Eton Mess made with freshly made whipped cream, juicy berries and store-bought meringues, is an impressive and easy no-bake dessert perfect to serve during spring and summer months.
If you love berry desserts like we do, take a look at this incredibly easy and delicious Berry Bread Pudding recipe!
Summer months are filled with backyard barbecues, lazy nights al fresco and perfectly juicy and sweet fresh summer berries!
Eton Mess Recipe
This Eton Mess recipe is one of those underrated desserts I wish everyone would try. Creamy, light, fluffy and sweet with a hint of tartness from the berries make this simple, yet perfect dessert.
Whipped cream, crispy meringue cookies and stewed berries come together in an irresistible mess. Feel free to use any of your favorite seasonal berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries, blackberries or any combination of berries you’d like.
What is Eton Mess
Eton Mess is a traditional English dessert made with whipped cream, crushed meringue cookies and macerated strawberries layered in a glass or cup almost like a mini trifle but using meringue cookies instead of cake.
In my recipe I cook the berries for about 6-minutes. I love the sweetness and jam-like taste of stewed berries especially when berries are not in season or as ripe as one hopes.
Why is it called Eton Mess
There’s a story that tell us that in the 19th century during a game of cricket between Eton College and Harrow, someone dropped the well known dessert pavlova, some strawberries and pudding on the ground. Instead of throwing them away, they decided to crushed the pavlova and mix it with the strawberries and pudding creating the now well known Eaton mess. Pavlova is similar to very similar to meringue cookies.
Some people believe that the story above is not true and that Eaton mess was in fact a dessert called strawberry mess. Apparently banana mess was also made during that time.
How to make Eton Mess (Berries and Cream Dessert)
This dessert recipe has 3 parts. The stewed berries or berry sauce, the whipped cream and the meringue cookies. To make things easier, I use store bought meringues. All you have to do is crush them. Easy right?
The Berries: In the recipe card below, you will find two recipes. One for blueberry sauce and one for raspberry sauce. They are both super easy to make and you can really make them with any berry. I add a little bit of liquor to mine but you can skip it if you prefer.
- In a small pot combine blueberries, a tablespoon of berry or orange liquor (like Framboise or Grand Marnier), a tablespoon of water, sugar and fresh lemon juice. If you want to skip the liquor, simply use 2 tablespoons of water. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until thickened and bubbly.
The Whipped Cream: There’s nothing quite like freshly made whipped cream. It’s easy and quick to make.
- Beat the chilled heavy cream until frothy. Add the sugar and the vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until firm peaks form.
The Meringue: I love meringue cookies and I usually always buy them. You can use the regular vanilla ones or you can get a bit adventurous and try chocolate meringue cookies or lemon ones. They are all so good!
Layering the Ingredients:
- Spread whipped cream into the bottom of an individual serving dish or glass. Add a layer of blueberry sauce, followed by another layer of cream. Top with a few pieces of meringue cookies. Repeat.
- The raspberry sauce and blueberry sauce can be made 1 to 2 days in advanced. The whipped cream can be made a few hours before serving.
- Don’t assemble this dessert until close to eating time. It will only keep for a couple of hours in the refrigerator
- The traditional Eton Mess recipe is made with macerated strawberries. I prefer cooking the berries for a sweeter more decadent taste.
- Make the whipped cream with chilled heavy cream or heavy whipping cream.
- You can use frozen berries.
Eton Mess Recipe
Ingredients
You can make this recipe with only one sauce or with both.
For the Blueberry Sauce
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 tablesppon berry or orange liquor (like Framboise or Grand Marnier), optional
- 1 tablespoon water (use 2 tablespoons if not using liquor)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Strawberry Sauce
- 1 1/4 cup raspberries
- 1 tablespoon berry or orange liquor (like Framboise or Grand Marnier), optional
- 1 tablespoon water (use 2 tablespoons if not using liquor)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Rest
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 12 small meringue cookies, broken into small pieces (vanilla, chocolate or lemon flavor)
Instructions
Make One or Both of the Berry Sauces.
- For the blueberry sauce, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature.
- For the raspberry sauce, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature.
Make the Whipped Cream
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream until frothy. Add the sugar and the vanilla and beat on medium high until it forms firm peaks. Be careful not to over beat it.
Assemble
- Spread the whipped cream into the bottom of an individual serving dish or glass. Add a layer of blueberry sauce (or strawberry sauce), a few pieces of crushed meringue cookies, followed by another layer of whipped cream. Top with a few pieces of meringue cookies. Garnish with fresh berries.
If Using Both Blueberry and Raspberry sauce:
- Simply layered the whipped cream, top it with blueberry sauce, a few pieces of crushed meringue cookies. Top with whipped cream, raspberry sauce, a thin layer of whipped cream and crushed meringue cookies. Garnish with fresh berries.
- Serve immediately or chill for about 1- 2 hours.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe can be made with any berry. Strawberries, boysenberries , blackberries, etc or a combination.
- If you don’t have berry or orange liquor handy, you can substitute with water.
- The raspberry and blueberry sauces can be made 1 to 2 days in advanced.
- The whipped cream can be made a few hours before serving.
- Don’t assemble this dessert until close to eating time. It will only keep for a couple of hours in the refrigerator.
- The traditional Eton Mess recipe is made with macerated strawberries. I prefer cooking the berries for a sweeter more decadent taste.
- Make the whipped cream with chilled heavy cream or heavy whipping cream.
- You can use frozen berries.
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