Adorable, sugar free pavlova nests are the perfect way to celebrate Easter with a festive and delicious dessert even if you're managing blood sugar.
Light and airy mini meringue nests traditionally filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit get a diabetic friendly makeover. Sugar-free, low carb alternatives and the portion-controlled size make these mini pavlovas ideal for Easter.
What Makes This Recipe Special
This Easter, celebrate with a dessert that caters to everyone! These Sugar-Free Mini Pavlovas are the perfect solution for those following low carb, keto, or sugar-conscious diets, as well as those managing diabetes.
Unlike traditional desserts laden with sugar, these delightful treats utilize sugar-free sweeteners like monk fruit, allulose, or stevia, offering a delightful sweetness without impacting blood sugar levels.
Several key features make these mini sugar free pavlova nests perfect for diabetics and anyone watching their sugar intake:
- Sugar Free Sweetener & Decorations: We use a sugar-free sweetener to create a sweet flavor without affecting blood sugar levels. Sugar free Jordan almonds or sugar free candy coated chocolate peanuts easy to find.
- Portion Control: The mini size allows for controlled enjoyment without overindulging, even if you decide to use regular Cadbury egg instead of sugar free ones (hard to find).
- Low-Carb: Meringue is naturally low in carbohydrates, making it a suitable option for diabetic diets.
Jump to:
- What Makes This Recipe Special
- Ingredients
- Glycemic Index Breakdown for this Combined Recipe
- How To Make Sugar Free Mini Pavlovas
- Tips for Success
- Substitutions and Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes & Articles
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Diabetes Friendly Recipes
- Diabetes Resources
- Sugar Free Mini Pavlova Nests
- Want To Save This Recipe?
Ingredients
Set your eggs, and cream cheese out so that they are all at room temperature when whipping them. It's much easier to separate the egg whites from the yolks when at room temperature also.
I used Swerve as the sweetener, but monkfruit blends work perfectly also.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Glycemic Index Breakdown for this Combined Recipe
The baked meringue nests have a glycemic index of 0, the whip cream and cream cheese filling have a glycemic index of 0 also.
The garnish of grated shavings of 76% dark, unsweetened chocolate (GI: 22) is one ounce or less for the entire recipe.
Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs (the regular sugar ones) have a glycemic index of about 55 per 100 grams, but there's only three per pavlova. You can forgo the Cadbury eggs though, and use sugar-free Jordan almonds.
How To Make Sugar Free Mini Pavlovas
Making meringue circles for pavlovas is easy as whipping. You'll be baking them low and slow, so plan to be at home for the two hour long drying (low temperature baking) that meringues require.
Additionally, be sure to completely cool the delicate meringues before you pipe the whipped filling into the centers.
Prepare The Sugar Free Meringue
- Preheat the oven to 175F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat mat that has 12 circles on it.
- Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks taking care to not get egg yolk mixed in. Save the egg yolks for making our lemon curd.
- Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites and whisk until foamy. Then add the sweetener and whip until glossy, stiff peaks form.
- Transfer the meringue to a large piping bag fitted with a large star tip (open or closed).
Pipe The Meringue Nests
- Pipe the meringue onto a silicone mat following the circle guidelines so they don't touch each other.
- Start with the bottom, swirling from the center and then back again to create a filled center with a double swirl for the outside of the circle.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven at 175F to dry for 11/2 - 2 hours. Don't open the oven door the first 30 minutes.
- Check the dryness of the meringues after 90 minutes. If too soft and springy, continue drying for another 30 minutes.
- When crisp and hollow feeling, remove the meringues to cool on a cooling rack.
Whip The Pavlova Filling
- While the meringue nests are cooling, prepare the whipped topping to fill the centers of each meringue.
- Measure the cold whipping cream, softened cream cheese, vanilla, and sweetener into a mixing bowl.
- Whip with a mixer until you get a fluffy, thick cream filling mixture. Be careful to not over mix.
Bake Meringues On Low Heat
- Transfer the whipped cream and cream cheese topping into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Squeeze a swirl of filling into the center or each meringue nest to create a mini pavlova.
Garnish With Shaved Dark Chocolate
- Decorate the nests with shaved or grated 76% dark chocolate, and optionally with three Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs. You can substitute sugar free Jordan Almonds or sugar free jelly beans instead though.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making any size of pavlova or egg white meringues:
- Use room temperature egg whites for optimal volume.
- Ensure your mixing bowl is completely clean and grease-free for the egg whites to whip properly. I spritz my bowl with Windex first, then wash it with hot water and detergent.
- Don't overmix the meringue once you add the sweetener, as it can become deflated.
- Be gentle when handling the meringues after baking, as they can be fragile.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious options when making this pavlova recipe.
- Sweetener: You can use any granulated sugar-free sweetener of your choice. Experiment to find one that suits your taste preference.
- Fruits: Feel free to swap out the Cadbury Chocolate Eggs for any raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries.
- Flavorings: Add a few drops of sugar-free almond or coconut extract to the whipped cream for an extra flavor boost.
Serving Suggestions
Sugar-Free Mini Pavlova Nests are perfect for Easter brunch, individual treats for children, or an Easter morning surprise. These light and airy sugar free meringue nests are a blank canvas for your creativity.
Fill them with colorful berries, sugar-free whipped cream, or even a dollop of sugar free chocolate mousse for a visually stunning and satisfying treat any time of the year as well.
Related Recipes & Articles
- Stir Fried Chicken and Green Beans
- Red Pepper Gouda Soup
- Sugar Free Blueberry Cheesecake
- Sugar Substitute Conversion Chart (with Free PDF!)
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this dish.
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- Russell Stover Sugar Free Chocolate Candy Coated Peanuts
- Half Sheet Silpat Mat - Perfect Cookie circles
- Large Rimmed Sheet Pans and Cooling Rack
- Jelly Belly Sugar Free Jelly Beans
- No Sugar Added Jordan Almonds
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover pavlova nests in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- These are not freezer friendly, as the meringue will lose its crisp texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cream of tartar helps stabilize the egg whites and achieve a greater volume. However, you can still make the pavlovas without it, but the peaks might not be as stiff.
No, you can substitute softened mascarpone, or even sour cream. Adding one of these to your heavy cream when whipping will stabilize your whip cream and prevent it from softening the meringue nests.
The pavlovas are done when they are dry and crisp to the touch and feel light and hollow.
Yes, you can make the pavlovas up to 2 days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. However, assemble and fill them with whipped cream and toppings just before serving to prevent the meringue nests from softening.
More Diabetes Friendly Recipes
Diabetes Resources
- American Diabetes Association: https://diabetes.org/
- International Diabetes Federation: https://idf.org/
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/managing-blood-sugar/a1c.html]
Sugar Free Mini Pavlova Nests
Equipment
- Silpat Baking Mat w Circle lines with 12 circles
Ingredients
For the Sugar Free Mini Meringue Nests
- 3 Large Egg whites at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon Cream of tartar
- ¼ cup Swerve or powdered monk fruit
For the Pavlova Filling
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup cream cheese softened regular or low fat
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Swerve or powdered monk fruit
Garnish Options
- 1 oz Dark chocolate grated 76% sugar free
- 36 pieces Cadbury Mini Easter Egg optional - or, use sugar free Jordan Almonds
Instructions
For The Mini Sugar Free Meringues
- Preheat the oven to 175℉. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a Silpat mat that has 12 circles on it.
- Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks taking care to not get egg yolk mixed in. PRO TIP: Save the egg yolks for making our lemon curd recipe.3 Large Egg whites
- Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites and whisk until foamy. Then add the sweetener and whip until glossy, stiff peaks form.½ teaspoon Cream of tartar, ¼ cup Swerve
- Transfer the meringue to a large piping bag fitted with a large star tip (open or closed) and pipe onto a silicone mat following the circle guidelines so they don't touch each other.
- Start with the bottom, swirling from the center and then back again to create a filled center with a double swirl for the outside of the circle.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven at 175F to dry for 11/2 - 2 hours. Don't open the oven door the first 30 minutes.
- Check the dryness of the meringues after 90 minutes. If too soft and springy, continue drying for another 30 minutes. When crisp and hollow feeling, remove the meringues to cool on a cooling rack.
For the Whipping Pavlova Filling
- While the meringue nests are cooling, prepare the whipped topping to fill the centers of each meringue.
- Measure the cold whipping cream, softened cream cheese, vanilla, and sweetener into a mixing bowl.½ cup heavy whipping cream, ½ cup cream cheese, ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract, 2 tablespoon Swerve
- Whip with a mixer until you get a fluffy, thick cream filling mixture. Be careful to not over mix.
- Transfer the whipped cream and cream cheese topping into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Squeeze a swirl of filling into the center or each meringue nest to create a mini pavlova.
- Decorate the nests with shaved or grated 76% dark chocolate, and optionally with three Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs. You can substitute sugar free Jordan Almonds or sugar free jelly beans instead though.1 oz Dark chocolate, 36 pieces Cadbury Mini Easter Egg
Notes
- Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs have an approximate glycemic index of 55.
- The GI and Net Carbs is calculated with 3 Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs per mini pavlova. You can reduce it more substituting sugar free candies, or not eating Cadbury ones. I could not find sugar free pastel chocolate eggs
- Good alternatives are pastel sugar free Jordan Almonds, or sugar free candy coated peanuts, sugar free Jelly Belly beans.
- Net Carbs without the Cadbury Mini Easter Eggs is 5.7 g.
- Use room temperature egg whites for optimal volume.
- Ensure your mixing bowl is completely clean and grease-free for the egg whites to whip properly. I spritz my bowl with Windex first, then wash it with hot water and detergent.
- Don't overmix the meringue once you add the sweetener, as it can become deflated.
- Be gentle when handling the meringues after baking, as they can be fragile
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