This post may contain affiliate links.
The fruity, creamy classic British dessert that is Eton Mess is the ultimate make-at-home pud. It’s summery, impressive and indulgently divine. Here’s your simple 5-ingredient recipe that works every time.
When it comes to summer dessert recipes, Eton Mess has got to be the front runner.
It’s a classic but light dessert filled with whipped cream and strawberries with the crunchy chewiness of meringue, all layered together to make a show stopping dish to finish your meal off.
If you’re entertaining, get your ingredients ready and spend just minutes throwing these pretty individual desserts together.
Here we’re using ready-made meringues for speed. Shhh… no-one needs to know how totally easy it really is!
Why you’ll love this Easy Eton Mess recipe
⭐ Creamy, fruity dessert – a match made in heaven!
⭐️ Impressive for special dinners or summer BBQs
⭐️ No baking and SO EASY
Eton Mess Ingredients
- Meringue nests – I always use ready-made meringues for my Eton Mess because life is short, but feel free to make your own from scratch. Use 1 nest per person
- Double cream – This is also called ‘heavy cream’ or ‘whipping cream’ outside of the UK. See the recipe below for the required whipping consistency for this
- Icing sugar and vanilla extract – Small quantities go in with the cream for flavouring
- Strawberries – Use fresh ones. These will be finely chopped and mushed up for the dessert layer, and the rest will go on top, halved, to decorate
How to make Eton Mess
1. Whip your cream, sugar and vanilla together with a hand whisk or electric whisk until firm.
2. Hull your strawberries (remove the green stalk) and reserve some for toppings. With the rest, cut half into small pieces.
3. Put the remaining strawberries into a bowl and mash well with a fork, then mix the chopped fruit in together.
4. Crush the meringues into bite-sized pieces and combine with the cream mixture, then layer your Eton Mess in individual dessert bowls or glasses.
How to layer eton Mess
Spoon some strawberries into the bottom of each glass, then add the meringue and cream mix, followed by another layer or strawberries and then meringue and cream again.
Finish by topping with your saved strawberries, either whole or in half.
Storing
Eton Mess is best served fresh, however you can keep any leftovers in the fridge to enjoy later. Just be aware that the meringue will soften over time and won’t be quite as crunchy.
I wouldn’t recommend freezing Eton Mess as it’ll be too mushy and watery when defrosted. If you do want to try though, it would be best to freeze these as soon as you’ve made them up.
More traditional British desserts…
FAQs
You can certainly make up the components of Eton Mess ahead of time (so, whip your cream, chop up your meringues and strawberries etc), however I would recommend waiting until you’re about to serve to make up the layers of the Eton Mess for best results.
The meringues can become too chewy over time and the strawberries will become watery and mushy.
Yes, Eton Mess is gluten free. But, as always, check labels carefully.
I prefer to use fresh strawberries in Eton Mess, however you could use them if you defrost them thoroughly in a sieve or colander before you use them to allow the excess water to come out.
Eton Mess is traditionally made with strawberries but tastes delicious with other fruit too, so give it a go! Raspberries and blueberries would also work well, or a mixture of lots of berries.
One theory is that Eton Mess was named after a dessert was dropped (and then served up!) at a cricket match at the famous elite Eton College in England in the late 19th century.
Others dispute this idea though, and say it’s called that simply because it’s a mess when the ingredients are thrown together!
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Eton Mess {Super Easy Dessert}
Ingredients
- 4 Ready-made meringue nests
- 600 ml Double cream
- 50 g Icing sugar
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 500 g Strawberries
Instructions
- Whip the cream, icing sugar and vanilla with a hand whisk or electric whisk until it’s quite firm.
- Hull your strawberries (remove the green stalk) and reserve whole strawberries some for the toppings. With the rest, cut half into small pieces.
- Put the remaining strawberries into a bowl and mash well with a fork, then mix the chopped fruit in together. This should make a nice sauce.
- Crush the meringue lightly into bite-sized pieces and combine with the cream mixture with a spoon.
- Layer your Eton Mess with a spoon in individual dessert bowls or glasses: strawberries, then meringue/cream mix, followed by strawberries and cream mix again.
- Top with the saved strawberries.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my… this is unbelievable. Will definitely be making this again!