Strawberry Eton Mess Recipe (2024)

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dimmerswitch

With respect to contributors who share this is better absent meringue and substituting bits of cookies or cake, that makes it a different dessert and more like a trifle. Eton Mess is always made with meringues. Desserts that are riffs on Eton Mess also named "mess" (which means mixture) use meringues. Like this one from David Tanis. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018779-meringue-mess-with-rhubarb-and-strawberries I appreciate that one and this recipe too.

Michael

I cut everything in half since there are only two of us. I inadvertently added the whole tablespoon of lime juice but that was a stroke of luck. The lime really made this special. Will repeat this soon.

gardyngnome

Also works with a mix of "heated until popped" (needed for the syrup) and raw blueberries (with lemon juice), and with peaches. A simple, elegant, go-to dessert for fruit lovers and the gluten-free! Just needs a better name :D

Edwin M.

Eton Mess is always made with meringue and whipped cream and classically with strawberries. In Sag Harbor I served it with frais de bois. I once had it at Bailliol College, Oxford with fresh late spring macerated gooseberries and once served it in Miami with poma rosa also known as rose apple or malabar plum from my tree. Although the fruit may change could the ‘Creatives’ keep the crushed cookies and yogurt out of the recipe unless they are deconstructing a trifle.

Redbird, Yardbird

Trader Joe's makes them, or you may spot them in a tub in the bakery dept. of a supermarket.

Karen

If you substitute cake or cookies it's not Eton Mess. Move on to another recipe if you want to make something else. I just made this with raspberries and it's delicious.

susan l paul

Just as good with pieces of cookies, cake, toasted nuts for crunch....less sweet is better to me....meringue not a favorite, no attachment to Eton.

JMR

It may be delicious, but it's not an Eton Mess unless it contains meringue.

Danielle C.

As another poster mentioned, the lime adds a lot- don’t skip it. I found I the ratio of whipped cream to strawberries was off so I will make more strawberry mixture next time. Also found the whipped cream/ meringues to be better after about ten minutes as it allowed the meringue to soften just a bit. Nonetheless delicious and a perfect summer dessert.

Pandora

Overall, this dessert was ok, but the meringue cream was way too sweet for me and my family. I liked the strawberry mixture though. Would make this again with British meringues. American meringues are too sweet for me.

susan

The Lime zest and juice makes this dish special. I added a bit more than called for as I was increasing the amounts. It's a great dish. Easy, fun and yummy.

Bermuda Onion

I make it with actual Meringues, Blueberries & add a splash of my homemade Limoncello to it too!

Nancy C

Delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. My thanks for the comment that Trader Joe's sells vanilla meringues.

Modifications

Frozen Raspberries, slightly thawed; one and a half 5 dc cartons visp grädde, one and a half bags of meringues (from the ice cream aisle ) Made four parfait glasses, with plenty of the whipped cream/meringue mixture left over. Fabulous.

Shobhana

Very easy and absolutely excellent. The hardest part was locating meringue cookies, but found them at Trader Joe’s.

Bettina

Where does one purchase vanilla meringue cookies?

oona

Can you suggest a recipe for “British” meringues?

Caro

Much too much sugar added. When I create a strawberry/cream mixture, I add a teaspoon of sugar to the cream and only to the strawberries if I add lemon juice (which I usually do). Since the meringue contains sugar, I wouln't add any to the cream in this case.

Laura M

The recipe says serve immediately. How immediately? Can I assemble before dinner? Also, it is not hard at all to make your own meringues, easier than trying to track them down. They take awhile to bake but only a few ingredients, mix to peaks, then pop in oven.

Richard

You want the meringue to remain crispy. If the fruit and cream sit with the meringue for too long, the crispiness will be gone.

Nancy C

Delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. My thanks for the comment that Trader Joe's sells vanilla meringues.

Anette Eff

I prefer a mix of quark and heavy cream. Makes it a bit less heavy and adds another fresh taste.

brian

Huge hit - could have made a touch sweeter but wonderful summer dessert

Karen

If you substitute cake or cookies it's not Eton Mess. Move on to another recipe if you want to make something else. I just made this with raspberries and it's delicious.

Richard

Is it still a Strawberry Eton Mess if you use raspberries?

Bermuda Onion

I make it with actual Meringues, Blueberries & add a splash of my homemade Limoncello to it too!

OV

Used one small bag of meringues. Can do a bit moreUsed 1.3 cup of WC w 2 spoons of sugar plus some yoghurt and cardamom /- rose water1 large container of strawberries cut up and sitting w some sugar and rose water Decorate w sumac, basil, nuts Enough for 6 adults

Edwin M.

Eton Mess is always made with meringue and whipped cream and classically with strawberries. In Sag Harbor I served it with frais de bois. I once had it at Bailliol College, Oxford with fresh late spring macerated gooseberries and once served it in Miami with poma rosa also known as rose apple or malabar plum from my tree. Although the fruit may change could the ‘Creatives’ keep the crushed cookies and yogurt out of the recipe unless they are deconstructing a trifle.

susan

The Lime zest and juice makes this dish special. I added a bit more than called for as I was increasing the amounts. It's a great dish. Easy, fun and yummy.

Jane

This is a wonderful easy dessert. To make it more fun we give everyone a glass and let them construct their own, usually including vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup along with the traditional components. We omit the lime juice and use whatever berries are in season.

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Strawberry Eton Mess Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long should you macerate strawberries? ›

How Long To Macerate Strawberries. Let the berries stand for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours at room temperature. The longer they sit, the juicer and softer they will become.

How do you make my strawberries taste better? ›

Add a little sugar and salt! Wash your strawberries, cut them, and hit them with a pinch of salt and a couple good three-finger pinches of granulated sugar, give them a little tossy-toss, and watch them magically start to darken and get extra juicy.

How to sweeten strawberries without sugar? ›

Use a sugar substitute.

If you're looking for something that's easier to mix into a bowl, agave syrup is another naturally-occurring and tasty alternative that will sweeten strawberries. About 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of syrup would be a perfect amount to cover a handful of strawberries.

How much sugar should I use to macerate strawberries? ›

It's best to use at least 2 tablespoons sugar per cup of berries and increase the amount based on the tartness of the berries. Some of mine were pretty tart and I wanted them to be nice and sweet. You'll also need covered place to store them in the fridge - I always use a glass bowl and plastic wrap.

Can you macerate too long? ›

But remember, if you macerate softer fruits overnight, they may end up extremely soft. You might not mind this, and indeed it may be desirable, like if you're using your macerated fruit as a topping for ice cream or cake. But it's worth bearing in mind.

What is the secret to sweet strawberries? ›

Sun it is that develops sugar levels in the berries – so make sure your plants get lots, and lots of it.

What spices enhance strawberries? ›

I highly recommend chopped mint, basil and lavender, which add surprising depth to a bowl of strawberries. Skip the rest of them, especially tarragon and sage, which clash completely with strawberry's bright flavors.

Can you macerate strawberries without sugar? ›

Balsamic vinegar is perfect for macerating strawberries. The acid makes the berries soft and juicy without the need of any additional sugar! The great thing about macerating is that you don't need to be too strict about the recipe. Add some blueberries.

Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

Yes, a dog can eat strawberries. If you're looking for a fun and safe treat to help expand your dog's palate, strawberries are an excellent choice. Like many other fruits and berries, strawberries are a healthy snack choice for dogs. Other options include apples, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries and more.

Does Epsom salt make strawberries sweeter? ›

Delicious Fruits

Adding Epsom salt to your fruits and vegetables soil will mean sweeter fruit and delicious vegetables. The Epsom salt will help to boost the chlorophyll levels in your fruit and nut trees. The more chlorophyl means more energy, and more energy means sweeter fruit.

Why are my strawberries sour? ›

When the weather is extremely hot, the berries may have a slightly bitter taste. Strawberry plants produce smaller quantities of sugars when the weather is cool and cloudy. As a result, berries are not as sweet when the weather is cool and rainy in May and June.

What can I do with strawberries that are not sweet? ›

Macerating—soaking or steeping in liquid and/or sweetener—is one of the easiest and fastest ways to doctor up sub-par berries. Toss them in sugar, honey, or maple syrup, along with a little fresh juice or alcohol (an herbal liqueur, like elderflower spirit, would be great).

What happens when you sprinkle sugar on strawberries? ›

Sugar maceration is well-suited for strawberries because its hygroscopic properties draw out the water in the berries, creating a syrupy juice. As the berries macerate, they gently collapse, forming a jammy consistency that is ideal for spooning over ice cream, yogurt, or cake.

What is it called when you add sugar to strawberries? ›

Macerated means to soften or sweeten by soaking in a liquid. It is the perfect way to sweeten strawberries that aren't as sweet or ripe as you would like them. Fruit can be macerated in a liquid such as balsamic vinegar or liquor but it can also be macerated in sugar.

How long do strawberries need to sit in sugar? ›

Strawberries left to macerate in sugar overnight will be very soft with lots of liquid, but even just 30 minutes is long enough to yield some juice and slouch the berries. If you're feeling so inclined, you can add some bonuses along with the sugar.

Can you macerate berries for too long? ›

Macerating fruit and berries is more of a method than a recipe. Keep in mind that if you macerate softer or overly-ripe fruits overnight, they can become unpleasantly mushy in texture.

How long should I macerate fruit? ›

Maceration starts instantly, and in some cases you'll notice change in fruit texture or flavor within minutes of contact. But the best results require more time, anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

How long should berries macerate? ›

Next time you have more strawberries, blackberries or raspberries than you know what to do with, follow this simple step: Sprinkle sugar on them, toss them to coat, and let them sit for 30 minutes to overnight. To amplify the flavor of berries, toss them in sugar, then let sit for 30 minutes or more.

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