Vacherin Dessert Recipe: French Meringue and Berry Classic 2026

Vacherin is a French dessert that needs very little introduction because it wins everyone over at first glance. It is an irresistible combination of dry meringue, ice cream, whipped cream and red berries that will make you look like a star at any celebration.

This classic of French pastry is a close cousin of the Pavlova, since both share that same mix of crisp meringue, cream and berries. Vacherin goes one step further by adding ice cream, which turns it into a truly incredible dessert.

You will find many versions of vacherin out there. By changing the flavor of the ice cream and the fruit, you can create extraordinary combinations; vanilla ice cream with passion fruit instead of red berries, for example, is simply exquisite.

The only catch is that you have to assemble it right before serving, so the ice cream does not melt and the meringue keeps its crunch.

Ingredients for Vacherin

These quantities make 10 servings of this French dessert.

• 3 medium egg whites
• 120 g white sugar
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 150 g ice cream, flavor of your choice
• 200 g whipped cream
• 100 g red berries, to taste, for decorating

How to Make Vacherin Step by Step

1. Whip the meringue

Start by preheating the oven to 100 °C with top and bottom heat. Put the 3 medium egg whites, 120 grams of white sugar and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a bowl and whip the whites to stiff peaks.

2. Draw the circles

Prepare a sheet of parchment paper for baking and draw 3 circles of 15 cm on it. You can use the removable base of any mold you have at home as a guide. Turn the paper over so the dessert does not touch the ink and place it on a baking tray.

3. Bake the meringue

Spread the meringue over each of the circles you drew earlier. Take them to the oven and bake at 100 °C for about 1 hour, until the meringue has dried out.

4. Let it cool

Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on the tray.

5. Shape the ice cream

To make assembling the vacherin easier later, put 150 grams of ice cream in a 15 cm diameter mold, smooth the surface and return it to the freezer until it is frozen again.

6. First meringue and cream layer

Assemble the dessert just before serving. Place one meringue disc on the presentation plate and add 100 grams of whipped cream.

7. Add the ice cream

Cover with another meringue disc and the ice cream.

8. Finish and decorate

Finish by placing the third and final meringue disc and the remaining 100 grams of whipped cream. Decorate with 100 grams of red berries to taste.

9. Serve immediately

Serve the vacherin right away so the ice cream stays firm and the meringue stays crisp.

Tips for the Best Vacherin

Change the flavors

There are many versions of vacherin, and swapping the ice cream flavor and the fruit opens up extraordinary combinations. Vanilla ice cream with passion fruit instead of red berries, for instance, makes an exquisite pairing.

Assemble at the last minute

The only downside of this sweet is that it must be assembled just before serving. That way the ice cream will not melt and the meringue will keep its crunch.

Keep the meringue dry

Bake the discs at a low temperature until they are fully dried out, and let them cool completely on the tray. A well-dried meringue is what gives the vacherin its signature crisp texture.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado