Eton Mess–totally misnamed, don’t you think– is Three Many Cook’s new favorite summer dessert. In this week’s USA Weekend video Maggy demonstrates how quickly you can make this stunningly beautiful, utterly simple dessert that she learned while living in England. Apparently it was served at Eton college’s snack shop in the 1930’s and was traditionally made with strawberries or bananas and whipped cream or ice cream. The meringues–in our minds the best part–were added later. If using blackberries, blueberries, raspberries or other similar berries wash and leave them whole. Strawberries, on the other hand, need to be hulled and sliced. We’ve even tried this dessert with peaches–a beautiful (and delicious) end to a summer meal as well.
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- 4 cups prepared mixed berries (see Pam’s note) divided
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups crushed store bought meringue cookies
- Bring 2 cups of the berries, along with sugar and lemon juice, to simmer in a medium saucepan Turn into a medium bowl and stir in remaining fresh berries. Refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve. Whip cream and vanilla to soft peaks. Assemble in the following order: spoon a portion of half the cream, meringue cookies, and berries into each of 4 goblets. Repeat. (Can cover and refrigerate several hours.) Serve.
It is absolute insanity and entirely irresponsible to list this dessert as ‘a luscious, healthy summer dessert’. Healthy!? With 37 grams of fat per serving and 641 calories! I am sure it is delicious but healthy it is not.
Hi Susan,
That wasn’t our original description of this dessert but I did see the USA Weekend page before it went to print. I should have corrected it. In any case, it’s a wonderful dessert. All things in moderation.
I came to comment on this dessert described in the USA Weekend pullout as “healthy,” a comment that which turns out to be the same as Susan’s. In my opinion, it should be reprinted with a correction. And the amount of sugar in this!!! Delicious, maybe, but I doubt I’ll ever make it as dictated in your recipe.
By the way, the USA Weekend editors also called it an “Eaton Mess.” Eton College has educated many of Great Britain’s finest, including Princes William and Harry, and I was glad to see that your page has this dessert spelled properly.
Yum, great way to use all the lovely berries that are in season!
I was astonished to see this recipe labeled as being “healthy” under the CookSmart logo – and was further amazed by the reply that “everything in moderation” means 37 grams of fat in a dessert. 52% of the calories in this dessert come from fat! The RDA for saturated fats is 20 grams PER DAY for those who eat 2,000 calories per day – one serving of this not only has 22 grams of saturated fat, but also 41% of the RDA allowance for cholesterol.
How irresponsible!
A luscious healthy dish would have been just the berries, maybe with a dribble of balsamic vinegar.
This looks so fresh and yummy! I will be making this very soon. It is SO hot here in Texas and I know my family will love this. Thanks for sharing.
Hmmm…I believe that this wonderful looking dessert will be on our table this weekend! 🙂
I just want to say to Three Many Cooks, take the “irresponsible” jabs in “moderation”. Wow, people can be so very petty. It’s entirely okay to enjoy a beautiful dessert like this once in a while. I’m getting weary of the fat police.
What a lovely dessert! It looks so cool and refreshing, especially in this Texas heat. My family will enjoy this!
Do you have a favorite recipe for meringue cookies? I’d like to make them, instead of buying.
I agree with Sammy in regards to the complaints. On the other hand, this looks just delish and to me another form of pavlova!! Yum yum, will definitely make this soon. Great summer dessert.
Yum – beautiful and tasty . . . There are so many ways to vary this – with yogurt instead of cream, for example. I have another version that mixes Greek-style yogurt with whipping cream. Still need to check the fat/calorie comparisons in that, but I agree that with moderation, we can eat what we want to. Maybe just use LESS cream and more fruit? Different kinds of cookies? Etc.
I’m with Susan and Diane, above. Here’s my concern – that you called this healthy (or someone did in the USA Weekend) when it has 22 grams of saturated fat. Now, a lot of people do not know what they should be eating, and this certainly suggests that this dessert would be within agreed-upon guidelines for healthy eating… not that this ONE PART of a day’s consumption has 110% of all the sat. fat you should eat all day.
Sammy – I agree that we should not get provoked over the occasional treat, but if the authors call this healthy, it adds to confusion,, and that is far worse than splurging on this tasty dessert once in a while.
This treat looks wonderful!
This reminds me of a treat my Mom used to make when I was little, except she used pound cake instead of the cookies, yum ! Thanks for sharing, all of your posts are wonderful…
All I know is that it looks delish and with a little modification it can be low cal and low fat, for 1 use fat free cool whip, more fruit, and make a sugar free cookie and your good to go!
Thanks Elizabeth.
I’m also suggesting that people add a little more fruit and make it serve 6. After all it’s just simple summer berries and cream.
Pam, thank you for a lovely dessert. We make a variation of this treat at our house with poundcake in place of the meringues. I believe I could eat this dessert at every special occasion!
All those who were apoplectic about the fat content should realize this was an honest mistake (and not on your part, either) and should lighten up (no pun intended).
This dessert is great for the summer.
This looks absolutely lovely. I agree wholeheartedly with “moderation” and indulging from time to time – my grandfather would partake of this in a heartbeat and is 97 years old next month. Can’t wait to try it.
So sorry to read all the negative comments. I’m in the “moderation” camp, and I’m with Alice above — my very healthy 92-year-old dad would delight in a dessert like this from time to time. To replace such a lovely parfait with fat free Cool Whip I would simply say “no thanks” to dessert!
Pam, thank you for the yummy dessert! So simple, yet so tasty! A great way to cap off a hot summer day and use in season berries!
Thank you for sharing this fabulous recipe!