Elegant, festive, and melt-in-your-mouth Christmas dessert

Serves: 6–8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 1.5–2 hours
Cooling time: 1 hour
🕊️ For the Meringue Base:
5 large egg whites (room temperature)
350 g powdered sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tsp cornstarch
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 90°C (195°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large, clean bowl, beat the egg whites at medium speed until foamy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, one spoonful at a time, continuing to whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form.
Add lemon juice and cornstarch, gently folding until fully incorporated.
Spoon the meringue onto the parchment, shaping it into a round nest with slightly raised edges.
Bake for 1.5–2 hours, until crisp on the outside but soft and marshmallowy inside.
Turn off the oven, leave the door slightly open, and allow the meringue to cool completely inside.
🍓 For the Raspberry Cream:
250 g cream cheese (cold)
Christmas Dessert Pavlova with Raspberry Cream and Mandarin Syrup

250 ml heavy cream (33%), chilled
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
100–120 g frozen raspberries (slightly thawed)
Preparation:
In a chilled bowl, beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Slowly pour in the cold cream and continue whisking until the mixture becomes thick and fluffy.
Gently fold in the mashed raspberries, keeping visible streaks of berry color for a beautiful marbled effect.
Chill until ready to assemble.
🍊 For the Mandarin Syrup:
Juice and zest of 3 mandarins
2 tbsp honey or sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp cornstarch (for thickness)
Preparation:
Combine mandarin juice, zest, honey (or sugar), and lemon juice in a small saucepan.
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
In a separate cup, dissolve cornstarch in 1 tbsp of cold water, then pour into the syrup.
Continue to simmer until the syrup thickens and becomes glossy (for another minute).
Remove from heat and let it cool completely — it will thicken further as it cools.
🌿 For Decoration:
Fresh berries
Pomegranate seeds
Rosemary sprigs
Powdered sugar for dusting
✨ Assembly:
Place the cooled meringue on a serving platter.
Gently spread the raspberry cream underneath the meringue base and into its center.
Carefully remove any excess cream from around the edges.
Decorate with berries or pomegranate seeds.
Drizzle generously with the mandarin syrup.
Garnish with rosemary sprigs and dust with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday look.

Result:
A light, crisp Pavlova with creamy raspberry filling and tangy mandarin syrup — a perfect balance of sweetness, freshness, and festive aroma.
Elegant, colorful, and full of winter cheer — the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table. 🎁