Eton Mess
This year has been so messy for everyone. When life gives you lemons you make lemonade, similarly when life gives you mess, make Eton Mess.
Eton Mess is a classic British dessert made with meringue, fruits most of the times with strawberries and whipped cream.
It’s the easiest dessert I might have made this year. It came together in minutes. You can serve it immediately or make it in advance. If you are making your own meringue, then better because you can make meringue well in advance and you can assemble everything last minute before the guests arrive.
What makes Eton Mess?
It is a combination of three main ingredients as I mentioned meringue, fruits, and whipped cream.
The crunchy meringue cookies give slight texture and drama and when it combines with whipped cream and macerated strawberries everything plays so well together.
You can make this for friends who are gluten free as meringue cookies are naturally gluten free.
I had leftover meringue from making Buche De Noel, if you haven’t seen that yet- check it out.
Last time when I had leftover meringue, my nieces and nephews were around, and they literally finished it up. I didn’t have to ask them to finish it. The reason why they love me so much. I literally spoiled them last time when they visited for holidays. I made Buche De Noel and chocolate fondue, there were cookies for them. They were high with sugar.
You do not have to make meringue at home, for the ease buy them from stores. They are easily available at Trader’s Joes, Whole Foods, Shoprite etc.
If you plan on making meringue at home check out this link. Double the recipe.
This dessert can be made eggless, gluten free and vegan.
Eggless Meringue- Use aquafaba and make meringues. The recipe is same, just sub aquafaba to whites.
Gluten-Free- Meringues are naturally gluten free. Other ingredients don’t contain gluten either.
Vegan- Use vegan cream or coconut cream. If you are going vegan route, may I suggest making it tropical by using tropical fruits like mangoes or passion fruit and maybe roasted coconuts chips etc. Ahh so good.
I know they are not in season, but hey strawberries are also not in season, but I still made it.
Eton Mess
Ingredients
- 12-14 meringue
- ¾ cup cream
- 2 tbsp sugar, divided
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 tbsp Lemon or Orange zest
- 1 tbsp Lemon or Orange juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional
- 2 oz chocolate approx. 1/3 cup
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Chop the strawberries and place them in bowl. Add 1 tbsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. zest and juice of lemon or orange. Toss to combine and let it sit.
- Take cold whipping cream and 1 tbsp sugar in mixing bowl, and whisk it using a hand blender or hand whisk (you can use stand mixer too) it until you get soft peaks for 2-3 minutes.
- Coarsely or roughly crush some of the meringue about 3/4 meringue with your hands.
- Add the crushed meringues to the whipped cream. Gently fold it in.
- Divide this mix in 4 serving bowls or short glasses and top it with some melted chocolate and strawberries and another layer of cream and meringue and then finally top it with leftover strawberries in each bowl. Garnish with the left-over meringue. If you like just sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top. Totally optional though.
Notes
- Tips for making meringue at home-
- Always use a clean bowl, there should be no liquid or anything else in the bowl you whip egg whites or aquafaba.
- Whisk until you get stiff peaks.
- Always add sugar in intervals.
- Always bake them on low temperature setting.
- 15 oz can of chickpeas gives about ¾ cup of liquid for aquafaba.
- You can use any fruits.
- Eton Mess does not contain chocolate.
XO, Devangi