Mixed Berry Eton Mess

Although this Eton Mess recipe may appear fancy and lavish, the ingredients are humble, simple, and easy to put together. Layers of whipped cream (or Chantilly Cream), crumbled meringue cookies, and macerated fruit (typically strawberries); an Eton Mess is the complete package when it comes to dessert.

Eton Mess is lovely for a dinner party. It comes together so quickly and easily but looks impressive. You can make it in individual glasses or as one large trifle. If making one large trifle, you will have to adjust the recipe to the size of your serving dish.

Why You Will Love This Dessert

• Simple - Three elements and thirty minutes of total time is all that is needed for this simple no-bake dessert.
• Few Ingredients - A dessert comprised of macerated berries, whipped cream, and {premade} meringue cookies, this recipe requires few ingredients and little labor.
• Easy - Eton Mess is quick to make, especially when using premade meringue cookies. The beauty of this cream dessert is that despite its ease in process, it looks impressive!
• Great for Sharing - Whether built in a trifle dish or in individual jars, Eton mess dessert is a fantastic way to end a dinner party or special event meal.

What's Eton Mess?

Eton Mess is a traditional English dessert dating back to the late 1800s. Its creation is linked to Eaton College and is believed to have originated there. Hence, the name "Eaton." Although in more modern times "Eaton mess" has been used by members of the UK's parliament in relation to Brexit, traditionally, the Eton Mess consists of layers of strawberries, bananas, or other Summertime fruit; whipped cream; and meringue.

Although the name "mess" may refer to the appearance of the dessert when plated, Eton Mess's ingredients exhibit elegance and beauty, if plated mindfully. Indeed, the balance of textures between the crunchy meringue cookies and the softly whipped cream is divine. We all know strawberries and whipped cream are a match made in heaven, but Eton Mess goes one step further with sweet, crunchy meringue cookie crumbs in every bite.

Ingredients

• Fresh Berries - This recipe is for a mixed berry Eton Mess. Use any combination of berries that you would like. As pictured, I used strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• Lemon Juice - Freshly squeezed.
• Granulated Sugar
• Meringue Cookies - Store-bought or homemade.
• Heavy Whipping Cream - Keep the cream cold for whipping.
• Powdered Sugar - The powdered sugar is for the whipped cream. You can use granulated sugar in place of the powdered sugar, if desired.
• Pure Vanilla Extract - Use the good stuff!

How to Make Eton Mess

1 - Macerate 1 pint of sliced berries with 2 tablespoon granulated sugar and the juice of one lemon. Stir and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes.

2 - Make a batch of fresh whipped cream. I prefer Chantilly cream, so I proceed with the following:

1. In a chilled bowl, using the whisk attachment on an electronic mixer, whisk 8oz heavy cream on high until soft peaks form.
2. Add ¼ cup of sifted powdered sugar and a teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Whisk only until incorporated, do not over-whip.

3 - Crumble up a package of meringue cookies. You can make a homemade batch of course. Crumble meringues in one of the two methods:

1. In a gallon zip-top bag: Crush by hand by placing the meringue cookies in a zip-top bag. Seal and press the cookies down with your hand until they crumble.
2. In a food processor: Transfer cookies to a large food processor. Pulse until crumbled. *Be careful with this method to avoid making "meringue dust".

4 - Now it is the fun part: assembly! In desired serving dishes, layer whipped cream, crumbled meringues, and macerated strawberries. Repeat until desired height is reached.

5 - Serve immediately.

Equipment

• Kitchen Aid Standing Mixer - A standing mixer is 100-percent worth the investment. I am partial to Kitchen Aid. My light blue mixer is my baby!
• Black and Decker Handheld Mixer - I love this handheld mixer. It comes with five attachments and a case for storage. I have had it for years and it still works great!
• Rubber Spatula - You will need a rubber spatula for stirring and scraping.
• Disposable Pastry Bags - While not absolutely necessary for this recipe, the whipped cream is best applied with a disposable pastry bag.

Tips for Success

PIPE THE WHIPPED CREAM - For the cleanest assembly and appearance, pipe the whipped cream (or Chantilly cream) into the dish when layering. Transfer the cream to a disposable pastry bag, no need for a tip, and pipe into the desired dish.

SIFT THE POWDERED SUGAR - Powdered sugar has the tendency to clump up. To avoid clumps of sugar in the whipped cream, sift the sugar with a sieve prior to adding it to the whipped heavy cream.

RESERVE FRESH BERRIES FOR GARNISH - Don't forget about the garnish! I like to pipe cream on the top of each serving, sprinkle additional meringue cookie crumbs, and add a few fresh (not macerated) berries as garnish.

USE A COLD BOWL - Before whipping the cream, place the mixing bowl and whisk in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, or until cold.

Make-Ahead and Storing

• MAKE-AHEAD - Ideally, wait to assemble this dessert until service. At most, prepare Eton Mess up to 2 hours before serving.
• STORAGE - Store the whipped cream and macerated berries in the refrigerator when not in use. Assembled dessert(s) stay fresh for up to 2 hours in the refrigerator before they begin to soften and start to weep.

Variations

• Use all of one type of berry. For example, strawberry Eton Mess or raspberry Eton Mess.
• Macerate the berries with lime juice instead of lemon.
• To make keto Eton Mess: Substitute all sugar items with monk fruit sugar substitutes (powdered and granulated) and keto (sugar-free) premade or homemade meringue cookies. Prioritize raspberries and strawberries, which are lower in carbs and higher in fiber than other berries.

Other Recipes You Will Love

• Strawberry Shortcake for Two
• Strawberries and Cream Rice Krispie Treats
• Strawberry Crumb Bars
• What is the Difference between Chantilly and Whipped Cream?

FAQ

Can Eton Mess be made in advance? You can make this dessert up to 2 hours in advance. The longer it sits, however, the more the whipped cream will begin to deflate and separate. The meringue cookies will lose some of their crunchy texture as well. I suggest making Eton Mess as close to service as able for the best results.

Can I use frozen berries in this recipe? Do not use frozen berries in this recipe.