.
• Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd – Bright, tangy, and irresistibly creamy, these Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd are a zesty delight topped with a luscious blueberry swirl. Perfect for citrus lovers looking for a sweet twist!

Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe:

Summary

Recipe Name

Heart Pavlovas

Author Name

Isabel

Published On

2026-01-28