While a white Christmas and New Year totally have my heart – there is nothing like London in December. Street lights, carol singers and if you’re really lucky a few snowflakes, it’s pure magic. I’m off track… Us Aussies totally have the good life when it comes to the post-new year festivities. While the northern hemisphere is heading back to school/work life, we’re all planning the next bbq, picnic, or dam day out of the boat, and summer has really only just begun!

Eton Mess is one of those desserts that just scream Summer. It’s basically the original de-constructed dish. In-season berries teamed with cream and meringue…sign me up! It’s also an easy no-bake dessert if you want to totally cheat and buy a pre-made pavlova (or meringues). When I’m hosting a bbq and making Eton Mess I would normally make a pavlova and then use it as the base. However, when it’s just the three of us and we’re after a quick dessert, a pre-made pav is the way to go.

three cocktail glasses of Eton Mess for dessert on a timber board

Now this recipe isn’t one for the Eton Mess purists. There isn’t a strawberry in sight! Instead, the combination of lemon, passionfruit, raspberry, and mango is a mid-summers night dream.

What you need to get started making an easy eton mess…

small pavlova
double cream
fresh fruit – raspberries, a fresh mango peeled, stone removed and sliced thinly
lemon and passionfruit curd or a storebought version
slivered pistacios
salade de fleurs – a dried flower mix of rosepetals, cornflowers and marigolds. While not an necessity, they make the dessert pop and give it its wow factor!

The nitty gritty

Break up the pavlova and distribute evenly between the glasses
Spoon lemon and passionfruit curd around any empty bits.
De-stone and peel the mango. slice into thin strips and add to the curd and meringue.
Dollop (or pipe with piping bag and star nozzle) the double cream into any crevices.
Top with fresh raspberries
Sprinkle with pistachios and dried flowers.

How to serve Eton Mess

When I am feeding a crowd, I always serve my Eton Mess on an oblong salmon platter, placed in the middle of the table. You could also try this on a grazing board. It’s totally impressive and the oblong shape makes it easier for more people to reach at the table. Whenever I do this it’s always greeted with lots of oohs!

When it’s just a couple of us, individual portions are the way to go. Eton Mess is the dessert in our family that every single person just devours. Even to non-dessert people like the Irishman. Side note, what’s that about? Who doesn’t like dessert? These cocktail glasses make the best serving dish for individual servings. They have a wide mouth and are shallow-ish, making it easy as to scrape every last bit out of them! Or if you have a few preserving jars laying about, they also work a treat!