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

Can you buy ready made Eton Mess? ›

Tesco Finest Eton Mess Dessert 515G.

What is the difference between pavlova and Eton Mess? ›

The flavors and textures of the British Eton mess are nearly the same, but the presentation is dressed down. In contrast to the picture-perfect pavlova, the dégagé Eton mess is served in a bowl or small jar with a spoon rather than on a dessert plate with a fork.

Why was it called Eton Mess? ›

The legend, as The Runnymede Hotel details, is that the dish was created during a cricket match at Eton College, a fee-charging boarding school attended by sons of the upper classes, in the 1920s. A strawberry pavlova was made to celebrate the match, but a Labrador squashed it.

What does Eton Mess taste like? ›

Eton Mess is a crunchy meringue layered with soft whipped cream and juicy strawberries. It tastes like clouds and it's super delicious to eat!

Where can I buy frozen Eton Mess? ›

ASDA Scrummy Strawberry Eton Mess Dessert 428g - ASDA Groceries.

What supermarket sells Eton Mess? ›

Eton mess | Sainsbury's. Select an option: Christmas. Beef, lamb and pork.

Why does pavlova flop? ›

The extra air expands in the oven and can overstretch the cells of whisked egg white, causing them to break and the meringue to collapse. Whisk the egg whites until they reach peaks where the tip just flops over, then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time.

What meringue holds the best? ›

Italian meringue is generally considered to be the most stable of the meringues (which makes it suitable for making frosting too), but also, the most difficult to make of the three meringue types.

What is the most complicated meringue? ›

Italian Meringue Recipe

This type of meringue is commonly known as the most challenging of the three to master, but with the right technique you can create delicious desserts topped with this fluffy Italian treat. Like most meringue recipes, Italian meringue starts with sugar, water and egg whites.

What are some interesting 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.

What does pop mean at Eton? ›

Pop. The body of senior prefects, more properly known as The Eton Society. Its likely origin comes from the fact that boys used to meet above Mrs Hatton's lollypop shop on the High Street, and 'popina' is Latin for a shop that sells food.

Why is Eton so special? ›

Founded way back in 1441, Eton College still has numerous buildings which have been standing since that period, and as such the college is steeped in rich history. The school once housed numerous priceless religious artefacts until the current chapel and cloisters were finished in the late 15th century.

What is the pink Baileys Eton mess? ›

Bailey's Limited Edition Eton Mess blends irresistible original Irish Cream with flavours of juicy strawberries & raspberries, meringue & whipped cream to create smooth and creamy drink.

Who invented the Eton Mess? ›

Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or other berries, meringue, and whipped cream. First mentioned in print in 1893, it is commonly believed to originate from Eton College and is served at the annual cricket match against the pupils of Harrow School.

Do they still make angel delight? ›

Angel Delight is currently sold in four flavours: strawberry, butterscotch, chocolate and banana.

Can you eat Eton Mess the next day? ›

I recommend making this Eton Mess recipe just before you want to eat it. An hour is all it needs in the fridge, but if it is left too long, the meringues will go soft and blend into the cream. And you absolutely want to have pops of crisp meringue in each bite! Consuming it within 12 hours is best.

What is in Kelly's Berry Eton Mess? ›

Cream Dairy Ice Cream Rippled with Raspberry Compote and Strawberry Pieces and Topped with Meringue Pieces.

Which country made Eton Mess? ›

Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or other berries, meringue, and whipped cream. First mentioned in print in 1893, it is commonly believed to originate from Eton College and is served at the annual cricket match against the pupils of Harrow School.

What is Eton Mess made of? ›

A traditional Eton Mess consists of a mixture of strawberries, broken pieces of meringue and whipped cream. It is also sometimes served with bananas or other pieces of soft fruit too. Of all the stories relating to the origins of Eton Mess, it's the story of the dog and the pavlova that is the most commonly recounted.

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