Pavlova

Pavlova is the iconic dessert of Australia and New Zealand, named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, after she performed there in the 1920s. It is a light, sweet, cloud-like, fruit-topped dessert. It begins with a round of sweet vanilla meringue, baked until the exterior is crispy, but the interior remains soft and creamy. It then gets a thick layer of unsweetened whipped cream (to balance the sweetness of the meringue) and is generously topped with colorful, seasonal fruit.