Posset is a wealthy, creamy, citrusy British dessert. The balanced lemon taste teeters irresistibly between tangy and candy. Slightly goes a great distance, so it’s good after an enormous meal. I’m downright obsessive about this recipe. Preserve studying and also you’ll see why!
Posset is a simple make-ahead dessert to supply at events in particular person servings. It will be beautiful at Easter and Mom’s Day celebrations, child showers, dinner events, and extra.
To make posset, you’ll want simply 4 elements—heavy cream, sugar, lemons and vanilla extract—and some further 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 effectively over 600 years, although it was initially a sizzling drink produced from sweetened, curdled milk blended with wine or ale. It was usually served to assist remedy colds or fevers. The fashionable 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 greatest 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 previous 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 reasonably than calling for 2 or three lemons, which at all times 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 completed simmering as soon as it has diminished to 2 cups. This examined and perfected recipe is prepared to your kitchen!
Posset Components
You’ll want simply 4 elements to make this wonderful 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. Be sure you cut back the warmth as vital to keep up a mild simmer, as a result of the tip outcome 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 diminished to 2 cups, we’ll transfer to the following 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 potential, however honey dominated the flavour once I tried it. (Technically, you possibly can 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 greatest to keep away from pesticide residues. Zest the lemon first, then juice it—it’s inconceivable to zest a juiced lemon.
Vanilla Extract
Whereas technically optionally available, a small quantity of vanilla extract enhances the flavors of lemon and cream. It presents a lightweight style of vanilla custard and I like to recommend it!
Watch Find out how to Make Lemon Posset
Garnish Ideas
Garnishes are optionally available however make this pale yellow dessert extra eye-catching. For these photographs, I garnished the posset with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and tiny sprigs of mint. You might hold it easy by selecting simply a type of. Right here’s a full checklist of garnish choices:
- Crumbled graham crackers
- Crushed pistachios
- Recent 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 some other citrus fruit. Think about enjoyable seasonal varieties like Meyer lemon, key lime or Cara Cara orange.
You’ll be able to substitute different citrus varieties one-for-one within the recipe under. Don’t attempt to substitute anything 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 least 2 ounces. I used Crate and Barrel’s Bitty Chew quick glasses for these photographs. Inexpensive choices embody 2-ounce glass shot glasses or disposable plastic cups (you’ll have loads for a number of batches).
You’ll seemingly have to serve these mini cups with mini spoons, also called espresso or demitasse spoons. Right here’s an affordable set of twelve stainless-steel spoons. For these photographs, I used spoons like these.
Find out how to Freeze Posset
As soon as chilled, possets could be saved in a carton with a lid or wrapped in plastic wrap. They may 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 can too benefit from the posset straight from the frozen or simply calmly thawed—it tastes like dense lemon gelato and I adore it.
Extra Candy Treats to Make
For extra miniature treats like this recipe, strive these:
For extra citrusy sweets, strive 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: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
- Whole 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 right small deal with. It presents a wealthy texture and balanced lemon taste that teeters irresistibly between tangy and candy. Posset is very easy to make! Permit 3 hours for chilling. Recipe yields 8 to 9 small (2-ounce) servings.
Scale
Components
- 1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest*
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optionally available garnishes: Recent 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.
- Carry the combination to a mild simmer, stirring regularly to dissolve the sugar, and decreasing the warmth as vital 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). Prepare dinner till the combination is diminished 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 means of 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 least 3 hours. As soon as chilled, possets could 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 observe: I sometimes 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 greatest 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).
▸ Vitamin Data
Did you make this recipe?