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

By

  • 35 mins preparation
  • 50 mins cooking plus cooling, standing
  • Serves 10
  • The only Eton Mess recipes you'll ever need (1)

    Print

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.

The Latest from Gourmet Traveller

  • Travel NewsOur top picks of hotels with the best views of Vivid Sydney 2024

    Yesterday 1:00pm

  • CruisesItaly by Sea: On board the revamped luxury ship Crystal Serenity

    Yesterday 5:00am

  • EntertainingBest whisky glasses to buy for sophisticated dram sipping

    Yesterday 3:00am

  • Restaurant NewsComing soon: Ormeggio team to open new restaurant Postino Osteria in Sydney’s Summer Hill

    Mar 13, 2024

  • Recipe CollectionsEaster desserts that aren't hot cross buns

    Mar 11, 2024

  • Recipe CollectionsRabbit recipes for Easter

    Mar 11, 2024

  • Recipe CollectionsAll the Easter recipes you need

    Mar 11, 2024

  • Vivid Sydney’s food program is back for 2024

    Mar 10, 2024

  • Travel NewsVirgin Australia is offering 30% off flights to 36 destinations in flash sale

    Mar 10, 2024

  • DestinationsBeyond laneways: A peek into some of Melbourne's most luxe Airbnb stays

    Mar 10, 2024

  • EntertainingGozney's new Arc pizza oven here to heat up the alfresco entertaining game?

    Mar 07, 2024

  • This is how women do it: Leading women in restaurants

    Mar 07, 2024

  • Drinks NewsTop drops: An expert's best tannic wines for March

    Mar 07, 2024

  • Travel NewsTurkish Airlines announces direct flights between Melbourne and Istanbul from March 2024

    Mar 06, 2024

  • EntertainingYour seasonal guide to luxury Easter eggs, bunnies and hampers

    Mar 05, 2024

  • Food NewsNoma returns to Japan for 10-week Noma Kyoto residency in 2024

    Mar 05, 2024

  • Restaurant NewsNoma, the 'world's best restaurant', is closing in 2025

    Mar 05, 2024

  • Restaurant ReviewsPipis Kiosk: Restaurant review

    Mar 05, 2024

  • Recipe CollectionsOur most popular recipes for autumn

    Mar 05, 2024

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 story behind the 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.

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!

What is the meaning of 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.

Where can I buy frozen eton mess? ›

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

Where can I get an Eton mess? ›

ASDA Raspberry Eton Mess - ASDA Groceries.

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.

Does Eton still exist? ›

Eton today is a larger school than it has been for much of its history. In 1678, there were 207 boys. In the late 18th century, there were about 300, while today, the total has risen to over 1,300.

Do they still make angel delight? ›

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

What is the difference between pavlova and Eton Mess? ›

The finished pavlova is topped with whipped cream and can be dressed with fresh fruit or lemon curd. An Eton mess exists somewhere between a fruit-topped meringue pavlova and a fruit fool, a fruit purée folded into whipped cream.

What is McVitie's Eton Mess? ›

Indulge in the delicious taste of McVitie's Eton Mess Limited Edition Cake Bars. These limited summer edition strawberry flavoured cake bars contain fluffy cream and crunchy meringue pieces to savour. The perfect summer treat capturing the great taste of the classic dessert.

Can you freeze meringue? ›

Yes, it's possible to freeze meringues for up to a month. Just remember to let them cool completely before placing them in an airtight box or container. When you want to eat them, simply transfer them to the fridge to defrost overnight.

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 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 called Eton? ›

The History of Eton

The name derives from Old English Ēa-tūn, meaning “River-Town”, a reference to Eton's proximity to the River Thames.

Does Tesco sell Eton Mess? ›

Tesco Finest Raspberry Eton Mess Ice Cream Tub 480ml - Tesco Groceries.

Do Sainsbury's sell Eton Mess? ›

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

What are the allergens in Eton mess? ›

All of our bars are made in a kitchen where all common allergens are present including nuts, peanuts, sesame, milk, gluten, wheat and eggs. Our alcoholic bars are made with real alcohol. We cannot guarantee any of our bars are free from allergens due to the risk of contamination.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 5721

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.