A beautiful Air Fryer Pavlova topped with fresh berries and berry sauce sits on a cake stand. Blossoming branches hang above, with a glass bowl of strawberries nearby. The pastel blue background adds a soft, inviting touch.

Pavlova is my go-to dessert whenever I have people over for dinner. Why? Because the meringue shell can be baked in advance and filled just before serving. Plus it is beyond delicious, gluten-free and you can add your own personal twist to it.

It is made simply with egg whites and sugar and baked until the shell is crisp outside with a marshmallow texture within. The fillings can suit the season or the occasion – generally a combination of softly whipped cream and fruit.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No need to heat up the oven – bake right in your air fryer
Crisp, light meringue shell with a marshmallowy center
Perfect base for whipped cream, berries, or citrus curd
Elegant and gluten-free – great for entertaining
Mini or full-sized versions – totally customizable!

A meringue pie with golden peaks, reminiscent of an Air Fryer Pavlova, sits on a pink and yellow cake stand with a marble base, against a light blue background.

Can You Bake Pavlova in Air Fryer?

I have been using my air fryer to bake cakes, muffins, sourdough and cheesecake so why not make Pavlova in the air fryer? That’s my thinking folks and I am glad to report you can bake the perfect Pavlova in your air fryer.

Bear in mind that the pavlova will need to cook for 90 minutes – 2 hours and also cool inside the air fryer basket. So don’t go making it when you are planning an air fryer dinner… unless you own more than one air fryer that is (guilty).

A cookbook titled Easy Air Fryer Bakes by Lucy Parissi, featuring cakes, cupcakes, meringues, and Air Fryer Pavlova on the cover, displayed on stands and plates against a blue background.

Here’s What You Will Need

Pavlova starts with meringue and for that you will need egg whites and sugar. For best results use fresh eggs at room temperature, not pasteurised egg whites from a carton. You can use granulated sugar or caster sugar (superfine sugar).

A pinch of salt or a teaspoon of lemon juice help the egg whites whip up and I always add a little vanilla bean paste too.

A stand mixer is essential for making meringue – I have tried to make it with a hand mixer but it simply is not powerful enough!

An Air Fryer Pavlova topped with fresh berries sits on patterned plates and books, surrounded by strawberries, blueberries, and a small glass. A vase of white blossoms is placed beside the beautiful dessert scene.

How to Make Air Fryer Pavlova

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

Separate the eggs and place the egg whites into the bowl of your stand mixer. Use the egg yolks to make carbonara or creme brulée. Add the sugar and lemon juice and place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the mixing bowl doesn’t come in contact with the water.
Use a balloon whisk to stir the egg whites and sugar to encourage the sugar to dissolve. This will take a few minutes – feel between your fingers to check whether the sugar has dissolved. If the mixture feels gritty then continue to cook and stir over the double boiler.

A person with a butterfly tattoo on their wrist is whisking a white mixture for Meringue Kisses in a glass bowl placed on a black stovetop.

Dry the bottom of the mixing bowl and attach to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on high speed until the meringue holds firm peaks – this can take ten minutes or more. The meringue needs to be stiff and glossy.

A hand with red nail polish holds a metal mixer whisk covered in thick, glossy meringue—perfect for making Meringue Kisses Cookies—against a white background.

Fit a piping bag with a large star tip and fill with the meringue. Place a liner inside your air fryer basket. Pipe a ring of the meringue on the liner then fill the middle. Build up the sides by adding more meringue.

Side-by-side images show Air Fryer Pavlova in progress: the basket lined with parchment and a ring of piped meringue before (left) and after (right) air frying. The Pavlova in Air Fryer looks set and lightly browned once cooked.

Bake in the air fryer at 250°F (120°C) for 20 minutes then reduce the heat to 200°C (95°C) and continue to cook for a further hour and 10 minutes (2 hours total). Turn the air fryer off but leave the pavlova inside the basket to cool. It can stay in there overnight or until needed.

A round Air Fryer Pavlova with piped edges sits inside the basket, viewed from above. The meringue is white and features a swirled, decorative border.

Carefully remove the meringue shell from the air fryer and place on a cake stand or plate. Fill with softly whipped cream, lemon curd and top with a medley of fresh berries (I also used the cherry syrup from my Air Fryer Cheesecake to drizzle.). Once the pavlova is filled it has to be served straight away as the cream and fruit will cause the crisp shell to soften.

Two images side by side show an Air Fryer Pavlova on a cake stand. The left image features caramel sauce being drizzled on top; the right shows the pavlova topped with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Recipe Tips

Be careful when separating the eggs. If egg yolk gets into the whites the meringue will simply not whip! Cold eggs are easier to separate. Take a look at this comprehensive post about How to Make the perfect Pavlova.
Make sure the bowl and whisk of your stand mixer are spotlessly clean. Even a tiny bit of grease will stop the meringue from frothing.
Storing Instructions: Store the pavlova shell in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 days. Avoid humid environments to keep the meringue crisp! Pavlova is best enjoyed as soon as it has been filled – store leftovers in the fridge for up to a day.

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Did you try my Air fryer pavlova recipe? Please l eave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a treat-yourself day, this dessert is guaranteed to impress!

Don’t forget to tag me @supergolden88 on Instagram and @Nusde on TikTok so I can share your amazing bakes! Let’s spread the foodie joy one pavlova at a time 💕