Eton mess
Meringue, strawberries and cream are about as good a summer dessert as you will get and this recipe takes so little effort to prepare you will hardly believe it. It is a traditional English dessert recipe that is usually made with raspberries but strawberries work for me. In fact you could use any fresh fruit or berries like gooseberries or peach slices for example, the result is always the same… silence at the table after the first mouthful or two and then endless compliments. (6-8 servings)
What you need
2 egg whites
100g caster sugar
150ml double cream
150g white chocolate chopped into small pieces
200g plain full cream yoghurt
350g fresh strawberries
The process
Firstly make the ganache by adding 1/2 the cream to a sauce pan and heating until it begins to bubble on the edges. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. stir gently to melt the chocolate. Add the rest of the cream and with a beater on medium beat until it the ganache forms a soft peak when the beaters are removed. Set aside
Now heat your oven 140 Celsius, line a baking sheet with baking paper and make the meringue. Beat the egg whites in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. To test, if you turn the bowl upside down the egg mixture does not slip out. Now add the caster sugar in 3 batches and whick into the egg whites until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Take a dessert spoon and place spoonfulls of the mixture on the baking sheet, pop in the oven for about an hour or until crisp but still pale. Remove and allow them to cool.
Now for the final bit, add the yoghurt to the ganache and mix together with a metal spoon. You don’t need to mix it in if you know what I mean, just distribute the yoghurt evenly. ( imagine you will get a little of the sweet chocolate and then also a little of the yoghurt taste)
Break up the meringues into a large serving bowl, add the strawberries and the ganache mixture and turn it as if you were gently tossing a salad. Serve immediately.
It’s just so fantastic I can taste it while I’m typing.
To make the dessert a little fancier, you can simply structure each bowl with a whole meringue or two, a few strawberries and a lashing of ganache.
Hi Graham, do you have to use double cream for the ganache in this Eton Mess or can you use whipping cream or plain fresh cream? Thanks.
Hi Yvonne, I am so sorry for the late reply, been a busy boy lately. You can use any good whipping cream. I like it quite stiff.. it is a fabulous dessert, you are going to love it. G
Hi Graham, thanks for your reply. Used whipping cream and came out perfect. Thanks for your awesome recipes. Have never had a failure. Keep up the good work.
Mr G
Want to make this for xmas lunch. Would I use cooking white choc or shop bought choc?
Hi renz, regular Cadbury’s is best.. Great choice Happy days G
Hi Graham, I am doing a surprise 50th on Saturday evening and was looking for an easy yet show topping dessert. The Eaton Mess is what I have in mind, or is there something else you could suggest. I am catering for 30 people. I like this idea as I can make the meringues tomorrow night and just keep them in an air tight container. Otherwise something along the lines of a cheesecake topped with berries. How many people would the Eaton Mess recipe serve.
Hi leigh-Anne, you cannot go wrong with the Eton Mess, it’s a winner every time. 2 eggs will make enough meringue for 6-8 people. I would make them in baches of maximum 4 eggs just double the meringue ingredients. The beauty of this dessert is that you can keep all of the elements, meringue, cream and fruit separate and then it just takes a few minutes to put it all together. Look no further, your guests will love it. Have a fantastic 50th, G
Hi Graham, I’m amazed at all the responses you get to Easy Eton Mess! Is this your most responded to recipe? I too have made it quite a few times and it’s ALWAYS been a success. I’ve also used full cream strawberry yoghurt – and on the last occasion, I didn’t have enough meringue, so I added some crushed bouduoir bisc. to stretch the pud. Hazel
Hi there Hazel, I just added a most commented recipes menu in the sidebar and it is not yet in the top 10, check them out, it’s quite interesting. Thanks for giving me the suggestion for a menu. 😉
Have a lekker weekend. G
I have made this quite a few times using fresh stoned cherries, instead of strawberries, & bought mini-meringues, crushed. It is absolutely wonderful. When I have to take it anywhere, I make it to the chocolate/cream/yoghurt mixture stage, take the crushed meringues and the fruit separately and just stir them together when we are ready to eat. Quite a few people have asked for the recipe and they are amazed at how easy it is !
Hi Anne, so glad to hear it’s a hit and certainly one of my favourites. Love the cherry idea, in fact I am going to give it a try with tinned cherries next time.. just love that sauce. Have a lekker day G
Hmm, sounds fab. Just the ‘serve immediately’ might be a problem, taking it to a braai on the weekend. Can i prepare the ganache and merinques at home, andthen just add the yogurt to banache amd mix it all there? In other words will the ganache ‘last’ a couple of hours?
Hi there Sonja, take everything separately even break up the meringue, I have done it many times before. Just make sure your friends have a beater, it takes only a few moments to put together and you will be the main event!! Have a lekker weekend, I’m off to Dulstroom for a bit of fishing and relaxing, Cheers for now G