The only Eton Mess recipes you'll ever need (2024)

Whether its creation was a happy accident or divine design, this thoroughly English dessert is heaven in a bowl.

Nov 09, 2021 12:00am

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  • 35 mins preparation
  • 50 mins cooking plus cooling, standing
  • Serves 10
  • The only Eton Mess recipes you'll ever need (1)

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The Eton mess, one of England's best-loved and prettiest desserts, is an absolute joy to eat. Its sublime proportions of crumbled crisp meringue, softly whipped cream and marinated strawberries don't need further embellishment - the beauty of this delicate dessert is in its simplicity.

There are many tales about the origins of Eton mess: one involves an excited labrador sitting on a pavlova at an Eton ceremony; another, a bumpy car ride muddling a strawberry and meringue dessert en-route to an Eton cricket match. Better authority on the matter comes from food historians Robin Weir and Caroline Liddell. In their book Recipes from the Dairy, they write this most British of British desserts originated at Eton's mess hall in the 1930s. Back then it was served as a bowl of bananas or strawberries mixed with ice-cream or cream. The meringue was a later addition - and a very good one at that.

It's not an Eton mess without meringues, and the trick to making great meringues is patience. To ensure a perfect crisp crust, always leave them to cool in the oven after baking. And if you can avoid the temptation to eat them on their own, you can always make the meringues in advance: they'll keep for a few days stored in an airtight container.

In our recipe, we've used raspberries as well as strawberries. This sort of dessert is open to flavour variations, so be creative and use whatever fruit is most fragrant at the time. Apricots would be wonderful, as would plums, and any type of berry is good at Christmas time. And for a lovely fresh, slightly tart note, we've added a little crème fraîche to the whipped cream.

Whether they're folded or layered, when all the Eton mess elements are piled high in a beautiful glass serving bowl, this classic dessert makes the perfect sweet finish for late-summer entertaining.

Want more Christmas desserts?

Ingredients

  • 750 gm strawberries, quartered, plus extra to serve
  • 110 gm (½ cup) caster sugar
  • 200 ml thickened cream, lightly whisked
  • 125 gm crème fraîche
  • 55 gm (½ cup) pure icing sugar, sieved
  • Scraped seeds of ½ vanilla bean
  • 125 gm raspberries

Meringues

  • 100 gm eggwhite (about 3 eggs)
  • 100 gm caster sugar
  • 100 gm pure icing sugar, sieved
  • 15 gm cornflour

Method

  • 1

    For meringues, preheat oven to 120C. Whisk eggwhite and a pinch of salt in an electric mixer until firm peaks form (3-4 minutes). With motor running, gradually add caster sugar and whisk until thick and glossy (2-3 minutes). Sieve icing sugar and cornflour over, fold to combine, then spoon 8cm-diameter mounds onto oven trays lined with baking paper. Bake until meringues lift easily from trays and are crisp but not coloured (45-50 minutes), then turn off oven and cool completely in oven.

  • 2

    Meanwhile, toss strawberries and caster sugar in a large bowl to combine, then set aside until juices begin to seep (20 minutes).

  • 3

    Whisk cream, crème fraîche, icing sugar and vanilla seeds together in a separate large bowl until soft peaks form. Scatter a quarter of the strawberries in the base of a 3-litre serving bowl, spread with a quarter of the cream mixture, and coarsely crumble a quarter of the meringue over the top. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.

  • 4

    Scatter Eton mess with raspberries and extra strawberries and serve.

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The only Eton Mess recipes you'll ever need (2024)

FAQs

What ingredients does an Eton Mess contain? ›

Eton mess is a combination of just three ingredients: meringue, strawberries, and whipped cream. Think of it as a deconstructed strawberry shortcake — crunchy meringue cookies stand in as a delicious alternative to cake, and instead of stacking, you get to toss everything together.

Can you buy ready made Eton Mess? ›

Tesco Finest Eton Mess Dessert 515G.

What does Eton Mess taste like? ›

Eton Mess is an easy and classic British Dessert that's made with strawberries, whipped cream, and meringue cookies. The flavor is so bright and the strawberry syrup cuts the sweetness perfectly. It comes together quickly and is always a crowd-pleasing summer dessert.

Why is my Eton Mess runny? ›

I don't recommend freezing Eton mess. The meringues will lose their texture when thawed and the berries and cream will become watery. A better option is making all of the elements ahead and assembling them when ready to eat.

What is the US equivalent to double cream? ›

The British use double cream in recipes the way we use heavy cream or whipping cream here in the US, but they also allow it to accompany dessert the way we might use ice cream.

Can you use double cream instead of whipping cream? ›

What can I use instead of whipping cream in the UK? - Quora. Double Cream:Double cream, also known as heavy cream in some countries, has a higher fat content than whipping cream, making it suitable for whipping and incorporating air into desserts. It can be used as a substitute for whipping cream in most recipes.

Can you eat eton mess the next day? ›

How long do the Eton Mess Pots last? They are best served immediately, but they will last in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Which country made Eton mess? ›

Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or other berries, meringue, and whipped cream. First mentioned in print in 1893, it is commonly believed to originate from Eton College and is served at the annual cricket match against the pupils of Harrow School.

Does Tesco sell Eton Mess? ›

Tesco Finest Raspberry Eton Mess Ice Cream Tub 480ml - Tesco Groceries.

What flavor is Baileys Eton mess? ›

Indulge in a delicious flavour mix of creamy meringue and summer berry flavours of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry. Baileys Eton Mess is best enjoyed over ice, poured over an Eton Mess, or a delicious Eton Mess Martini co*cktail for the ultimate summer indulgent taste of summer!

What is the difference between Eton Mess and pavlova? ›

The finished pavlova is topped with whipped cream and can be dressed with fresh fruit or lemon curd. An Eton mess exists somewhere between a fruit-topped meringue pavlova and a fruit fool, a fruit purée folded into whipped cream.

Why do they call it Eton Mess? ›

The legend, as The Runnymede Hotel details, is that the dish was created during a cricket match at Eton College, a fee-charging boarding school attended by sons of the upper classes, in the 1920s. A strawberry pavlova was made to celebrate the match, but a Labrador squashed it.

Do you put cream of tartar in meringue? ›

With their crispy exteriors and their marshmallow-like interiors, who doesn't love a meringue? And thanks to a little cream of tartar, your egg whites will whip up perfectly every time. Cream of tartar helps to stabilize the meringue batter, so it bakes into an airy, lofty cake.

When to add sugar to meringue? ›

Slowly stream in the sugar after the egg whites have been whipping for about 10 seconds. Add the sugar in thirds: 1/3 when the whites are a very pale yellow (about 10 seconds in), 1/3 when the whites begin to foam, and 1/3 just before the whites reach a soft peak. Add all of the sugar at once.

What happens if you over whip meringue? ›

Over whip the egg whites and you risk making them too firm and they will risk losing the moisture that they hold. This will affect your meringue's crispness, as well as making it more likely to collapse or weep beads of sugar. As my meringue guru Gary Mehigan advises: “If you over whip the egg whites you cannot fix it.

Why is it called Eton Mess? ›

The legend, as The Runnymede Hotel details, is that the dish was created during a cricket match at Eton College, a fee-charging boarding school attended by sons of the upper classes, in the 1920s. A strawberry pavlova was made to celebrate the match, but a Labrador squashed it.

What is the pink Baileys Eton mess? ›

Baileys Eton Mess Limited Edition blends irresistible original Baileys Irish Cream with flavours of juicy strawberries & raspberries, meringue & whipped cream to create smooth and creamy drink. Indulge in a delicious flavour mix of creamy meringue and summer berry flavours of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry.

What is the British prime minister's favorite dessert? ›

Discover the iconic British dessert, Eton Mess, loved by prime ministers. Indulge in the delicious combination of meringue, cream, and fresh strawberries. Try this decadent treat and escape the worries of the world.

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