Eton mess with custard cream and boozy autumn fruit

Mark Moriarty's Eton mess with a boozy prune and blackberry compote. Photograph: Harry Weir
Mark Moriarty's Eton mess with a boozy prune and blackberry compote. Photograph: Harry Weir
Serves: 4
Course: Dessert
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Prep Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • For the fruit compote:
  • 120ml port
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 100g pitted prunes
  • 200g blackberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • For the custard cream:
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • 70g icing sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour
  • 600ml cream (hold back 150ml for whipping)
  • For assembly:
  • 4 pre-made meringue nests
  • Handful mint leaves
  1. For the fruit compote: Heat the port, caster sugar and cinnamon stick in a pot until the sugar has dissolved. Add the prunes and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes before adding the blackberries. Cover and cook on a low heat for five more minutes then take off the heat and allow to cool in a jar. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving. This will keep in the fridge for weeks.
  2. For the custard cream: Place 450ml of the cream in a pot and bring to the boil. Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrape into a bowl with the egg yolks, cornflour and icing sugar, and mix. Once the liquid has boiled, pour the warm cream on top. Mix and return to the pot. Cook over a medium heat while stirring constantly until the custard begins to thicken and coats the back of a spoon. Remove and chill in the fridge.
  3. When the custard is cold, lightly whip the remaining 150ml of cream and fold through the custard. Whisk again until thick and holding stiff peaks.
  4. Assemble the dessert in cocktail glasses. Add layers of custard cream, fruit compote, and crushed meringue until the glass is full. Finish by topping with some mint leaves.
Mark Moriarty

Mark Moriarty

Mark Moriarty is an award winning chef, TV host, author and Irish Times columnist.