Eton Mess is the perfect dessert for summer evenings, with a taste that is fruity, not too sweet, and wonderfully refreshing. You’ll be wanting to make it at least once a week and yes, it’s super easy. No baking involved!
Are you ready to make this classic British dessert? Don the apron and let's get messy!
Why you'll love Eton mess
- Strawberry Eton Mess is the perfect summer dessert
- Mashed strawberries mixed with crumbled meringue tastes just fabulous
- This is such an easy recipe to put together
Equipment you'll need
There are a few key items you'll need for this recipe:
- Electric mixer – you'll need this to whip your cream to luscious perfection
- Mixing bowls – mix up your ingredients in medium and large mixing bowls
- Dessert dishes – serve this dessert up in style with elegant dessert dishes
- You need strawberries, meringue, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla paste for this recipe.
- Hull the strawberries and quarter them.
- Sprinkle the strawberries with sugar and let them rest for 10 minutes, while you prepare the rest of the dessert.
- Add the vanilla to the cream in a large mixing bowl.
- Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Build the Eton Mess and use your creative flair. Enjoy!
Popular substitutions
- Strawberries: Choose raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix of your favorite berries. Peaches or mangoes can also be used for a different flavor profile.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Coconut cream for a dairy-free version. You can also use Greek yogurt for a tangier and lighter option.
- Meringue Nests: Crushed macarons or angel food cake pieces for a different texture. Use vanilla meringue cookies for a vanilla flavor. For a gluten-free alternative, please ensure the meringue is gluten-free, or you can use gluten-free cookies.
- Powdered sugar: Replace granulated sugar with fine sugar if you prefer.
Variations
Chocolate Eton Mess
Add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the whipped cream for a chocolate twist, and sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top for extra indulgence.
Tropical Eton Mess
Substitute the strawberries with tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. Add some toasted coconut flakes for extra texture.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutty Eton Mess
Sprinkle toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios over the top for a nutty crunch that adds depth to the dessert.
Citrus Eton Mess
For a refreshing citrus note, add lemon zest to the whipped cream. You can also mix in some segments of fresh citrus fruit.
Boozy Eton Mess
Gently fold in 1-2 tablespoons of liqueur, such as Grand Marnier, Bailey's, Chambord, or Amaretto, into the whipped cream for an adult dessert version.
What is Eton Mess?
Eton Mess is a classic British dessert, which consists of cut fruit, freshly whipped cream, and with pieces of meringue thrown in. My Eton Mess is made out of freshly cut strawberries.
The term "mess" comes from the way it is put together. Usually, you throw everything together on a plate or in a clear cup, and yes, it looks like a mess! Presentation is not the most important thing when it comes to this dessert. It’s the taste that leaves you with a smile on your face.
What ingredients does an Eton Mess contain?
A strawberry mixture or a mix of other fruits with meringue, whipped cream and sugar.
Where did Eton Mess originate?
Surprise, surprise, Eton Mess is originally from the town Eton in the UK. More specifically, from Eton College.
Some say, that Eton Mess was discovered there by accident during an annual cricket match, back in the early 1900’s. Apparently, someone had dropped their meringue on the floor and served it anyway. Others say that the Eton Mess can be credited to a Labrador dog who accidentally sat on someone’s picnic basket, crushing everything inside.
Can I use pre-made meringue for Eton Mess?
For this recipe, you can either purchase pre-made meringue or you can make it yourself. Alternatively, you can use homemade meringue cookies or store-bought meringue cookies.
Generally, I recommend using fresh meringue for the Eton Mess. However, I completely understand if you decide to go for the pre-made stuff. If you do decide to buy the meringue, then be careful in terms of where you buy it. Sometimes, it’s best to buy it directly in the bakery. The latter makes it super fresh, so there is almost no difference in taste. I can’t say the same for the supermarket counterpart.
If you make your own, ensure you use a clean, large bowl to get those all-important stiff peaks. Wipe the bowl with lemon juice and kitchen paper to be sure.
What are the best strawberries for Eton Mess?
The original Eton Mess recipe calls for strawberries. Obviously, if you buy fresh strawberries from the farmer’s market, your dessert will have tons of fresh flavour. No need to add too much icing sugar because you’ll want to preserve the fresh taste of the strawberries. With store-bought strawberries, you’ll need to add more sugar, in my opinion. Personally, I don’t like when there is too much sugar in desserts. It throws off the balance of flavours.
What's the best cream to use for Eton Mess?
Fresh, heavy whipping cream is an absolute must for this recipe. You want that nice fluffy texture in your dessert, something that stuff from a can simply won't achieve.
To get the perfect whipped cream, you’ll need to whip it with an electric mixer. Wait until there are soft peaks forming on top. Just be careful not to over-whip otherwise you’ll have butter! If you over-whip, no worries, just add a little bit of liquid cream and mix gently with a spatula. Eventually, the lumps should disappear.
How do you add extra flavor to an Eton Mess?
The beauty of making an Eton Mess is that it is super versatile. You can spice it up with a dash of port, rum, cognac, or brandy very easily. Just don’t add too much. I think a little bit of port is a perfect addition. If you're not a fan of alcohol, then you can add any type of cordial. Again, don’t add too much otherwise the Eton Mess will become rather syrupy and soggy.
I recommend adding a strawberry coulis or any fruit curd to the mixture if you wish for the dessert to have extra flavor. Some people add fruit jam and are perfectly happy with the result. I just like to add more fresh strawberries.
More wonderful strawberry dessert recipes
Once you've made this classic British strawberry dessert, delve into more amazing strawberry recipes:
- Strawberry coulis – a classic sweet sauce that is versatile and full of flavor
- Strawberry Cheesecake – creamy, rich, and bursting with summer flavor, this no bake cheesecake recipe is the perfect pudding for gatherings
- Strawberry Flan – a deliciosuly flaky base with an incredible custard filling and strawberry sauce topping
- Strawberry blackberry banana smoothie – this lusciously thick and fruity smoothie tastes like a dream
- Strawberry curd – this smooth and flavorful strawberry curd is the ideal topping for desserts and makes for a delicious addition to breakfast and brunch dishes
📖 Recipe
Eton Mess Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Eton Mess consists of meringue, whipped cream, fresh fruit and a sweet fruit sauce or sugar, all mixed together. Top with strawberries and Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 ready-made meringue nests, roughly crushed
- fresh mint leaves, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the halved strawberries with the granulated sugar. Toss to coat the strawberries evenly, then let them sit for 10-15 minutes. This allows the strawberries to release their juices and become slightly softened.
- Pour the heavy whipping cream into a large mixing bowl and add the vanilla extract. Whisk the cream with an electric mixer or a whisk until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip; you want the cream to be light and airy.
- Gently fold the sugared strawberries and their juices into the whipped cream. Add the crushed meringue nests and fold again, being careful not to overmix. The meringue should remain slightly crunchy for texture.
- Spoon the mixture into serving bowls or glasses. If desired, garnish with extra halved strawberries and a few fresh mint leaves.
- Serve the Eton Mess immediately for the best texture, as the meringue will soften over time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 307
- Sugar: 23.6 g
- Sodium: 104.6 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 25.6 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 67.8 mg
Claire Little
ice cream
Fozia Akhtar
Yummy Eton Mess
Robyn Clarke
Malva pudding(I'm South African too :-))
ADEINNE TONNER
My favourite dessert has to be banana cream pie
Rich Tyler
New York Cheesecake
Jo Young
I love a melt in the middle chocolate fondant. I've subbed!
Heather Haigh
I think it would be a gooey chocolate pud with cream
Alison Johnson
Cheesecake. Any kind of cheesecake!
Lydia A
Sticky toffee pudding has got to be my favourite!
Zoe Payne
salted caramel brownies with vanilla ice cream
Jodie A Green
has to be black forest gateau for me
Suzanne Jackson
I like tirimasu
Tracey Belcher
I love home-made ice-cream desserts
Solange
Chocolate Fudge Cake.
Elizabeth
It's been positively ages since I've made Eton Mess, I'll have to make a batch soon - gosh it looks so good!
Sus // roughmeasures.com
Eton Mess is such a lovely classic summer treat. Your photos make it even more delicious too.
Jemma
You can't go wrong with an eton mess. This looks yummy!
cheryl hadfield
I love preparing dessert with my family, making everyone involved is so much more fun