Eton Mess

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Vanilla: Extract Medium

Eton mess is an English dessert of strawberries, broken meringue and whipped cream folded loosely together. This version bakes its own crisp meringues. Makes 6 servings in about 4 hr.

Prep 30 min

Cook 90 min

Cooling 2 hr

Total 4 hr

Servings 6

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

3 (99 g)egg whites, room temperature
¾ cup (170 g)granulated sugar, for the meringues
1 ¾ tsp (5 g)cornstarch
1 tsp (5 ml)white vinegar
1 lb (500 g)strawberries, hulled, finely chopped
¾ oz (20 g)granulated sugar, for the berries
1 ¼ cups (300 ml)heavy cream, cold
2 ½ tbsp (20 g)powdered sugar
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract

Fresh ingredient guides

StrawberriesHow to pick, season & nutrition · 49 kcal per 152 g

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 200 F (95 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Beat the egg whites to soft peaks, then add the sugar a spoonful at a time, beating until stiff and glossy. Beat in the cornstarch and vinegar.
Pipe or spoon into large dollops on the sheet.
Bake 75 to 90 minutes until crisp outside. Turn off the oven and cool inside with the door closed.
Toss the chopped strawberries with the sugar and let sit 20 minutes until juicy.
Whip the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla to soft peaks.
Break the meringues into chunks and fold gently with the cream and most of the berries. Spoon into glasses and finish with remaining juices.

Tips

Assemble just before serving or the meringue goes soft.
Chop the berries finely for a loose, jammy mix.
Dry meringues keep well so bake ahead.
Meringue is baked fully dry; serve the cream dessert cold and refrigerate leftovers.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make eton mess?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 1 hour 30 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store eton mess?

Meringues keep airtight 1 week; assembled dessert is best within 1 hour.

Can I make eton mess ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Serve it with sparkling wine.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

344 Calories / serving

18.1g Fat

43.8g Carbs

3.6g Protein

40.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2064 cal · 109g fat · 263g carbs · 22g protein · 244g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.