This Christmas Eton Mess is a fun and fruity dessert. Made with a cranberry and star anise compote and Christmas Elf Meringue Kisses it is a lighter alternative to the Christmas pud!
Christmas desserts
At this time of year I am always looking for simple but impressive looking dishes. I know I'm not the only one who struggles to find time over the Christmas period for doing all the things we are meant to do: Christmas shopping; entertaining friends and family; making home made gifts; Christmas parties - all at the same time as running a home and working full time.
It seems that every meal at Christmas has to be a big feast: a three course meal, maybe four if you add a cheeseboard! But creating these meals is made even harder when you need to come up with a Christmas dessert. Christmas Eton Mess is my attempt at making a festive pudding that doesn't take up too much time when you've got all of the other courses to be worrying about.
What is an Eton Mess?
An Eton mess is a traditional English pudding that is made by mixing macerated strawberries (or other berries) with crushed meringue, and whipped cream. It's thought to have originated in the historic Eton college and was written about way back in the 1800's. It doesn't get more traditional than that.
I've made it festive by swapping the strawberries for cranberries. Clever right?
How to make Christmas Eton Mess
My recipe for Christmas Eton Mess with Cranberries and Star Anise is a response to having very little time but needing to put a tasty pudding on the table one evening in the week. It's as simple as putting a punnet of cranberries in a pan with sugar and star anise, bringing it to a boil and cooking it down until a thick, syrupy sauce forms. This is then stirred together with freshly whipped cream and crumbled meringue is folded through. Add a couple of silver or gold sprinkles and you have something really special with very little effort at all.
The Recipe
Life is too short to stress about putting a work of art on the table every night. Serve up this Christmas Eton Mess and you will have happy friends and family without sweating in the kitchen for more than 15 minutes!
Christmas Eton Mess with Cranberries and Star Anise
Ingredients
- 300 grams cranberries fresh
- 3 tablespoon orange juice
- 250 grams caster sugar
- 2 star anise
- 600 millilitres whipping cream
- 28 meringue kisses or 4 store bought meringue nests
Instructions
- Place the fresh cranberries into a heavy bottom pan with the orange juice, sugar and star anise.
- Heat the fruit, sugar and spice on a medium-high heat until the cranberries have burst and the sugar has melted.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cook for roughly 10 minutes, stirring frequently until a compote has formed,
- Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
- Once the compote has cooled, pour the whipping cream into a large bowl and whisk on high for 2-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Crumble the meringues into the cream then stir through the compote leaving bright red streaks through the cream.
- Serve in glass dishes.
Notes
Nutrition
More Christmas recipes
I'll be relying heavily on some of my favourite simple recipes as we get closer and closer to Christmas. We've still got visits to friends and family, carol services, Christmas parties and more planned with only a week until the big day. This Mushroom and Walnut Tart will no doubt feature on our dinner table in the not too distant future. I wouldn't be surprised if I whip up another batch of these Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Stars too!
Here are some more Christmas dishes to serve as part of your Christmas feast.
How do you cope at this time of year? Do you have some simple yet delicious recipe like this Christmas Eton Mess ready to go at the drop of a hat? Let me know in the comments below!
Gingey Bites says
Oooh this is lovely! How pretty does it look and I bet it tastes yum too 🙂
Emma Walton says
Thanks Gingey Bites! It really does taste as good as it looks, I promise!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
What a gorgeous dessert. I love Eton Mess, but I really love your Christmas twist on it too.
Emma Walton says
Thanks Dannii! I'm a huge fan of eton mess too - I think its the appeal of literally throwing it together 🙂
Nayna Kanabar says
This looks super christmassy and perfect for a light christmas dessert instead of christmas pudding.
Emma Walton says
Thanks Nayna! It's probably not the healthiest Christmas pud around but at least it isn't too stodgy!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen says
I love eaton mess! Adding cranberries and star anise can only make it even better 😀 YUM!
Karyn says
Eton Mess is my absolutely favourite dessert.. I love the fact you have added cranberries, gives a really Christmassy Taste.. brilliant easy recipe
Emma Walton says
Thanks Karyn. I love eton mess too! Glad you like the recipe 🙂
Shinee says
Meringue cookies are absolutely one of my favorite desserts, and naturally I love Eton Mess!! I love your cranberry twist. Mmm
Emma Walton says
Thanks Shinee. Definitely one to make this Christmas 🙂
jayne says
Love an Eton mess and how great in a glass with cranberries! gorgeous Christmas styling too
Emma Walton says
Aww thank you so much Jayne. Im glad you like it 🙂
Bri says
I hear you: simple, yet impressive recipes is my motto too during this holiday season. I love the idea of an eton mess dessert. I haven't had one with star anise before, but your version is so creative and it looks great!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Bri! Anything i can do to make life easier in the kitchen round christmas is high priority! Glad you like my eton mess 😀
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
This does look Christmassy, love the addition of cranberries and star anise
Emma Walton says
Thanks Bintu 😀