Bakehouse

This Iconic Aussie (and New Zealand) Dessert Is Perfect for Passover

No leavening. No flour. Passover food rules have made desserts like flourless chocolate cake and macaroons traditional favorites for the holiday, and of course, at the Bakehouse, we love (and make) those treats. But, we also like bringing new traditions to the table, and one that we’re most excited about is Pavlova.

Pavlova is an iconic desert of Australia and New Zealand (there’s an ongoing argument over who exactly invented it), named after the Russian Ballerina Anna Pavlova, who performed in Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. It is light, luscious, fruity, sweet, and cloud-like—and, best of all, it sticks to Passover rules!

As beautiful as they are delicious, Pavlovas are made with a base of vanilla meringue, which is baked until the exterior is crispy, creating a luscious contrast to the soft, smooth interior. It’s then covered with a thick, silky layer of unsweetened whipped cream (Trust us! There’s plenty of sugar in the meringue.) and decorated with seasonal fruit. For Passover, we’re using mango, kiwi, and raspberries.

We knew of pavlova but hadn’t actually understood their magic until a few years back when Kristy Carre, an Australian food writer who came to Zingerman’s Camp Bacon with her husband, taught us how to make them at BAKE!, our hands-on teaching bakery. Amy Emberling, a Managing Partner of the Bakehouse, fell instantly in love, and we’ve been making them ever since. They work for every season, and we offer them at Christmas, in the summer, and right now, just in time for Passover.

Don’t miss out on this simple, unexpected dessert. One bite, and you’ll probably want to make it a tradition.

Pavlovas are currently available daily at the Bakehouse and the Deli’s Next Door. You can also order yours for Passover. Give us a call: 734-761-2095