Posset is a wealthy, creamy, citrusy British dessert. The balanced lemon taste teeters irresistibly between tangy and candy. A bit goes a great distance, so it’s good after an enormous meal. I’m downright obsessive about this recipe. Hold studying and also you’ll see why!
Posset is a straightforward make-ahead dessert to supply at events in particular person servings. It will be pretty at Easter and Mother’s Day celebrations, child showers, dinner events, and extra.
To make posset, you’ll want simply 4 substances—heavy cream, sugar, lemons and vanilla extract—and some additional hours to relax it within the fridge. You may make posset the evening earlier than and even freeze the leftovers.
Posset has been consumed in Britain for properly over 600 years, though it was originally a sizzling drink constructed from sweetened, curdled milk combined with wine or ale. It was usually served to assist treatment colds or fevers. The trendy chilled citrus and cream model got here to be within the twentieth century. For the reason that recipe is British, posset is pronounced like “pocket” however with an s.
I first tried posset for my cookbook, however I overcomplicated the recipe by making an attempt to serve the posset like cheesecake squares over graham cracker crust. In hindsight, it’s finest served merely in small containers, and garnished as desired. Years later, my husband jogged my memory of posset after he made some on a whim after discovering the idea on Instagram.
I pulled out my outdated notes and tweaked the quantities of cream to make use of one full pint, used simply sufficient sugar so it’s not too candy, and specified the precise quantities of lemon zest and lemon juice slightly than calling for 2 or three lemons, which all the time differ in measurement. To attain a constant consistency, I discovered a trick from America’s Take a look at Kitchen—we’ll know the combination is finished simmering as soon as it has decreased to 2 cups. This examined and perfected recipe is prepared in your kitchen!
Posset Substances
You’ll want simply 4 substances to make this superb deal with. Posset can’t be made dairy-free, however it’s conveniently gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free. In comparison with typical pudding recipes, this posset recipe is downright magical in its simplicity (no gelatin, cornstarch or eggs required).
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is the one choice for posset. It yields a wealthy, luscious texture. You should definitely scale back the warmth as obligatory to keep up a mild simmer, as a result of the tip end result doesn’t style fairly as good if the cream is overheated. To succeed in our desired consistency, we’ll hold a glass liquid measuring cup by the range to measure the cream combination after cooking for 15 to twenty minutes. As soon as it has decreased to 2 cups, we’ll transfer to the subsequent step.
Sugar
Plain granulated sugar lets the lemon taste shine on this recipe. We’ll gently simmer it within the pot with heavy cream and lemon zest, stirring till it utterly dissolves. I like to experiment with pure sweeteners when attainable, however honey dominated the flavour once I tried it. (Technically, you may substitute an equal quantity of honey or only a portion for the sugar and the recipe will set.)
Lemon Zest and Juice
The tart lemon juice helps the combination set, whereas the lemon zest intensifies the lemon taste. We’ll simmer the zest within the cream, take away it from the warmth, and stir within the lemon juice. After twenty minutes, we’ll pressure the zest out of the combination for a clean texture.
We’ll want 2 to three medium lemons for this recipe (maybe purchase an additional lemon simply in case). Since we’re utilizing the zest, shopping for natural citrus is finest to keep away from pesticide residues. Zest the lemon first, then juice it—it’s not possible to zest a juiced lemon.
Vanilla Extract
Whereas technically elective, a small quantity of vanilla extract enhances the flavors of lemon and cream. It affords a light-weight style of vanilla custard and I like to recommend it!
Watch How one can Make Lemon Posset
Garnish Ideas
Garnishes are elective however make this pale yellow dessert extra eye-catching. For these pictures, I garnished the posset with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and tiny sprigs of mint. You might hold it easy by selecting simply a kind of. Right here’s a full checklist of garnish choices:
- Crumbled graham crackers
- Crushed pistachios
- Contemporary mint (use the tiniest sprigs or one small leaf per cup)
- Lemon zest or candied lemon peel
- Small berries: Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Whipped cream
Taste Variations
Lemon posset is the commonest selection, however you may make posset with orange, lime or another citrus fruit. Think about enjoyable seasonal varieties like Meyer lemon, key lime or Cara Cara orange.
You possibly can substitute different citrus varieties one-for-one within the recipe beneath. Don’t attempt to substitute the rest for the citrus juice—the recipe wants the interplay between citrus and heavy cream to set correctly.
Serving Cup & Spoon Ideas
Select small glasses that may maintain at the very least 2 ounces. I used Crate and Barrel’s Bitty Bite short glasses for these pictures. Inexpensive choices embody 2-ounce glass shot glasses or disposable plastic cups (you’ll have loads for a number of batches).
You’ll seemingly must serve these mini cups with mini spoons, also called espresso or demitasse spoons. Right here’s a cheap set of twelve stainless steel spoons. For these pictures, I used spoons like these.
How one can Freeze Posset
As soon as chilled, possets will be saved in a carton with a lid or wrapped in plastic wrap. They are going to hold within the fridge for as much as 1 week or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. If frozen, unwrap them and allow them to thaw within the fridge earlier than serving, about half-hour. You may also benefit from the posset straight from the frozen or simply evenly thawed—it tastes like dense lemon gelato and I like it.
Extra Candy Treats to Make
For extra miniature treats like this recipe, attempt these:
For extra citrusy sweets, attempt these:
Please let me know the way your posset seems within the feedback! I hope it turns into your new favourite dessert.
Lemon Posset
- Writer:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 20 minutes
- Complete Time: half-hour (plus 3 hours chill time)
- Yield: 8 to 9 servings 1x
- Class: Dessert
- Methodology: Stovetop
- Delicacies: British
- Weight-reduction plan: Gluten Free
Lemon posset is a creamy, citrusy dessert—the proper small deal with. It affords a wealthy texture and balanced lemon taste that teeters irresistibly between tangy and candy. Posset is very easy to make! Enable 3 hours for chilling. Recipe yields 8 to 9 small (2-ounce) servings.
Scale
Substances
- 1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest*
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Non-compulsory garnishes: Contemporary berries (blackberries, raspberries or blueberries), mint leaves, or crushed graham crackers or pistachios
Directions
- Mix the cream, sugar and zest in a medium saucepan over medium warmth. Place a 2-cup glass liquid measuring cup subsequent to the range, since you’ll want it to find out when the cream has completed decreasing.
- Deliver the combination to a mild simmer, stirring incessantly to dissolve the sugar, and decreasing the warmth as obligatory to keep up a mild simmer. (If the combination begins to boil over, it’s a lot too sizzling—briefly take away it from the warmth earlier than returning it at a decrease temperature). Cook dinner till the combination is decreased to 2 cups, about 15 to twenty minutes.
- Take away the combination from the warmth and stir within the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Let the combination relaxation for 20 minutes.
- Pressure the combination by a fine-mesh strainer right into a bowl and discard the zest.
- Divide the combination evenly between 8 particular person ramekins or serving glasses.
- Refrigerate, uncovered, till set, at the very least 3 hours. As soon as chilled, possets will be saved in a carton with a lid (or wrapped in plastic wrap) and refrigerated for as much as 1 week or frozen for as much as 3 months. Unwrap and allow them to relaxation at room temperature for 10 minutes earlier than serving (if frozen, permit them to defrost for half-hour or longer within the fridge). Garnish as desired and serve.
Notes
Recipe was created with references to America’s Take a look at Kitchen’s methodology.
*Lemon be aware: I usually want 2 to three lemons to yield the required zest and juice for this recipe. (Maybe purchase an additional lemon simply in case.) When utilizing the zest, shopping for natural citrus is finest to keep away from pesticide residues.
Change it up: Substitute one other citrus for the lemon. Orange and lime varieties would make scrumptious posset. The interplay between citrus and heavy cream is essential to the posset’s thickened texture (no dairy substitutions will work).
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