Easy Lemon Posset – Quick and Elegant Recipe
Easy Lemon Posset is a quick and elegant British dessert featuring a creamy, velvety texture infused with fresh lemon zest and juice. This simple no-bake treat relies on heavy cream and sugar simmered together and thickened naturally by the acidity of lemon juice, resulting in a luscious, tangy, and smooth custard that sets beautifully in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups (16 ounces, 473 ml) heavy cream
- ⅔ cup (4.67 ounces, 132 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- 6 Tablespoons (3 ounces, 89 ml) fresh lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
Instructions
- Combine and simmer: In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, granulated sugar, and lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Continue to boil and cook until the mixture reduces to about 2 cups, which typically takes 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and rest: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice. Let the mixture sit undisturbed for about 20 minutes until it cools slightly and a skin forms on top. Then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to remove the lemon zest.
- Portion and chill: Divide the strained mixture evenly into 4 individual serving glasses or 6 ramekins. Refrigerate uncovered for at least 3 hours until set. The possets can be refrigerated for up to 2 days when wrapped in plastic wrap. Before serving, unwrap and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Optionally, garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use high-quality heavy cream because its fat content combines with lemon juice acid to create the thick, velvety texture essential for a perfect posset. Avoid substituting half and half or whole milk.
- Straining the lemon posset into a measuring cup before dividing makes transferring easier and neater.
- The dessert must be refrigerated uncovered initially to allow proper setting.
- Let possets come to room temperature briefly before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Keywords: Lemon Posset, Easy Lemon Posset, Quick Dessert, British Dessert, Creamy Lemon Dessert
