This 4-ingredients lemon pudding has no gelatin, no eggs, and it's gluten-free. It's based on a very old dish called posset. If you love lemon dessert recipes, you'll love this pudding.
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Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. She also is a food photographer.
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Updated September 29, 2023
20 Ratings
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This lemon pudding couldn't be easier. It's made with just four ingredients: whipping cream, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
All you do is warm everything up, then let the pudding set. It's like magic.
Elegant, simple, and with a velvety texture that is positively dreamy, this lemon pudding is perfect for Easter dinner, Mother's Day brunch, and everything in between.
No one needs to know it only took you 15 minutes to make.
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This video is part of our Simply Kids Cook YouTube series. Head over there to see more videos in the series.
The History of Lemon Pudding
The recipe is a modern adaptation of a medieval drink called a posset, which was popular from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century. This was a hot milk or cream mixture thickened with acidic wine or cider. It was considered medicinal for treating a cold or flu, according to British Food History. Syllabubs, another sweet frothy drink, are closely related.
History lesson over! Lemon posset is fast becoming a trendy dessert, especially in Britain.
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The Magic of 4-Ingredient Lemon Pudding
The magic is in the thick cream, reduced slightly, and combined with tart lemon juice. The two interact to form an exquisite creamy consistency, especially after you strain out the little bits of zest.
Look through your cupboard for pretty stemmed glasses if you want to be fancy, and make this for your next party!
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More Lemony Desserts!
Easy Lemon Pudding
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Chilling2 hrs
Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
Servings4 servings
Recipe is easily doubled.
Recipe can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
Ingredients
2 cups (473ml) heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup (135g) granulated sugar
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
6 tablespoons (89ml) lemon juice
1 cup (about 150g) blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries, or blackberries, to garnish
Method
Warm the cream and sugar:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil. Adjust the heat to a gentle boil, and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
Watch carefully and stir frequently to keep the cream from boiling over.
Add the lemon juice and continue to simmer for 5 more minutes:
Stir frequently.
Take the pan off the heat and let the cream cool for 5 minutes.
Strain and chill:
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a 4-cup liquid measuring cup or other container for easy pouring.
Pour into 4 four-ounce ramekins or pretty stemmed glasses.
Refrigerate, uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours, or until set:
This pudding can also be prepared and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance. Top each glass with berries just before serving.
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| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 576 | Calories |
| 43g | Fat |
| 49g | Carbs |
| 4g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 576 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 43g | 56% |
| Saturated Fat 28g | 138% |
| Cholesterol 135mg | 45% |
| Sodium 66mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 49g | 18% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 9% |
| Total Sugars 41g | |
| Protein 4g | |
| Vitamin C 33mg | 163% |
| Calcium 101mg | 8% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 313mg | 7% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
