Lemon on a Cloud

This dreamy Lemon Pavlova combines a meringue, lemon curd, a cloud of whipped cream and luscious fresh berries! You’ll swoon with every bite!

This Lemon on a Cloud was a specialty of my mom and one of my favorite childhood desserts! It’s a perfect treat for citrus lovers and they’ll all be clamoring for seconds!!.

Lemon on a Cloud

The BEST recipes tell a story. My mom was an excellent cook, and growing up, we wise-acre children didn’t always appreciate her gourmet dinner offerings. Moussaka for example. I’m pretty sure I went to bed hungry the first night that layered spiced lamb and eggplant dish appeared on our table.

But we did love when she made desserts. She’d often come home from bridge club with the latest recipe from one of her cohorts, eager to try it out on the family. This lemon pavlova is one of those gems that’s etched in my memory, and back in Ames, Iowa, it was called “lemon on a cloud.”

A Lemon Pavlova

We had a huge freezer down in the basement of my childhood home. Perfect for those times my parents purchased a side of beef or made a run to the Sara Lee outlet in Des Moines and came home with boxes and boxes of cheese danish.

My mom typically made a double batch of this lemon meringue dessert and popped one in said freezer. But as soon as we knew of its existence, my sisters and I would sneak down to the musty cellar with a knife and carve ourselves slivers of this citrus beauty. I’m certain our fingers were sticky and our sweet tooths satisfied before returning upstairs.

Years later, I tried to recreate my mom’s recipe, but I think her version had more of a lemon curd topping followed by Cool Whip. My family loved my creation, but I may have to hunt down the handwritten recipe card next time I’m back in Iowa. It was my first taste of what I later learned was a lemon pavlova!

Tips for How to Make Pavlova

If you’ve ever made meringue cookies or a pie topping, making a pavlova recipe will be a breeze. Following these tips will help make your first pavlova dessert a success!

• PRO-Tip: Make sure your beaters and bowl are scrupulously clean before you start to whip your egg whites.
• Egg whites will not beat properly if any grease or fat from a broken egg yolk, contaminates the whites. Note that eggs separate best when cold, but the whites beat best when at room temperature.

• Use a piece of parchment to line your baking sheet. Trace a circle on one side of the parchment, depending on the desired size of your pavlova. Flip it over and you’ll have a template for spreading out your meringue mixture.
• PRO-Tip: I used a 9-inch round cake pan to draw the circle on my parchment since this lemon pavlova recipe suggests a 9-inch circle. Make sure your marking is dark enough so you can see it when the paper is turned over.

• To bring your egg whites up to room temperature, you can set your bowl of whites into a larger bowl of hot (not boiling) water while doing your prep work.
• Beat your egg whites until foamy, then slowly add 1 tablespoon of the sugar at a time. If you happen to have superfine sugar takes less time to incorporate.

• The meringue will get thick and billowy. Once all the sugar is combined, add the lemon juice.
• PRO-Tips: The acid in the lemon juice helps delay the coagulation of the whites, making a fluffier meringue. Fresh eggs are more acidic and will also help make a lighter meringue.

• Mound the whipped meringue in the middle of your template on the parchment paper. Use an offset spatula to spread and level the meringue into a flat-topped circle.
• This recipe calls for a “well” in the center of the meringue to make space for the lemon filling. Try to make it deep enough to accommodate your lemon filling.

• Bake as directed. Meringues and pavlovas are typically baked low and slow, so they keep their white color and do not brown.
• Cool your meringue shell completely before topping.

More Lemon Desserts You’ll Love:

• Lemon Bar Cookie Cups from Barbara Bakes
• Easy Lemon Bundt Cake
• Mile High Lemon Meringue Pie
• Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd
• Mini Lemon Cheesecakes
• Creamy Lemon Tart
• More of the Best Dessert Recipes

This recipe was first shared in March 2014. Photos and text were updated in 2020.

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The Recipe: Lemon on a Cloud

A crisp meringue shell topped with lemon curd and cream

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup whipping cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200º. Beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until mixture is very stiff and glossy. Add lemon juice and mix until combined.
2. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Trace a 9-inch circle in the middle of the paper, then flip so that marks are on the underside of the paper. Pile meringue into the center of the circle, then spread to edges, building up the perimeter of the meringue to make a shell. Alternatively, you can bake meringue in a grease 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 2 hours. Cool completely at room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, combine egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and cool at room temperature, refrigerate until cold.
4. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Using the same beaters, beat lemon filling until smooth. Fold 1/2 cup of the cream into the lemon filling until blended, then pile into cooled meringue shell. Reserve the rest of the whipped cream in the refrigerator. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Top with remaining cream and berries to serve, if desired.

Notes

Total time is closer to 5 1/2 hours including cooling times.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 284Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 42mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 0gSugar: 39gProtein: 4g

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