These mini Pavlova nests are filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. They’re crisp on the outside and soft in the middle – a delicious way to use up any extra egg whites you have.

7 Pavlova nests, filled with cream, raspberries and blueberries, on a plate

Mini Pavlova Nests

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Freeze spare egg whites

If you have leftover egg whites, freeze them individually, e.g. in ice cube trays, then pop them in a resealable plastic bag. They will keep for up to a year, but I suggest labelling each batch with the date so that you use them in age order. To defrost, just leave in the fridge overnight.

How to use up spare egg yolks

If you are making this with fresh eggs, what to do with the yolks? I made mayonnaise with mine. It was very rich but utterly delicious. I usually use whole eggs so this was denser but so good that I might start freezing those egg whites.

You could also add the yolks to scrambled egg. Probably not more than one per person though. Put the yolks, with another whole egg, in a plastic box in the fridge to keep for a day or two. Egg yolks don’t freeze well, so I’d also add them to cheese sauce or custard or make some pastry cases for quiches using pâte brisée, which has an egg yolk added. The filling for quiches can also benefit from an extra yolk.

Using bought meringue nests

If you have no time to make the meringue nests, you could buy them. Waitrose has some that are made from free-range eggs, don’t have any additives and will keep for a few months. I have tried them (in the name of research) and they’re very good – although somewhat smaller than the ones I made. The eggs used are pasteurised, so they are suitable for anyone with a weakened immune system, which includes pregnant women. This matters because a Pavlova, which this recipe is based on, is crisp on the outside but still soft and chewy in the middle – so the egg whites aren’t totally cooked. Eggs bought in the UK are perfectly fine to eat in this state. But if in doubt, only buy eggs with the lion mark.

How long does a Pavlova keep?

If you make the meringues yourself, you will need to use them within a couple of days. I tend to keep mine, still on the baking sheets, in the cold oven. They are quick to assemble and if you have a child of a suitable age, they could be bribed, with the promise of one, to do it for you. (I find that works quite well.)

If you need to make the meringues further in advance, use a different meringue mixture – the recipe is in this one for Eton Mess.