Stacked Pavlova Cake
Plus, a Q&A with Revel author Mariana Velásquez!
I thought this post would be about my absolute love of meringue and how I’ve made this Stacked Pavlova Cake from Mariana Velásquez’s book, Revel, three times. It is about that, but it is also about the people I baked the cakes for. This is exactly what Mariana’s book is about, sharing meals with friends and family, having a “lazy lunch” where we can all connect. Her philosophy of delivering love through food is a concept that hits right in my heart. Especially as I visit with friends before I move.
I was lucky enough to get Mariana to chat with me about her food journey and why she wrote this incredibly lush book about entertaining. She is also giving away copies of her book to YOU (more information below about entering to win a copy, it is FREE for all to enter). For my lovely paid “Extras” community, she has shared the Stacked Pavlova Cake recipe. I hope you all will join and come be extra!
A Cake Worthy of the Lady Brainers
For about 10 years this fabulous group of women has been meeting to support each other in business and all that life has presented, both good and bad. We call ourselves the Lady Brainers, because we’re all wicked smart! But, it is so much more than that. We’ve jumped in to help each other when the lift was too impossible to do alone. We celebrate all of our wins, which there were MANY, with bubbles and cake, of course.
If you watched my show, these ladies will be familiar, because they all said yes, without hesitation when I asked them to be on camera (some loved it, others tolerated me!). Saying goodbye to this group of women will never be a thing, but just leaving them physically feels like part of my foundation is shifting away from me. I will survive and even thrive, in great part, because of the person I became in the Lady Brainers. To the Stephanies, Kellee, Molly, Kim (our DJ), Eliesa and Ali, I love you ladies! xo
Making connections like this is so valuable. Finding generous, kind, smart, honest people to surround yourself with is such a gift and the occasions that we meet deserve a Stacked Pavlova Cake!
Mariana’s Stacked Pavlova Cake
As you know, meringue and pavlova are my love language, so it is no surprise that it is the recipe in Mariana’s new book, Revel*, that caught my eye. What is better than a pavlova with the baked meringue that is crispy on the outside and cakey on the inside, layered with a mascarpone whipped cream and fresh fruit? A bunch of them stacked on top of each other and decorated with adorable piped, crisp meringues and maybe even some edible gold or silver leaf. I also made a version with candied kumquats and sugared hazelnuts.
Win a Copy of Revel
Mariana was so kind to offer up two copies of her book, Revel, to my newsletter subscribers! Leave a comment below (available to paid subscribers only) or “like” this post with the heart at the top to be entered for a chance to win. Giveaway ends Tuesday July 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. central time. We will contact the winners via email. US addresses only.
Q&A: Mariana Velásquez, chef, food stylist, designer, and cookbook author
Q: Why did you decide to focus this book on hosting?
A: Honestly, because it’s where everything I love collides — food, flowers, the people I adore, a little chaos in the kitchen, and that one perfect moment when everyone finally sits down and exhales. After Colombiana, my previous book, I kept getting messages from readers sharing that they had prepared the entire menus of Chapter 3 “A La Mesa” where I celebrated regional complete menus, explaining the vibe, colors, music and culture of each place. Hosting felt like the natural next chapter — less about recipes on a page and more about the whole feeling of gathering. I also think we’ve gotten a little scared of having people over. I wanted to write the kind of book that takes the pressure off and reminds you that imperfect, generous, lived-in tables are the most beautiful ones.