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Lemon Posset – a cross between a lush pudding and a silky lemon curd, this amazing English specialty is made with just three simple ingredients.
Happy Labor Day friends! I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful day off, celebrating the last few days of summer with family and friends. We’re traveling in Australia so no holiday for my husband because he’s working! Me? Oh no … I’m on vacation – haha – but here I am with another delicious, must try recipe for you!
Make ahead lemon desserts are perfect all year long, but especially when you need something special and don’t know what to make. I’ve read about possets over the years but never really tried one, until now. I was fascinated with this recipe posted in the March & April 2016 edition of Cook’s Illustrated Magazine. Three things really stuck with me about this recipe. First, it’s made with only three ingredients, and second, it’s made without thickeners like cornstarch and egg yolks. And last, I’m fascinated with their foolproof technique for measuring a reduced sauce, or in this recipe – a posset, by using a ruler.
This posset achieves a perfect texture by being reduced to exactly two cups. Nobody wants to stop and pour the posset into a measuring cup halfway through cooking. Sounds messy right? You’re going to love this … pour exactly two cups of water into the saucepan you plan to use for the posset. Take a ruler, wooden skewer or chopstick and put it in the water. Mark the level of the water on the ruler. While cooking the posset, place the ruler down into the pudding and when it reduces to your mark, it’s done! Isn’t that perfect? Love that kitchen tip!
Since this recipe only makes two cups, don’t be tempted to serve it to two or three people.
It’s enough for six 1/3 cup servings, or four 1/2 cup servings. This Lemon Posset is silky and rich, sweet and super lemony. It’s best served with fresh fruit to balance out the sweetness and add a zing of flavor. Blueberries or raspberries pair very well with the lemon.
Lemon Posset can be made up to 2 days in advance making it perfect for a dinner party. Serve in stemware, cups, ramekins, tiny bowls or parfait glasses for a beautiful presentation.
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A rich and simple lemon dessert that's a cross between pudding and curd. Pucker up delicious and super easy to make with only 3 basic ingredients.
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice (2 or 3 lemons depending on size and juiciness)
- Blueberries to serve
In a medium (deep) saucepan, combine the cream, sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, to dissolve the sugar. Don't walk away from the mixture as it can easily boil over. If it gets close to the top, remove the pan briefly from the heat to slow the boil.
Cook until the mixture reduces to exactly two cups. (SEE NOTE) Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice. Set the saucepan aside to cool until a skin forms on top, about 20 minutes. Strain the posset through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Discard the lemon zest.
Divide the mixture between 6 individual bowls or serving glasses. Refrigerate, uncovered, until set, about 3 hours. Once fully chilled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To serve, unwrap and allow the dessert to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fruit blueberries or raspberries and serve.
TIP to use a ruler when reducing a sauce. Measure two cups of water and put it in the saucepan you plan to use to cook the posset. Put a ruler, skewer or chopstick into the water in the saucepan and mark the level on the ruler. The posset will need to reduce to that line.
Recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated, March & April 2016 Magazine
Here are a few of our favorite kitchen tools used when making this posset: (each photo is clickable)
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We love lemon here at SRFD, and if you do too, you’ll want to check out our Homemade Pink Lemonade, and this super easy Lemon Poppy Seed Bread recipe. Lemon Crumble Breakfast Cake is one of our most popular recipes ever and our Tangy Lemon Bars are fantastic. And finally, don’t miss our super easy Homemade Lemon Curd!
Here are a few more lemon recipes from some of our favorite bloggers!
- Fresh Lemon Ice Cream ~ from The View from Great Island
- Lemon Ricotta Cake with Candied Lemons ~ from Seasons & Suppers
- Whole Lemon and Thyme Salad Dressing ~ from The Café Sucre Farine
- Lemon Angel Pie ~ from Barefeet in the Kitchen
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
This lemon posset was fabulous. I made it again and doubled the recipe. My son loves lemon too so I made it for him along with the lemon curd. He loved it too and will make it in the future. Thanks for sharing. Is this a French recipe?
Hi Denise – thanks so much for the feedback. LOVE this lemon posset and can’t believe how easy it is to make. It’s an old English recipe I believe, but luscious like its French 🙂 Thanks again for trying it and for taking the time to come back and let us know how it turned out for you. Bravo!!!
I have a question about the cream. Do you use whipping cream or heavy whipping cream?
Just heavy cream since it is not whipped. But if you have whipping cream on hand – it will be fine too! Thanks for the great question Dena.
Tricia, lemon is just about my favorite flavor. That, along with your gorgeous photos, makes me want to make this right now! I learned that ruler trick decades ago, and it’s always stayed with me – it’s a good one! Pinning and tweeting.
Thank you Jean! I love that ruler trick and hope it helps some our readers as much as it did me. Thanks so much for stopping by!
What a good looking dessert. Dessert made with lemons are on top of my list. I never heard of a posset and what a great idea using a ruler to measure liquid.
Thanks Gerlinde. Hope you had a wonderful trip! Lemon desserts are the best and this simple measuring tip works great. Enjoy!
My neighbor makes this too. I had tasted this dish at her place during Christmas..you are tempting me to try this out for myself! 🙂
I thought this Lemon Posset was very good and easy too. I love a make ahead dessert at the holidays. Thanks!
Love lemon — you might say I’m a lemon freak. This looks like such a gorgeous dessert — good looks plus rich flavor. Winner! Have a wonderful time on your travels.
Lemon desserts are the best John! Thank you!
Hope you’re having a great time in Australia! How exciting. : )
Thanks for sharing this recipe – so interesting and I love a good custard, especially when it’s a simple one calling for a few ingredients. The tip using a ruler is genius.
Thanks Monica – it’s been a great trip so far! This recipe is very simple and easy too. Hope you love it, and I hope your little guy is enjoying school again. Such a great time of year!
First posset I tasted was Mary Berry’s after she’d made it on stage in Scotland. Cynthia convinced me to make it one night as she’s got the recipe on her site, and I’ve been making it ever since! So easy and so delicious!!! ????
It really is something special Christina. Thanks for stopping by!
You know how I love lemon and blueberries from my last post 🙂 I have to try this very soon, Tricia! I’ve never made a ‘posset’ but love the name and the lemon! Have a wonderful holidy adventure in Australia!
Thank you very much Susan! Lemon and blueberry is one of my all time favorite combinations. Delicious!
Lemon Posset – lovely and luscious! Will make it for the weekend.
Enjoy your trip ‘downunder’ and Melbourne is another lovely city to visit – hope it’s on your itinerary!
Thanks Mary! You’re going to love it. Wish we had time to go to Melbourne – but not this visit 🙂 Thanks!
Absolutely lovely and of course, you had me at lemon 🙂 Will be trying this one soon! Hope you are enjoying your holiday!!
Thanks Jennifer – we are enjoying Sydney very much and I’m not even a big fan of large cities. It’s beautiful and clean and friendly!
This looks so smooth and silky Tricia and I’m like Sue, haven’t heard of possets either. Thanks for delicious the education! Australia is on our bucket list so can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Thanks Chris – I thought this was a fun and interesting recipe. Glad you like it too! Hope you make it to Australia sometime – such a beautiful place!
How can it be that I’ve never had a posset? It looks right up my alley, that texture is a-mazing!
I’m so excited to hear (and see!) all about your trip, it sounds like the trip of a lifetime, enjoy!
Thanks Sue! We’re having a great time. Sydney is a wonderful, beautiful city.
I have never had or made a posset, but love both pudding and curd..definitely will love this too.
If you love lemon curd and pudding, you’re going to love this posset too! Thanks Angie – have a wonderful week.