Effortless Eton Mess

Preheat the oven to 120C/fan 100C/gas 1/2 and prepare a baking sheet, covered with greaseproof paper.

Use an electric whisk to whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until they form stiff and shiny peaks. Then, add the sugar and whisk until the meringue is stands up in peaks when the bowl is turned upside down. Spoon the mixture onto the baking sheet and cook for 4 hours. Then, turn the oven off and leave the meringue inside to cool overnight. The meringue should be dry to the touch and sound hollow when tapped.

Wash the fruit. Hull the strawberries and chop into halves or quarters.

Crumble the meringue into a large serving bowl (the bigger the better, as you need room to mix).

Meanwhile, add the vanilla essence to the cream and whip using an electric whisk.

Then add the cream and fruit to the meringue. Mix well - it will be messy! Dust over some icing sugar and serve.