What makes strawberry Eton mess so irresistible? The juicy strawberries provide a burst of summer sweetness, while the crisp meringue adds a satisfying crunch.
And all of that’s enveloped in clouds of velvety whipped cream, creating a dessert that’s both luxurious and refreshingly light.
Whether you’re hosting a garden party or simply treating yourself on a warm evening, strawberry Eton mess is sure to impress.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Eton Mess
Irresistible Fruity Taste: You’ll love the harmonious blend of sweet strawberries, tangy lemon, and rich cream. It’s ridiculously tasty and satisfying.
Perfect for Parties: Eton mess is the ideal dessert for gatherings. It’s easy to make and offers a visually stunning presentation.
Delightful Texture: The dessert features creamy whipped cream, juicy berries, and crunchy meringue. Every bite has a little bit of all those different textures. It’s wonderful.
Customizable Layers: You have total creative freedom in layering the ingredients for this recipe. That allows you to tailor the dessert to your personal taste and visual preferences.
Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries: Select the ripest, juiciest berries you can find. If you can get them from a farm or farmers market, they’ll taste even better.
- Lemon: Fresh it best! So don’t reach for that bottle.
- Granulated Sugar: You won’t need much. Just add enough to coax out the berries’ juices and balance some of the dessert’s tartest edges.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Whip it for the perfect creamy counterpart to the other ingredients.
- Vanilla Meringue Cookies: These light, airy cookies are still fantastically crunchy and sweet. They’ll add an irresistible textural contrast and a hint of vanilla.
How to Make Strawberry Eton Mess
Originally created at Eton College in the late 19th century, this dessert has stood the test of time for good reason.
It’s a quintessentially British dessert that is – simply put – heavenly.
It’s a light, fruity summer treat that’ll satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Yet it could not be easier to make!
Just follow these steps:
1. MACERATE. Mash 2/3 of the strawberries in a bowl with the lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar. Set aside to let it go syrupy, then mix in the remaining fruit before serving.
2. WHIP. Whisk the cold cream with the sugar until soft peaks form. It should be thick, but not pipable.
3. CRUSH. Break the cookies apart with your hands or with a rolling pin. You want some bigger pieces and some finer pieces.
4. ASSEMBLE. Spoon the whipped cream, strawberries, and meringue into individual serving containers. The order of the layering does not matter, just be sure to get at least two layers of each.
5. SERVE. Serve immediately with desired garnishes and enjoy!
DIY Meringue Method:
Want to make your own meringue? It’s super easy – you just need to remember to make them ahead.
- Whisk 2 large egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form.
- Add 1/2 cup sugar in 3 batches, whisking to stiff peaks after each addition.
- Dollop onto a parchment line baking sheet – no need to be tidy.
- Bake on the bottom shelf at 250°F (120°C) for 60-70 minutes until they’re completely hard.
- Set aside to cool fully.
Tips for the Best Strawberry Eton Mess
You know those days when you’re craving something sweet, refreshing, and a little bit fancy? Well, this dessert checks all the boxes.
But while it’s super simple to recreate, I still have a few tips for you:
- Selecting strawberries. Stores typically sell strawberries year-round, so you could make this any time. However, the dessert will taste best if the strawberries are fresh, ripe, and in season.
- Don’t overdo the sugar. You don’t want strawberry Eton mess to be too sugary sweet. Start slow and add more only as needed.
- Use high-quality cookies. I like the Trader Joe’s brand, but you can go with whichever you like best.
- Leave big meringue crumbles. Don’t powder or crush the cookies into fine crumbs. Leave the crumbles large enough to provide a nice contrast in texture.
- Layer evenly. Try to make the layers uniform in size. It looks nicer and will give you a more even taste of the ingredients in each bite.
- Garnish liberally. You can use whatever you like to garnish the dessert. Mint leaves and extra strawberries are always nice. You could also add different berries, such as raspberries or blueberries.
- Vary the berries. You don’t have to stick strictly to strawberries for the filling, either. Experiment with your favorite berries for different flavor combinations. Peaches work well, too!
How to Store
I adore this dessert because it looks effortlessly impressive. Plus, it offers the perfect balance of textures and flavors in every bite.
Unfortunately, it’s not one to make ahead. And you can’t really store leftovers without the meringue going soggy.
Having said that, you could make the elements separately and then keep them in the fridge for up to one day.
Assemble when you’re ready to eat to ensure the texture is on point.
More Sweet Strawberry Desserts You’ll Love
Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
Strawberry Pie Bars
Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins
Strawberry Biscuits
Strawberry Eton Mess
6
servings30
minutes304
kcalStrawberry Eton mess is a traditional British dessert featuring fresh macerated strawberries, billowy whipped cream, and sweet, crumbled meringue.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered, divided
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
3-4 ounces vanilla meringue cookies, coarsely crushed
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine 2/3 of the quartered strawberries with the lemon zest, lemon juice, and 2-3 tablespoons sugar (depending on the sweetness of the berries). Mash into a chunky consistency, then set aside for 30 minutes. When syrupy, stir in the remaining fruit.
- In a large bowl, beat the cold heavy cream and 1 tablespoon sugar with an electric mixer on low until it just starts to thicken. Turn the speed to medium and beat until soft peaks form.
- To assemble, layer the crushed meringue, softly whipped cream, and macerated berries in individual serving glasses or bowls.
- Serve immediately with extra strawberries, raspberries, or mint leaves, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- For the best flavor, use the freshest, ripest strawberries you can find. Adjust the sugar according to the sweetness of the berries.
- The order of the layers does not matter. Just be sure to get at least two layers of each for the prettiest presentation.
- Alternatively, serve family style in bowls. It’s called Eton “mess” after all!
