This strawberry pomegranate eton mess is a simple dessert with layers of meringue, whipped cream, pom syrup, and berries; It is the perfect individual party dessert!
Happy New Year everyone! I’ve had a very busy December between working, traveling, schooling, and more. It was so great to get to go back and see all my family in Central Texas, although I was kicked out of the kitchen multiple times for my experimenting. The weeks after the holidays, I personally don’t want to whip up any heavy and ooey gooey desserts, but would rather have a light and refreshing one- that’s why I created these pomegranate Eton messes. With the layers of fresh berries, pomegranates, whipped cream, and meringues, they leave you feeling refreshed.
Eton Mess Ingredients:
- Egg whites: The eggs whites are used to make the meringue, you can also buy store bought meringue cookies for an easy swap.
- Granulated Sugar: Caster sugar will also work in this application.
- Cream of tartar: Cream of tartar is a powder that helps stabilize your egg whites for a more successful meringue.
- Vanilla: Nothing fancy here.
- Strawberries: Raspberries are easy swap (I’ve tested myself) if it is not strawberry season where you live.
- Pomegranate Molasses: Look below for more info on this pomegranate syrup.
- Heavy Cream: Cold heavy cream will give you the most volume.
- Powdered Sugar: Sifted powdered sugar will give the best texture.
- Salt: Anything sweet needs just a bit of salt for balance.
- Pomegranate Arils: See below for how to open a pomegranate.
How to Open a Pomegranate:
Opening a pomegranate can be tricky. First, judge by color; a ripe pomegranate should be bright red with no green to it. Then judge by weight, a good pom should be somewhat heavy. Once open, the arils should be bright red. The ones in my photos are a bit dark.
To open a pom, slice a square at the stem of the it. Tug the square off of the pom before making diagonal slits along the membrane, not hitting the arils. Rip the four slits to reveal the arils and carefully separate the seeds from the membrane. I’ve linked a video here for a better explanation.
What is Pomegranate Molasses:
Pomegranate molasses is a Middle-Eastern syrup composed of pomegranate, melted sugar, and water. It is extremely strong in flavor, so a little goes a long way. I’ve had luck finding it at Whole Foods and my local middle eastern market, but you can also buy it at this link. These strawberry pomegranate eton mess are delicious without the addition of pomegranate molasses. If you can’t find it, add a squeeze of lemon or lime to give the strawberries some acidity.
What is Eton Mess:
Eton mess is a British dessert that consists of fruit (traditionally strawberries), whipped cream, and meringue cookies. Its origin is Eton College in Windsor and the fable behind it is that a pavlova was being served for dessert at the college but a Labrador sat on it before it reached the table so it was instead served in cups as a mash.
Tips and Tricks for Eton Mess:
- Watch the syrup closely. The strawberry pomegranate syrup in this recipe can become a sticky burned mess quickly because of all the sugar, so only cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Go slowly when assembling. It is easy for to get overexcited when styling desserts and go way to quickly, a crime I’m guilty of. This almost always leads to sloppy final products. Instead, go layer by layer wiping off any imperfections in the jar before starting on the next. This technique will create a showstopping strawberry pomegranate eton mess.
- Assemble day of serving. One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare the ingredients in advance, however, preparing the Eton mess layers in advance will lead to soggy cookies and shriveled strawberries. If wanting to prep in advance, prep all the ingredients (like in the photo above), but do not assemble until eating time. This could even be a fun dinner party activity for your guests to engage in!
More Strawberry Recipes:
If you made this recipe and enjoyed it, please leave a review as it helps more people see my content!
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Pomegranate Strawberry Eton Mess
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 4 16oz jars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Description
This strawberry pomegranate eton mess is a simple dessert with layers of meringue, whipped cream, pom syrup, and berries; It is the perfect individual party dessert!
Ingredients
Meringues:
- 3 egg whites
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Filling:
- 1 pomegranate worth of arils (reserve some for decor)
- 1 pound of strawberries
- 1 pound strawberries (these two pounds are used for different things)
- 1 teaspoon pomegranate mollasses
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
Whipped Cream:
- 2 cups heavy cream (chilled)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
Prep:
1) Preheat oven to 225ºF. In a stand mixer fitter with a whip attachment, whip egg whites until frothy. slowly add in sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla. Continue to whip until shiny and stiff peaks have formed.
2) Using the back of a spoon, form the meringue into small/medium dollops. Bake for 45 minutes before turning off the oven and cracking the oven door open for 3o minutes, leave meringues in oven.
3) Remove from oven and crumble into various sized pieces, leaving some small and some whole.
4) While meringues bake, blend 1 pound strawberries with sugar, pomegranate molasses, and water. Strain.
5) Cook blended mixture on low in a saucepan for 3-4 minutes until brighter red and thickened.
6) Slice remaining 1 pound strawberries into halves and quarters and combine with pomegranate arils.
7) Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and salt together in a large bowl that has already been chilled for 10 minutes until medium peaks form. Do not over whip cream and allow to stay smooth.
Assembly:
1) Clean out 12-16 oz containers (I enjoy these mason jars) and gather all components (puree, strawberries, cream, and meringues) as well as multiple spoons.
2) Start by filling the bottom of the containers with syrup, then add crushed meringues, whipped cream, and finally strawberries/poms. Keep the layers thin and continue until glasses are full, preferably ending with cream, and top with reserved pomegranate arils.
Notes
Best eaten day of, components can be prepped in advance
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 16oz jar
- Calories: 638
- Sugar: 101.2g
- Sodium: 349mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 13.8g
- Carbohydrates: 109.4g
- Fiber: 4.5g
- Protein: 6.4g
- Cholesterol: 82mg
Keywords: meringues, strawberries, pomegranate