Eton Mess (Strawberries, Meringue and Cream)
In short: Crisp homemade meringue folded with whipped cream and ripe strawberries. A deliberately messy British summer dessert for any gathering. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Eton mess is a deliberately untidy summer dessert of crisp meringue, softly whipped cream and ripe strawberries. There is no wrong way to assemble it, which makes it forgiving for beginners and quick for guests. This version bakes the meringue from scratch so the pieces are crisp outside and chewy inside, and crushes a few berries into a sauce to ripple through the cream. Fold everything together at the last minute.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 120°C (250°F). Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- Whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl to stiff peaks. Add the sugar one tablespoon at a time, whisking well between each, until the meringue is thick and glossy and no grains of sugar can be felt when rubbed between your fingers.
- Whisk in the cornstarch and vinegar. Spread the meringue into a rough 20 cm (8 inch) round on the baking sheet, leaving the surface a little rough.
- Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes until crisp and pale. Turn off the oven and leave the meringue inside with the door shut until cool, about 1 hour.
- Slice a third of the strawberries and crush them with a fork with the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Leave for 10 minutes to release their juice. Halve or quarter the rest.
- Whip the cream with the vanilla to soft peaks. Break the meringue into chunky pieces.
- Just before serving, fold the meringue, cream and fresh strawberries together gently. Ripple through the crushed berries and spoon into glasses or a large bowl.
Tips
- Make sure the bowl and whisk are completely clean, because any trace of fat stops egg whites from whipping. Wiping them with a cut lemon helps.
- Fold in the meringue at the last minute, since it softens in the cream within about 30 minutes. Store-bought meringue nests are a fine shortcut, and you need about 6.
Questions and answers
What is Eton mess?
Eton mess is a British summer dessert of broken meringue, whipped cream and strawberries. The name refers to its deliberately messy look.
Can I make Eton mess ahead of time?
Bake the meringue up to a week ahead and store it in an airtight tin. Prepare the cream and berries a few hours ahead, and combine everything just before serving.
Can I use other fruit in Eton mess?
Yes. Raspberries, mixed berries, sliced peaches or mango all work well. Use ripe fruit for the best flavor.
How long does it take to make Eton Mess (Strawberries, Meringue and Cream)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Eton Mess (Strawberries, Meringue and Cream)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 40 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 45 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
