Eton mess
Crushed meringue, juicy strawberries and whipped cream folded together. A ten-minute summer pudding.
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Total
- 10 mins
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Moderate
Recipe: Eton mess
Eton mess
Ingredients
- 400g strawberries, hulled
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
- 300ml double cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, check the label if you need it gluten-free
- 4 meringue nests, about 100g; for gluten-free use nests labelled gluten-free, or homemade (egg white and sugar)
Kitchen kit
- Electric hand whisk Search Amazon for electric hand mixer
- Serving glasses Search Amazon for dessert glasses
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links go to search results for the kit, never food.
Method
-
Step 1: Prepare the strawberries
Roughly mash a quarter of the strawberries with the icing sugar to make a quick sauce. Halve or quarter the rest.
-
Step 2: Whip the cream
Whip the cream with the vanilla until it just holds soft peaks.
-
Step 3: Fold together
Break the meringues into bite-sized chunks. Gently fold the meringue and chopped strawberries into the cream, then ripple through most of the strawberry sauce.
-
Step 4: Serve
Spoon into glasses, top with the remaining sauce and serve straight away, before the meringue softens.
Tips
- Assemble at the last minute – meringue melts into the cream within about half an hour.
- Swap half the cream for Greek yoghurt for a lighter, tangier version.
Storing & reheating
Best eaten immediately. Leftovers can be kept covered in the fridge for up to 1 day but the meringue will soften.
Freezing
Not suitable.
Variations
- Raspberry and passion fruit: use raspberries and the pulp of 2 passion fruit.
- Christmas mess: use pomegranate seeds and clementine segments.
Allergies: Always check the labels of the ingredients you buy for allergens — our dietary tags are a guide, not a guarantee.
From feeed.co.uk/recipes/eton-mess/ · Checked 17 October 2026
Questions people ask
Is Eton mess gluten-free?
Meringue is usually just egg white and sugar, but some shop-bought nests include other ingredients or are made where gluten is handled. Check the label.
Can I make it ahead?
Prepare the components separately up to a day ahead and fold together just before serving.
Sources & inspiration
Checked 17 October 2026. Written in our own words; we checked proportions, technique and food safety against:
- BBC Good Food: Eton mess (quantities, oven temperature and timings compared) (bbcgoodfood.com)
- FSA: food allergy and intolerance (food.gov.uk)
See other recipes that use the same kit on our kitchen kit pages.
