When I was young, all I wanted was a surprise party and to this day, I have never had a surprise party. My parents didn’t really fuss much about birthdays and celebrations. To them, it’s an excuse to eat great food and give a red packet of money to a child. That was much easier than traversing the minefield of buying teenager’s and adults gifts. The elaborate planning necessary for a surprise party plus the secrecy which is against my mother’s genetic makeup (she blurted out to many of our wedding guests on my wedding that I had forgotten to bring along my underwear-discretion is not her forte) meant that a surprise party would never eventuate.
Still, would it have killed them to throw me one surprise party? 
I am of the opposite thinking. Life isn’t quite as fun without the occasional surprise. And if it’s in food form and it’s not a surprise like “Oh guess what? You just ate a fermented yak’s testicles” then all the better. I was pondering pavlovas, as you do when you’re hungry and have a few egg whites in the fridge. I originally wanted to make a trifle with a meringue top burnished with a blowtorch but ever since Donna Hay put a trifle on her current magazine cover and eight trifle recipes inside, trifle bowls are about as scarce as a quiet night at home in December.
So I said to myself as I was shopping “Stuff it!” and stomped off and out of the shop. Hmmm stuff it? Could I possibly take my own advice and stuff a pavlova shell with fruit and cream? After all the pavlova does rise and create a cavernous hole just begging to be stuffed with goodies.
I raced home and bought some cream and fruit on the way. I whipped the egg whites and baked them and let them cool. I whipped the cream until stiff and then cut out a hole and removed the bottom and piped whipped cream into the hole and then stuffed it as full as I could of sweet fruit. And just because I can’t leave well enough alone I drizzled some raspberry sauce and cream on top and served it with a bit more whipped cream. I can say that as annoyed as I was when the trifle bowls were sold out, I was glad because it gave me the idea for these. It tastes just like a berry meringue except of course the surprise is in the inside! I should think that if you were particularly daring, you could even try this with a larger pavlova although I would exercise a little caution as a large pavlova shell is a bit more delicate. I guess that could be considered part of the surprise?
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever had or thrown a surprise party? And how did it go?
And I know Christmas is edging dangerously closely. If you’re stuck for something to make as a gift, may I point you in the direction of some past stories if you feel so inclined to make a gift:
Christmas Wonderland Rocky Road
Plus of course, everyone’s favourite, Bacon Jam!
Surprise Gift Pavlovas
Makes 4 x 12cm/5inch individual pavlovas
- 3 egg whites (90gram)
- 3/4 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon white vinegar
To decorate
- 2 cups pure cream
- 1 tablespoon caster or superfine sugar
- 1 cup of mixed fresh berries (dice up strawberries if using)
- 1/2 cup raspberry sauce (I used a Cuttaway Creek one)
1. Preheat oven to 130C. Line a baking tray with parchment and draw four 12cm or 4 inch circles. In the clean bowl on an electric mixer beat the egg whites until foamy and then add vinegar. When soft peaks form add sugar by the teaspoonful until it becomes stiff and you can turn the bowl upside down without any white moving. Using a spoon, spoon meringue mixture into the circles and make little spiky or swirly patterns if you wish. Bake for 1 hour and then turn off the oven and let the pavlovas cool gradually.
Cutting out the circle at the bottom
Filling it with fruit and cream
OK a bit more cream just because
Then plug it back up with the piece that you cut out
2. Whip the cream with the sugar until stiff and pipeable. When meringues are cool, and just before serving have the serving plates ready. With a sharp knife, cut a hole into the bottom of the pavlova and remove the bottom and set aside for later. Pipe the cream into the cavity trying to fill in the gaps and also fill with the berries-the pavlova has an airpocket so fill that up. Place the bottom back in and place on the serving plate.
3. Drizzle with raspberry sauce and more whipped cream. Yes more.
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77 Comments | Add your own
What great pavlovas! So delightful. I love the way you filled them.
Cheers,
Rosa
Your parents sound like my husband, who hates all holidays, birthdays and fusses of any kind. I’ll throw you a surprise party–with pie!
Oh Lorraine, your pavlovas are magnificent! It’s such an elegant dish and you have made it even better with the addition of fruit and cream inside. As always, absolutely brilliant.
Yum, we always have pavlova at Christmas it’s like a tradition. These surprise versions are a great idea.
Extra egg whites lying around, now at my house that would be a wonderful surprise.
What a good idea! I’ll have to show my pavlova loving mum this recipe!
These look absolutely beautiful!
And I know EXACTLY what you mean about trifle bowls! I have been looking for one for AGES and they are so scarce!!! Mr BBB even tried to order on online for me (bless his little heart) to no avail!
Cool Pavlovas and great idea! I love surprise parties, we just had one for our daughter 2nd birthday and the look on her face when she saw the Dora the Explorer ( I know, I know….. ) cake was priceless
May be next year we could borrow your idea!
Ciao, Dario
I love today’s pavlova photos, Lorraine.
They really made me smilke.
SSG xxx
Delicious and beautiful!!! So cute, well done, you have made the pavlovas look so elegant and sophisticated.
My family have never been celebratory people either. My husband just gave me a surprise party which almost stopped my heart, it was such a surprise.
It was 1 month before my 40th (so I wouldn’t suspect) he had a seperate email address julies40th@hotmail for invitations and any correspondence. He had a street parking plans so I wouldnt see the cars.
It was the most wonderful surprise ever.
The first Pavlova I ever had was with passionfruit… I thought I would die it was so good. I tried to make them at home but failed miserably and have never tried again…coward that I am!!!
This is too good to pass up… and thanks to the bowl spirit for gobbling up all those trifle dishes so you came up with this lovely!!! Yeah, Lorraine!
What a great idea Lorraine! Will try this out when (if) I can master the meringue…
Mmmm yum, these pavlovas look delicious. I love pavlova on Christmas day. It’s always been a tradition in my family.
I’ve never actually had or thrown a surprise party. Mainly I think because I would prefer to know about a party in advance rather than be surprised.
I’m making mini pavs as our Christmas contribution this year, I love this idea of ‘stuffing’ the little crittas as well.. it works with with my spun sugar basket idea (I’m excited)… thanks for the tip.
Surprise Party… no… I never have. I love a good surprise too.
this is fantastic! It’s not christmas without a pavlova, I’m making a brown sugar one this year
We threw a surprise party for my son’s 30th Birthday…he was totally unaware of all the planning and preparations. The plan was that he and his wife would call for hubby and I and all go to a local restaurant to celebrate…we managed to have guests arrive at an allocated time, we live on acreage so were able to hide their cars. Our son arrived as planned walked through to the family room to the sounds of “surprise”…he was totally dumbfounded.
Lorraine they look beautiful! I have been thinking of making some but always find myself with more egg yolks than egg whites on hand…lol!
this pavlova sounds delish- thanks for the idea- I had a surprise 18th many many years ago and a surprise 50th just a few years ago -didn’t really enjoy either of them. I have thrown several surprise parties for DH but that’s about it.
I really couldn’t imagine a better food surprise. This looks way better than a trifle anyway. And why do I have a feeling that somewhere people actually do eat fermented yak’s testicles…
Perfect Lorraine! I am such a pav queen and this is a really smart idea. I will be making these for Chrissie.xx
I considered forwarding this to my mother, but thought better of it. A woman obsessed with pavlova should not be encouraged.
Gorgeous dessert!
I love this little surprise idea. For my hubby’s 40th this year, he didn’t want to do anything so his 2 best buds and I organised a surprise boys weekend in Sydney for him. I rang his work and got him time off, packed his bag and sent it over to his friends, and they just turned up at work and whisked him off. He had the best time and was actually speechless with surprise.
Ahh what a great delicious idea. I don’t remember ever organising a surprise party. Be great to have a dinner party where everything was a surprise, including each dish….hmmm..
HOW exciting can this be?
Once again, you have inspired me!
WHAT a whimsical thing to do!
And the surprise in the middle would be a TA DA moment too!
LOVE entertaining, each party does have a theme!
VERY enthusiastically dive in, like would like to do with this cream!
Surprise party theme… mini bite portions “Foods from Around the World”, TRUE!
35 dishes later, combining the fun of tapas and colourfully exciting tastes and textural foods…parties always express my BUBBLY, B-U-R-S-T-I-N-G, VERY surprising personality too! WHOO HOO!
They are perfect little pavs Lorraine!
I organised a surprise party for my brother’s 21st in a mcdonalds! Complete with the ice-cream cake and all. I wanted to do something that he would never have expected, and just for laughs. That was during the day, we then went out that night to his favourite restaurant and pubs!
These are so simple but look (and I’m sure taste) awesome!
great idea i love it will be making them 4 sure.. merry christmas to u an all..xx
I am not big on surprise parties. Every time I hear about one I remember the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where his wife pretends she didn’t know about her big surprise party. The biggest surprise I have ever had is the night my husband proposed.
How clever of you to create these little meringue surprises. I remember over here when mini tasting desserts became all the rage you could not buy a shot glass anywhere, so I feel your pain about the trifle dishes.
Beautiful!
I’ve never had a surprise party planned by my parents. Instead, they’d give me cash on birthdays which I wasn’t too pleased about as a kid but I don’t mind so much now!
Awesome idea, we have been looking for a special way to do this years pav and you’ve cracked it – thank you
you are so brilliant lorraine! i love the way you put things together absolutely yummy!
They look AWESOME ! and I must say, the Christmas Rocky Road looks good too. I have never held a surprise party, I dont think i could keep my mouth shut!! Have a great Christmas Lorraine xx
Great idea for the pavs Lorraie. I’ve made mini pavs many times but usually them are a nest that I fill with the cream and fruit – yours really are surprise packets!
I threw a surprise party for my husband’s 50th – Told him we were going out for tea with our kids. We walked into the restaurant and the table was set up for the party, together with other tables – he didn’t tweek. We were ‘told’ that our table wasn’t quite ready and would we care to wait in the bar, which we did. Then his best mate and his wife arrived (we were in Port Macquarie, they are from Sydney)and my husband was surprised because he thought that they couldn’t come that weekend. Then the guests arrived a few at at time so the surprise continued – he was floored. This also helped with the problem with friends cars being at the restaurant when we arrived and him ‘catching on’ before the surprise. He had a great night.
Christmas Gift ideas – the rocky road and salted pretzels are in my christmas cookery book and have already been made over and over – Haven’t tried the other two recipes, maybe this is the year!
I got on the computer the do a quick Google on a good recipe for individual pavlova meringues and what do I see in my inbox?! This story!! You’ve read my mind. Who needs Google when I can just NQN
I have a feeling that I will be attempting this. Will have many leftover egg whites this christmas.
*laughs* Oh my heavens, I actually do a double-take when I saw the photo of the surprise inside the pavolva! I’m normally more “cool” than that, but you got me
(Who am I kidding. I’ve never been cool or suave…)
Those surprise pavlovas look amazing! what a good idea having the fruit IN the pav rather than running off down the side..
What a brilliant idea and so well executed! This would be one surprise that I would be happy to get! It looks so yummy!
Ooohh, this is a nice surprise! I have never been given a surprise party either – oh well.
they are beautiful!
these look gorgeous – well done with turning a bad situation into fine inspiration
have never had a surprise party but I suspect the control freak in me wouldn’t approve – hope your family read this post and take the hing!
I meant take the hint (not hing)
oooh looks fairly easy too – so long as I don’t shatter them when hollowing!
These are a lovely looking surprise, Lorraine – and perfect for Xmas lunch,too.
Now that would be a lovely surprise, cutting open a meringue and finding it stuffed with goodies! Darling, surprise parties are over-rated. One always arrive sans makeup and with bad hair.
Now these would be perfect for a Christmas dinner party, maybe even with a couple of mint leaves on top to round out the ‘Christmas’ theme.
The pavlova preparation is a ‘cooking lesson’ sans pareil! The photos are clear and beautiful! BUT, it’s what went on before – ‘bacon jam’ – now that really gets to me – what, on earth, am I missing? It looks moreish, and, probably everyone bar me is in on it?! Absolutely hate to tell you, I don’t know what ‘Christmas Pudding Vodka’ is on aboout as well! Learning curve?
Your Surprise Pavlovas are the
cat’s meow.
My husband attempted to throw a
surprise party for my 50th B-day.
When a suspicious woman called
regarding restaurant reservations
but wouldn’t really talk to me,I
about bit her face off thru the
phone. She had to come clean. I
ruined my own surprise party.
When I attempted to throw one for hubby, he overheard my gal pal on the phone speaker after I warned her not to say a word.
So much for surprises!
Ooh, we are doing pavlova surprises this year also. My family are BIG on surprise parties and just about everyone has had one except me. I actually hate the idea of a surprise party, always like to know what’s going on and that I’ve got make-up on, hair done etc. Guess I’m a bit of a control freak that way …
well, that’s fun! i love surprises, especially of the edible variety. i can’t call myself an honorary australian (as i so want to do) because i’ve neither made nor eaten pavlova before!
That pav idea is fantastic! Beautiful berries and cream,coated with crispy meringue and topped with coulis-should become part of the “12 days of Xmas…”
Once again Lorraine, you have inspired and given me yet another thing to crave…”
Ps MERRY XMAS AND THANKYOU FOR SHARING YOUR GOURMET ADVENTURES WITH US!!!
I organised a surprise 60th for my other half – smallish affair at a restaurant,he loved it and still talks about it 9 years later. We went for a drink at a nearby hotel beforehand I saw my mother whizzing around the corner from our window seat but luckily he didnt!!! We even bumped into his niece on the way to pub she was very cool just said she was off out to dinner he never mentioned it was his Birthday. The staff made the night and off course the whole place sang Happy Birthday.
What a clever creation! I’m glad you couldn’t find the trifle bowl.
Beautiful pavlova and I love your Xmas ornaments…!!
simply gorgeous! great one for xmas..:)
those are adorable!
Those are the most beautiful, heavenly pavlova shells I’ve ever seen! I was also starting to wonder what the “surprise” was… and yes thats a great way of balancing the sweetness and crunchiness of the pavlova shells with the berries and cream. Mmmmm more cream please…
I think that some time, some where in your future, you will be thrown a surprise party but where, when…? You’ve just invented my perfect dessert, don’t know why but have been craving pavlova recently and you’ve just invented an inside out eton mess, hehe!
I’ve been to a few surprise parties, but I’ve never thrown one myself. It’s always so exciting watching them enter the room and looking all surprised
The few I remember were all birthday ones, one was for a 50th birthday and one was for a friend’s 23rd I think it was.
Wish someone would be nice enough to throw me one….
So pretty! They look like little mounds of snow with a surprise inside.
Ive never actually tasted a pavlova, but it certainly looks beautiful.
As for a surprise party, no I’ve never organized one. I think it would kill me. I find doing dinners for my in laws stressful enough.
*kisses* HH
Oh wow, these are seriously cool!! I’ve had people attempt to throw me two different suprise parties, but I’ve managed to work it out both times…
Oh i love surprises and i love the surprise awaiting us all in these lovely pavlovas!
These Pavlovas look just delightful! Love all the delicious berries inside!
i’ll eat two, please!
no, i have never had a surprise birthday party or thrown one. i did take the husband on a surprise trip for his birthday (well, the destination was the surprise). i grew up with parents like yours; they had no concept of surprises (still don’t…). as a consequence, i have spent my adulthood craving fun surprises.
so here I am, thinking ‘hmmmm, I want to make something extra for Christmas’ because I am into self flagellation (seriously, I already have too much but want MORE MORE MORE!) and now I must make these and the salted pretzel toffees.
I love you. For now. Dunno when I have overplanned and need bigger pants. ;P
HA HA HA HA you are too funny! I absolutely love surprises and no one ever threw me a surprise party and it has also taken me about 20 years to make my men understand that I do not want to know what my presents are before I open them on my birthday or Christmas! And these pavlova’s are simply the prettiest thing I have ever seen and genius!
Ingenious use of egg whites! I agree surprises rule. I have never had or given a surprise party proper, but my husband and I always make sure that one another’s birthdays are filled with surprises, right down to where we;re going for dinner. So that’s fun. Cheers!
What a delight!
oooh lovely! a berry surprise
I threw ben a surprise 24th birthday. he thought the two of us were going to a greek restaurant for dinner, but when he turned up there were 20 of his friends there! I put up balloons and everything (the owners were very accommodating). lots of fun and ouzo ensued
Heidi xo
I really hope that one day I’ll have a surprise party too. This would mean that I’d have to not organise my own party though, which I always seems to do, and then if somehow a surprise party didn’t magically eventuate then I’d be left party-less.
Best to just keep throwing parties and make these pavlovas I think. Excellent idea
What a hilarious post, NQN! And a brilliant idea to stuff the pavlovas, I thought they were so delicate they would crumble as you tried to stuff them, but you’ve proved that doesn’t seem to be the case. Merry Xmas!
These look fantastic! So good in fact I am attempting these for Christmas Day!
I’m not a massive one for surprises. I don’t think I cope well – I like to be organised and plan for all eventualities and surprise parties don’t really allow for that. But Surprise Pavlovas sound like an absolute treat!
this is brilliant! love this idea.. you are my hero!! thanks for sharing
This is such an awesome idea. Bookmarked
What a great idea! I have organised a few surprise parties in my time, but have never had one organised for myself. I think the reason is I would always organise something before anyone could do anything.
good stuff!!
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