Healthy Coconutty Eton Mess
Eton Mess is a classic British dessert - a simple, no bake treat made of broken up meringue, whipped cream, and berries all mixed together. A lovely mess of yumminess.However, the original version is LOADED with both fat and calories (thanks to the double cream!). A single serving of traditional Eton Mess can be a whopping 580Kcal and 50g of fat, where as my 'heathified’ version is around one quarter of that. And the fat grams are from healthy whipped coconut cream with a ton of health benefits.Most of the sugars are naturally occurring, from the fruit (fructose) and a small amount of added sugar from the meringue. Its just so much easier to buy a few mini meringue nests, but you can make them yourself if you wish.If you love textures, this is your kind of dessert. It’s smooth, creamy, with bits of strawberry and tender meringue throughout. It’s sweet and slightly tart from the strawberries, without being overpowering!You can serve it in individual glasses or a larger dish, either layered like a parfait or simply mixed together. Easy breezy and versatile, this dessert is made for a simple finish to summer parties, barbecues, get-togethers, or whenever you need a quick no-bake dessert!Sometimes, I’ll make it with blueberries zinged with lemon zest, and added chopped nuts. Today, I wanted to take a dairy-free spin on the recipe – my super healthy whipped coconut cream gets layered into the strawberries and meringue for a super healthy and quick no bake dessert. Eton Mess will always have a special place in my heart because it’s one of the first desserts I ever learnt to make. You only need a handful of ingredients but it always tastes amazing – and your dinner guests will think you are a master in the kitchen.
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced (or any fruit or berries)
- 4 mini ready-made meringues or meringue cookies
- 1/2 cup whipped coconut cream, made from 1x 13.5 oz can coconut cream, full fat (solid part only) *see note below or you can use store bought coconut or dairy whipping cream
Garnish
- 1/4 cup Chopped nuts for more texture
Instructions
- If you wish to make your own whipped coconut cream place the 1 x 13.5 oz can of coconut cream in the fridge or freezer for at least 1-2 hours to allow coconut cream to separate.Open chilled can and scoop out the cream that has separated and set hard on the top leaving the coconut “water” in the bottom of the can. Save the remaining coconut water to use in a smoothie, drink, or discard.Scoop or spoon it into a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until it begins to thicken and peaks form. Be careful not to overmix here, as it could heat the cream and cause it to soften!Optional - Whip in 1-2 tablespoons of honey and a half teaspoon of vanilla.Place in the fridge until ready to use.In a small bowl, add your meringue cookies and roughly crush them with the back of a spoon or use your hands. Set aside.In a food processor, add half your strawberries and blend until smooth.In a small mixing bowl, add whipped cream, 3/4 of the crushed meringue, and the sliced strawberries. Fold through the pureed strawberries until combined.Transfer the Eton mess mixture amongst 2 large glasses or serving dishes. Top with remaining crushed meringue, some chopped strawberries, chopped nuts and serve. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator,covered, for up to 3 days. Any longer and the meringue will soften up too much.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
