This Lemon Posset is a quick and tasty summery dessert that’s velvety smooth and totally refreshing. Top it with fresh berries and it’s sweet and tangy and sure to please!
If you guys want to make the tastiest little dessert, yet still have lots of time to have fun with family and friends this summer, this Lemon Posset needs to be your go-to dessert!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Talk about easy peasy. Hello. 3 ingredients and a handful of fresh berries, and you’ve got an elegant, rich and creamy custard-like treat, with a fantastic blast of lemon flavor that’s just divine!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- heavy cream
- granulated sugar
- lemons
- fresh berries for topping (optional)
If you’re not familiar with posset, it originated in England as a creamy beverage curdled with wine, ale or liquor and flavored with spices. Recently, it’s been revamped by English chefs. Today’s posset is totally different. It’s a chilled dessert that’s got a fabulous velvety texture similar to a mousse or pudding that’s typically flavored with lemon. It’s made from three simple ingredients, sugar, cream and lemons.
Step-By-Step Instructions
First, in a medium sauce pan you’ll combine cream, sugar and lemon zest and bring it to a boil over medium heat. You’ll continue boiling until the sugar is dissolved. If mixture starts to boil over, carefully remove from heat. Continue to boil until mixture is reduced to 2 cups, about 8-12 minutes.
This is one dessert that will be on repeat all summer long at our house at the beach. It’s so refreshing and light and perfect for when I’ve got guests coming. Who wants to slave over difficult desserts when you’d rather be having fun with friends and family?
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Lemon Posset
It is important to boil the cream, sugar and lemon zest mixture for 8-12 minutes to reduce it to 2 cups exactly before adding the lemon juice.
The mixture will need to cool for 20 minutes before straining to remove any zest in addition to any skin that has formed.
You’ll need to portion the posset into six individual servings. I used 4 oz. mini Ball jars and filled each with 1/3 cup. The dessert is very rich, so 1/3 cup was just the perfect size.
I topped each portion with a few fresh berries and served with shortbread cookies. Fabulous combo!
More Delicious Summer Dessert Recipes to Enjoy
Lemon Posset
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp. lemon zest, grated
- 6 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries, blueberries, blackberries
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, combine cream, sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling, stirring often until sugar is dissolved. If mixture starts to boil over, carefully remove from heat. Continue to boil until mixture is reduced to 2 cups, about 8-12 minutes.
- Remove mixture from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Cool mixture slightly until skins forms on top, about 20 minutes. Strain though a fine mesh sieve. Discard zest. Divide the mixture into 6 individual glasses, jars or ramekins.
- Refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours until set. Once mixture has chilled for 3 hours each portion can be covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to 2 days. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh berries.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best Spring Recipes
Look at your cute spoons girl! Those are adorable. I have never heard of this lemon dessert but it looks like a perfect treat for mom on Mother’s Day (or me!) Not sure my kids could make this for me – wouldn’t that be a sight? Happy Mother’s Day to you dear!
When I found those spoons, I had to grab them! This is one of the easiest desserts Karen! And I just love the punch of lemon flavor! Happy Mother’s Day! Hope the kids spoil you!
Another perfection; spoons are like cherries on the top. I will make these beauties for me and my son. Happy Mother’s Day !
Thanks so much! I know you’ll enjoy this one! Happy Mother’s Day!
Love this lemony dessert! A perfect Summer dessert. And those spoons are just the cutest :)
I’ll definitely be making this one all summer long Jennifer! I can’t get enough of lemon desserts! Happy Mother’s Day!
You make the cutest little desserts, Mare! And this one is obviously no exception! You know my mother doesn’t live in the same state as me, but if she did, I’d make her these for sure! I can’t believe they are only 3 ingredients + fresh berries!!!! Just stunning, my dear! I hope you have a beautiful Mother’s day! Pinning of course! Cheers!!
Thanks so much Chey! This is one of the easiest desserts EVER! And one of the best if you’re a lemon lover! Perfect with just fresh berries! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for pinning!
What a gorgeous dessert Mary Ann. So perfect for Mother’s Day!
Thanks Alida! So incredibly easy too!
No, it definitely can’t get any easier than this! I’m such a huge fan of lemon desserts so this is right up my alley! Not to mention how cute these are! Pile on the berries too :) Have a wonderful upcoming weekend! XOXO
Thanks Dawn! Nothing beats fruits desserts for summer. So nice and light and refreshing! Happy weekend to you too Dawn!
Never had posset before, but it sounds delicious. Never mind mom, I’ll be making these for myself! :)
Lol! Enjoy Cassidy!!
My mom loves lemon desserts and, while I won’t see her this weekend, I’m heading up for a visit soon and I think I’ll make this for her. However, she doesn’t eat sugar so that means I’ll get to eat it all myself :). Have a great weekend, Mary Ann!
Hope she enjoys it Kelsie! You too! Happy weekend!
I love lemon desserts and this is something I would love to be treated to! Such a lovely presentation! Happy Mother’s Day, my friend!
Same to you Annie!
So pretty, Mary Ann! The velvety texture looks perfect!
These are my new favorite dessert Laura! I’ll be making these all summer long for guests at the beach!
These look heavenly! I don’t think lemon desserts get enough attention – they’re so good and this looks scrumptious. And those spoons are everything! So cute!
Thanks Cindy! I got those from a company called Sunnylife.com. They’ve got the cutest stuff!
Looks so delightfully simple! Perfect springtime recipe!
It is Matt!
Lemon and Mother’s Day just seem to go together. And I love the berries on top!
Yes! Thanks Kevin!
All summer on repeat? I’m in Mary Ann! I love single serving size desserts.. it’s a little more personal. These are so elegant and lip smacking good. I love the texture of mousse and pudding so I know I’d love these! Beautiful work Mary Ann! :D
Me too Traci! So easy when you’ve got company for the weekend! Hope you and Rob have a fabulous weekend!
I can’t believe this is just a few simple ingredients! It looks so elegant. Perfect for a spring gathering. And I love that you serve it with a shortbread cookie! Have a great weekend Mary Ann!
It’s totally yummy with the shortbread cookies and fresh fruit Leanne!
A beautiful dessert!
Thanks Jennifer! These are so easy and so delicious!
These look so beautiful!
Thanks Sarah!
I love lemon desserts and this one is so easy to make. Thank you Mary Ann and have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Me too Gerlinde! You’re going to LOVE how easy this recipe is!
I loveee anything lemon flavour and this recipe looks so simple to make! Such a great idea for a last minute mother’s day treat!
Yes! Hope you give them a go Jess! So easy and so tasty!
Love how simple these ingredients are! I bet the texture is out of this world! Any mama would be lucky to have this on her special day!
The texture is fabulous Leigh Ann!
Wow how did I miss this?! Hope you had an amazing Mother’s Day MaryAnn!
I did! Thanks Matt! Hope Naomi enjoyed hers too!
I saw these on Instagram and I was totally impressed with how delicious they looked! I don’t think I just need to save these for Mother’s Day though…maybe next weekend will work! :)
Hope you enjoy them Kathy. I know you’ll love how easy they are too.
How can something this pretty be SO easy! Seriously the perfect summer treat…can’t wait to try it!
Enjoy it Marissa! You’ll love how easy and tasty these are!
I love anything lemon so I’m pretty sure I would love these.
Hope you give them a try!
Can these be frozen?
Hi Joy. I have never frozen mine, but I have heard people comment that they can be frozen and then defrosted in the fridge a few hours before serving.
A query about the quantities. The recipe for six portions starts with 2 cups of cream plus the sugar and zest and this is then boiled to reduce to “2 cups”. Is this an error?
No, this is not an error. When you combine the heavy cream, sugar and zest it will amount to more than two cups. You will cook this mixture until it reduces to two cups. Enjoy!
Thanks for your fast and precise answer. Regards.
Hi,
I also asked the same question.
When doing some research, I found out that when you mix 2 cups of heavy cream with 2/3 cups of sugar, the final volume will be approx. 2,3 cups. Actually, the granulated sugar contains a lot of empty space that will be filled by the heavy cream.
So the recipe is right and we have to reduce the final mix by approx. 15%.
Thanks for the recipe. I have a question: since we use 2 cups of heavy cream, how can we reduce it to 2 cups? Knowing that the sugar doesn’t take much volume when dissolved. Did I miss something? Thanks in advance.
Hey there. When you mix the cream with the sugar you will have more than 2 cups, so you will need to cook it to reduce. Follow the recipe exactly and you’ll love the outcome. It’s delicious!