Eton Mess is a classic British dessert served in the summertime, and it's one of my all-time favorite summer desserts. An easy Eton Mess recipe is a summer essential for warmer weather, and what's more, it is such a simple summer dessert to make.
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What is Eton Mess?
Strawberry Eton Mess is made from crunchy, light meringue cookies (or meringue kisses), whipped heavy cream, and sweet summer strawberries. You pile it high and mash it all together, making a dish that might not look neat but certainly looks appetizing. It is one of the best summer dinner party desserts, is picnic-friendly, and is very easy to make in advance. This easy Eton Mess recipe can be assembled quickly at the last minute, and meringue can also be frozen if you want to prepare it quickly.
History of Eton Mess
As the story goes, Eton Mess was always served at the annual summer cricket match between British schools Eton and Harrow. Apparently, it dates back to the 1890s, and I am not surprised it has stuck around so long, given how delicious it is. Make this English dessert for the coronation of King Charles III this summer when we will all be having garden parties, hopefully in the sunshine (although you never know in the UK).
Easy Eton Mess Recipe
Eton Mess is one of those traditional British foods everyone must try, especially on summer days. Here is my easy Eton Mess recipe that breaks it down into step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients
- Fine sugar: Use fine sugar or caster sugar for the best meringue.
- Egg whites: If possible, don't use brand new, super fresh eggs for meringue, as you will get better results using aged eggs. Take care when separating the whites from the yolks; even a small amount of fat in the bowl will result in a failed meringue.
- White wine vinegar: I recommend wiping down the whisk attachments and bowl with vinegar before making meringue; it helps give it more stability.
- Powdered food coloring: I love making pink meringues for Eton Mess as it looks pretty, so I add a small amount of food coloring to my meringue mixture. I only ever use good quality powdered food coloring, as it has the least effect on the consistency of the meringue.
- Strawberries: Fresh summer strawberries are the best!
- Heavy cream: Use high-quality cream for the best Eton Mess.
- Vanilla extract: I like to flavor the cream with a touch of vanilla to add a nice depth of flavor.
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities and instructions.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 145 degrees Celsius / 295 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a large oven tray lined with baking parchment paper.
- Separate the egg whites into a large mixing bowl.
- Whip the egg whites with an electric hand whisk until they turn white and form stiff peaks.
- Gradually add the sugar a tablespoon at a time whilst continuing to whisk as the meringue becomes glossy. Add the powdered food coloring at the end.
- Spoon the mixture into a piping bag and cut 1 inch from the tip.
- Pipe meringue kisses onto the lined baking tray, leaving a small gap between them as they will expand slightly as they bake.
Top tip
I do not recommend using cartons of store-bought ready-separated egg whites to make meringue. I have found it never whisks as well and doesn't taste the same.
How to bake meringue cookies
- Bake meringue cookies for 20 minutes.
- Turn the oven off but do not open it.
- Allow the pink meringue kisses to cool completely and dry out whilst still inside the oven for at least 2 hours.
How to assemble an Eton Mess
- Whip heavy cream and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until it is thick and gloopy but not stiff.
- Core and slice up the fresh strawberries.
- Assemble Eton Mess by crumbling some of the meringue cookies over whipped cream in serving bowls. Add fresh strawberries and whole meringue cookies on top.
Wine pairing for Eton Mess
Traditional Eton Mess is a sweet summer dessert with high acidity but also light and fruity, so we need to wine pair it carefully. A sweeter prosecco or lighter dessert wine like a Sauternes will work well.
Eton Mess variations
The great thing about serving Eton Mess is that you can put your own twist on it. Here are a few options for changing up this easy Eton Mess recipe to suit you.
- Lighter - instead of double cream, use plain yogurt for a lighter, tangy dessert with fewer calories.
- Winter - If making this dessert in wintertime, try it with tangerines instead.
- Berry blast - Use other summer fruits like raspberries and blueberries.
- Saucy: Blend the strawberries with lemon juice and powdered sugar to make a coulis to pour over the top.
- Deluxe - add some shaved white chocolate curls on top.
Why not double up on the strawberry these and serve Eton Mess with a fresh strawberry mojito?
Equipment for easy Eton Mess recipe
You will need an electric hand whisk or a stand mixer to make the meringue and the whipped cream, an oven tray, and several mixing bowls.
I definitely feel the benefits of using a counter-based stand mixer, as it means you can get on with other things at the same time! But I often find that it doesn't quite get to the egg white at the bottom of the bowl, so I still generally use an electric hand whisk to make meringue.
Storage
Once baked, meringue will keep for up to three weeks in an airtight container, and you can also freeze meringue to use at a later date.
Once assembled, Eton Mess is best eaten straight away. If you have any components left over, keep them in the fridge separately.
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📖 Recipe
Eton Mess
Equipment
- 1 Electric hand whisk (or stand mixer)
- 1 Greaseproof paper
Ingredients
- 3 Egg whites (large)
- 180 grams (1 cup - 1 tbsp) Fine sugar (caster)
- 500 ml (2 cups) Heavy cream
- 600 grams (4 cups) Strawberries
Instructions
Meringue cookies
- Separate the egg whites into a large mixing bowl.
- Whip the egg whites with an electric hand whisk until they turn white and form stiff peaks.
- Gradually add the sugar a tablespoon at a time whilst continuing to whisk as the meringue becomes glossy. Add the powdered food coloring at the end.
- Spoon the mixture into a piping bag and cut 1 inch from the tip.
- Pipe meringue kisses onto the lined baking tray. Leave a small gap in between as they will expand slightly as they bake.
Baking meringue
- Bake meringue cookies for 20 minutes. Turn the oven off but do not open it. Allow the pink meringue kisses to cool completely and dry out whilst still inside the oven for at least 2 hours.
Assemble Eton Mess
- Whip heavy cream and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until it is thick and gloopy but not stiff. Core and slice up the fresh strawberries.
- Assemble Eton Mess by crumbling some of the meringue cookies over whipped cream in serving bowls. Add fresh strawberries and whole meringue cookies on top.
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