The Easy British Berry Dessert You'll Want to Make All Summer
Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezIn July 2013, chefs in London created what was supposedly the world’s largest Eton mess, the classic British dessert of berries, whipped cream, and meringue. Assembled and served from an enormous martini glass, the confection weighed a whopping 368 pounds. To serve the dessert to 2,000 hungry passersby, a chef perched on a ladder, scooping out portions of the dessert bit by bit until there was none left. Had I been there, they most likely would have served only one person: me.Okay, it may be a bit of an exaggeration to say that I could single handedly tackle an Eton mess of that size. But it really is my favorite way to enjoy sweet summer berries. And with heaps of whipped cream, ripe berries (typically strawberries, but some iterations include raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries), and crisp meringues that are just beginning to soften, it’s everything you want in a light summer dessert. It’s easy to assemble, and even easier to eat—and nobody in my husband’s British family can stop at just one serving.Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezAccording to food writer Helen Saberi, writing in The Oxford Companion to Sweets, the dessert was first mentioned in historian Arthur Beavan’s 1896 book Marlborough House and Its Occupants. In a chapter detailing “notable balls, fêtes, and garden parties” at the royal residence, he notes that “Eton Mess aux Fraises,” or Eton mess with strawberries, was served at an 1893 garden party that Queen Victoria attended. Many, however, attribute the creation of the dessert to Eton College, the posh boys’ school in Windsor, England. There are iterations of Eton mess throughout the country, and Saberi mentions that a version with bananas—called Lancing mess—is served at Lancing College in Sussex. Though strawberries are traditionally used to make the dessert, I’ve seen it served with an assortment of berries. What berries you incorporate and how you assemble the dessert is entirely up to you; some smush everything—the whipped cream, meringues, and berries—together in a bowl, then spoon it into individual bowls to serve. Others carefully layer the components to create a parfait of some sort.Here, I opt for a combination of raspberries and strawberries; some recipes call for blending the fruit to create a juicier mixture, but I find it much easier—and just as delicious—to quickly macerate the fruit with sugar and a bit of lemon zest. I prefer layering the dessert in individual glasses, but if you’re short on time or simply can’t be bothered, you can assemble the whole thing in a large serving dish. And whether you choose to make your own meringue cookies or use store-bought is entirely up to you; eaten as a whole, it’s likely no one will notice if your meringues weren’t made from scratch. Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezBeyond the necessary inclusion of berries, meringue, and whipped cream, there are no hard or fast rules on how to serve Eton mess. The most important thing is that you make it before berry season is over—because while supermarket fruit will suffice, the dessert is the most delicious when made with berries so ripe they look as if they’re about to burst.In a medium bowl, toss strawberries and raspberries with sugar and lemon zest to evenly coat. Set aside.Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezPlace meringue cookies in a zip-top bag and, using a rolling pin or a wine bottle, crush until coarsely ground. Set aside.Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezIn the bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt on medium speed until medium soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.To Assemble: Cover bottom of each of four 12-ounce glasses with 2 tablespoons of the prepared berries. Top with a layer of whipped cream, followed by crushed meringue cookies. Repeat until glasses are full. (Alternatively, you can assemble Eton Mess in a large serving dish, such as a trifle bowl.)Serious Eats/Amanda SuarezSpecial EquipmentZip-top bag, rolling pin, stand mixer or hand mixerMake-Ahead and Storage
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings