Strawberry Fool Pavlova Cake

Strawberry Fool Pavlova Cake

After the success of last week's Roasted Strawberry Jam, I immediately started thinking about ways to incorporate this intensely flavored, concentrated strawberry confection into a terrific dessert. My first thought was to use it in a simple whipped cream "fool" by just folding it into some vanilla whipped cream. This worked extremely well so I then considered if that worked, an "Eaton Mess" with pieces of meringue Pavlova would be even better. At that point, I paused and thought, "Maybe that's an idea for a dessert cake."

A homemade vanilla sponge cake was my choice to tie all these components together and it came together spectacularly. It is an indulgence to be sure, but because of the lightness of the sponge cake and using the fruity whipped cream fool instead of a sugary frosting, this decadent dessert does not come off as heavy at all. I shared this one with my office co-workers to rave reviews and it would make a terrific celebration cake or spectacular dinner party dessert.

Find our recipe for Roasted Strawberry Jam by clicking here.

Sponge Cake

Line the bottoms of three 8 or 9 inch cake pans with parchment paper.

Sift together and set aside:

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

For the meringue base of the batter you will need:

• 9 eggs separated, room temperature
• 1/4 tsp cream of tarter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, separated in 2 portions of  3/4 cup
• 3 tsp vanilla extract

Beat egg whites and cream of tarter until foamy. Add 3/4 cup sugar gradually until egg whites are stiff.
Beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar until foamy and thickened.
Fold beaten egg yolks into the beaten egg whites along with the vanilla for only a few turns before slowly and gradually folding in the flour and baking powder mixture very gently BY HAND using a rubber spatula until just incorporated into the meringue mixture. I mix in the dry ingredients in 3 equal portions. Do not over mix, you just want the flour to be incorporated; over mixing will deflate the egg whites and result in a tough textured final product.
Pour into 3 un-greased 8 or 9 inch round cake pans with the bottoms lined with parchment paper and bake at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until center springs back when touched. Cool completely in the pans before running a sharp knife around the edge to release the cakes from the pans and then remove the parchment paper from the bottoms.

Pavlova Layers

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 cup fine granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft peaks and gradually add the sugar slowly, whipping until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pinch the meringue between your fingertips to feel that all of the sugar granules have completely dissolved.

Sift together:

• 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch

Sprinkle over the meringue mixture and fold in until completely incorporated along with:

• 1 tsp white vinegar

This step helps a crisp crust to form on the meringue. Drop the meringue in two halves  onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread it out into two 9 inch circles. I use the cake pans to outline the exact size on the parchment paper with a pencil, then flip the paper over on the baking sheet. Be sure to keep the meringue about a 1/4 inch inside the line to allow a little room for expansion as the pavlova bakes.

Bake for  about 1 hour or until small cracks appear in the meringue and it is slightly golden brown. Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and allow the meringues to cool completely in the oven.

Strawberry Fool

Whip to firm peaks: 

• 3 cups whipping cream
• 4 rounded tablespoons powdered sugar (icing sugar)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Gently fold in:

• 2/3 cup roasted strawberry jam (or your favorite good quality jam)

There is no need to fully fold in the jam. Leaving streaks of jam ribboned through the whipped cream is desirable.


To construct the cake place the first layer on the serving plate. Cover with a thin layer of strawberry fool. Add one of the pavlova layers topped with a second thin layer of fool. Repeat this process with the second cake layer and second pavlova layer before adding the final sponge cake layer on top. Top the final layer of cake with the remaining Straw beery fool and garnish with fresh strawberries and additional roasted strawberry jam if desired. Chill the cake for at least an hour before cutting and serving.

Strawberry Fool Pavlova Cake

After the success of last week's Roasted Strawberry Jam, I immediately started thinking about ways to incorporate this intensely flavored, concentrated strawberry confection into a terrific dessert. My first thought was to use it in a simple whipped cream "fool" by just folding it into some vanilla whipped cream. This worked extremely well so I then considered if that worked, an "Eaton Mess" with pieces of meringue Pavlova would be even better. At that point, I paused and thought, "Maybe that's an idea for a dessert cake."

A homemade vanilla sponge cake was my choice to tie all these components together and it came together spectacularly. It is an indulgence to be sure, but because of the lightness of the sponge cake and using the fruity whipped cream fool instead of a sugary frosting, this decadent dessert does not come off as heavy at all. I shared this one with my office co-workers to rave reviews and it would make a terrific celebration cake or spectacular dinner party dessert.

Find our recipe for Roasted Strawberry Jam by clicking here.

Sponge Cake

Line the bottoms of three 8 or 9 inch cake pans with parchment paper.

Sift together and set aside:

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

For the meringue base of the batter you will need:

• 9 eggs separated, room temperature
• 1/4 tsp cream of tarter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, separated in 2 portions of  3/4 cup
• 3 tsp vanilla extract

Beat egg whites and cream of tarter until foamy. Add 3/4 cup sugar gradually until egg whites are stiff.
Beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar until foamy and thickened.
Fold beaten egg yolks into the beaten egg whites along with the vanilla for only a few turns before slowly and gradually folding in the flour and baking powder mixture very gently BY HAND using a rubber spatula until just incorporated into the meringue mixture. I mix in the dry ingredients in 3 equal portions. Do not over mix, you just want the flour to be incorporated; over mixing will deflate the egg whites and result in a tough textured final product.
Pour into 3 un-greased 8 or 9 inch round cake pans with the bottoms lined with parchment paper and bake at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until center springs back when touched. Cool completely in the pans before running a sharp knife around the edge to release the cakes from the pans and then remove the parchment paper from the bottoms.

Pavlova Layers

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 cup fine granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft peaks and gradually add the sugar slowly, whipping until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pinch the meringue between your fingertips to feel that all of the sugar granules have completely dissolved.

Sift together:

• 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch

Sprinkle over the meringue mixture and fold in until completely incorporated along with:

• 1 tsp white vinegar

This step helps a crisp crust to form on the meringue. Drop the meringue in two halves  onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread it out into two 9 inch circles. I use the cake pans to outline the exact size on the parchment paper with a pencil, then flip the paper over on the baking sheet. Be sure to keep the meringue about a 1/4 inch inside the line to allow a little room for expansion as the pavlova bakes.

Bake for  about 1 hour or until small cracks appear in the meringue and it is slightly golden brown. Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and allow the meringues to cool completely in the oven.

Strawberry Fool

Whip to firm peaks: 

• 3 cups whipping cream
• 4 rounded tablespoons powdered sugar (icing sugar)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Gently fold in:

• 2/3 cup roasted strawberry jam (or your favorite good quality jam)

There is no need to fully fold in the jam. Leaving streaks of jam ribboned through the whipped cream is desirable.


To construct the cake place the first layer on the serving plate. Cover with a thin layer of strawberry fool. Add one of the pavlova layers topped with a second thin layer of fool. Repeat this process with the second cake layer and second pavlova layer before adding the final sponge cake layer on top. Top the final layer of cake with the remaining Straw beery fool and garnish with fresh strawberries and additional roasted strawberry jam if desired. Chill the cake for at least an hour before cutting and serving.