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.

Why is Eton Mess called Eton Mess? ›

The generally-accepted story is that the strawberry, meringue and cream pudding was dropped at an Eton v Harrow cricket match in the late 19th century. Rather than waste the food, it was simply scooped up off the floor and served, smashed to bits, in individual bowls.

Do you put ice cream in Eton Mess? ›

Just toss summer berries with a little sugar and a splash of St-Germain, crumble a few of your finest store-bought meringues, and layer the fruit and cookies with a generous amount of vanilla and strawberry ice cream.

What are some fun facts about Eton Mess? ›

It is believed Eton Mess was first served at a cricket match between Eton and Harrow, and has continued to be served at this annual match at Lords ever since. In the 1930s, the sweet treat had become so popular, it was also being served in the school's tuck shop.

Can you use double cream instead of whipping cream? ›

Double cream is a popular dairy product in Britain and Europe and it's as rich as it sounds. What Is Light 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 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.

What is the girl equivalent to Eton? ›

In The UK perhaps the closest equivalent to Eton for girls is the boarding school Cheltenham Ladies College established in 1954 in the English county of Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham.

What do you call someone from Eton? ›

Eto·​ni·​an ē-ˈtō-nē-ən. : a student or former student of Eton College. Etonian adjective.

What is the difference between Eton Mess and pavlova? ›

Both have a meringue base, whipped cream and some kind of fruit or sauce. It's really just how it's presented that is different. Eton Mess is a more relaxed version of a pavlova as you can use broken pieces of meringues. It is served in a glass so you can be more generous with whipped cream, sauces etc.

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.

Why put eggs in ice cream? ›

Eggs are used in ice cream to add a rich flavor and color, in- hibit ice crystallization, and also to help stabilize or emulsify the fat and liquid so the resulting product is smooth and creamy. Commercial manufacturers use pasteurized eggs, stabilizers, and other ingredients to produce a safe and acceptable product.

Why do they put gum in ice cream? ›

All commercially-sold ice cream need an additive that thickens and stabilises so it can be stored without the various ingredients separating. Of the various options for doing this, guar gum ticks all the right boxes as a plant-based, natural ingredient with a decent nutritional profile.

Who first made Eton Mess? ›

Place of Origin

Queen Victoria attended a garden party the evening before Prince George was to wed Princess May of Teck. The year was 1893, and the event spawned the first written mention of a dish called “Eton Mess aux Fraises,” recorded by historian Arthur Beavan.

What religion is Eton? ›

preparing the boys for the difficult times and displaying the accessible nature of the Christian faith, as a place of refuge and forgiveness. Services in both College and Lower Chapels follow the practice of the Church of England, with a mix of morning prayer, evensong and choral communion.

Has a girl ever gone to Eton? ›

Until now, there were just a select handful of 'Old Etoniennes' among its alumni: 16 women who attended the school for one term in 1983, as they underwent preparations for their Oxbridge entrance exams.

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.

How is Eton Mess pronounced? ›

Break 'eton mess' down into sounds: [EE] + [TUHN MES] - say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

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