Eton mess is the quintessential British Summertime dessert. With just 3 main ingredients – fresh strawberries, softly whipped cream and crumbled meringue – this is a quick and easy sweet treat that takes minutes to prepare.
If you’ve never tried this classic recipe for Eton Mess, you really must! It’s the simplest and easiest Summer dessert I can think of and it is loved by people of all ages.
What is Eton mess made of?
Eton mess comprises 3 simple ingredients – fresh strawberries, softly whipped cream and crumbled meringue.
This classic Summer no bake dessert is proof that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to produce a fantastic tasting sweet treat.
I macerate the strawberries in a little sugar and vanilla extract before adding them to the cream and meringue so they soften a little and release all those delicious juices.
If you love strawberries and meringue, you must try these amazing Eton Mess cupcakes!
Ingredient liST
- Fresh Strawberries. I use locally grown Scottish strawberries which taste out of this world. I only buy strawberries in the Summer time – the imported ones just don’t compare. This means I only eat strawberries in the Summer months, but they are so worth the wait.
- Caster (superfine) sugar
- best quality vanilla extract (no artificial essence, I beg you) or vanilla bean paste
- Double (heavy) cream
- Home made or shop bought meringues. If you’re short on time, shop bought meringues are perfectly fine. I usually keep a box on hand during the Summer so I can whip up this pudding any time I like.
how to make eton mess
Scroll to the bottom of the post to find a printable recipe card with ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
1- Macerate the strawberries. Chop the strawberries into quarters and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle over the sugar and the vanilla extract. Stir lightly to combine, then cover the bowl and leave for around 10 minutes, or longer if you like.
2 – Whip the cream. Place the double cream in a large bowl and add a few drops of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Whip the cream to soft peaks. I prefer to slightly under-whip the cream – you need it to hold a peak on the end of the whisk, but it shouldn’t be too stiff.
3 – Add the fruit and meringue. Stir in the strawberries along with any juice sitting in the bottom of the bowl (it would be a crime to waste it – it’s delicious) and the meringues. I simply crush the meringue into rubble with my hands.
It really is child’s play and very satisfying to make. Spoon into serving glasses and serve as soon as possible.
Can you make Eton mess in advance?
Eton Mess is best made as last minute as possible, but if preparing it ahead would make life easier, it will be fine in the fridge for around an hour.
If it’s stored any longer, the cream will begin to separate and the meringue will start to dissolve and weep. It will still be perfectly edible, but won’t taste quite as good. Luckily, it takes mere minutes to make so it’s not really an issue.
Can i make it with different fruit?
Yes absolutely. While strawberries are the classic choice, You could use any soft berries you like. Blackberries would also work well for a slightly sharper, less sweet version.
If you use a really sharp fruit like gooseberries or redcurrants, you will need to add more sugar. How much really depends on how sharp the fruit is, so it’s difficult to give an exact amount.
My cream won’t whip!
If your cream won’t whip up, it may not be cold enough. If your kitchen is very warm, place the cream, bowl and whisk in the fridge for 10 minutes before whipping.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THIS RECIPE SERVE?
This recipe is enough for four people. It’s quite sweet, so you could actually serve it in smaller dishes and make it stretch further if needed.
If you feel like making something to serve on the side, it’s lovely with some Scottish shortbread or brandy snaps.
More easy desserts that are perfect for Summer Time
- Banoffee Pie (bananas, caramel and cream!)
Did you make this recipe?
I hope you loved it! Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below. Don’t forget to rate the recipe by clicking on the stars in the recipe card. Thank you!
Eton Mess Recipe
Eton mess is the quintessential British Summertime dessert. With just 3 main ingredients - Fresh strawberries, softly whipped cream and crumbled meringue - this is a quick and easy sweet treat that takes just a few minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
- 300g fresh strawberries
- 50g caster sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 400ml double cream
- a few drops vanilla extract for the cream
- 75g crushed meringue nests
- extra strawberries for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Chop up the strawberries into quarters and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle over the caster sugar and add the vanilla extract. Give the strawberries a stir and leave to macerate for about 10 minutes or so.
- Pour the cream into a large bowl and add a few drops of vanilla extract. Lightly whip to soft peaks, then add the strawberries and crumble in the meringues.
- Spoon into serving glasses, top with fresh strawberries and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 509Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 2gSugar: 34gProtein: 4g
Calories and Nutritional information are calculated by a third party application and should be used as indicative figures only.
Love Eton Mess