Hump Day Snack: Christmas Mess with Christmas Tree Meringues

By: Amanda Marsteller

Merry Christmas to mid-week snackers everywhere! Since you'll probably be trapped under a snowdrift of gift bags and Christmas ribbon for the next few hours, this will be brief.

If you're still in need of a deceptively overachieving dessert for family dinner tonight, try this festive twist on Eton mess. The very name of this traditional English pudding implies how easy it is to assemble: Just pile generous layers of molasses-spiked strawberry sauce, nutmeg-infused whipped cream and tree-shaped meringues in a trifle dish and call it a day. It's definitely a mess worth making, just like the chaotic gift-opening crime scene that is your living room right now. Read on for the winter-spiced recipe or play around with your own flavor combos, using Cooking Channel's meringue recipes below as a guide. Merry mess-making!

Next Up

Hump Day Snack: Sufganiyot (AKA Jelly Doughnuts)

Celebrate Hanukkah -- or any holiday this winter season! -- with these irresistible jelly doughnuts (also called sufganiyot) that are fried until golden brown and filled with raspberry jam.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here