Strawberry Eton Mess

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Macerated strawberries and whipped cream sit atop homemade crunchy meringue bases in this traditional Eton mess English dessert.

Ingredients

4 large egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup white sugar
3/4 pound fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons sweet sherry
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2 Beat egg whites and salt in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until they just hold soft peaks. Gradually mix in 1 cup sugar, then continue to beat until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks. Spoon meringue into 4 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each into 3 1/2-inch rounds, smoothing the tops.
3 Bake in the middle of the preheated oven until crisp and firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn the oven off and leave meringues in until completely cooled, about 1 hour.
4 Meanwhile, halve some strawberries for garnish and set aside. Slice remaining strawberries and place in a small bowl with sherry and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir and let macerate for 20 minutes.
5 Drain macerated strawberries in a sieve set over a bowl, reserving syrup.
6 Beat cream in a chilled bowl until it just holds stiff peaks. Beat reserved syrup into the cream.
7 Place meringues on serving plates. Top with macerated strawberries and spoon cream mixture over top. Garnish plates with halved strawberries.