Easy Lemon Pudding

This is THE EASIEST lemon pudding EVER. Just 4 ingredients. No gelatin. No eggs. Gluten-free. Great for Easter, Mother's Day, or dinner parties. If you love lemon dessert recipes, you'll love this pudding.

Sally Vargas

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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Sally Vargas
Updated June 25, 2020
Sally Vargas
Easy Lemon Pudding dessert cups, topped with berries
Sally Vargas

Featured in 16 Recipes Kids Can Make for Mother's Day

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.

Video: How to Make Lemon Pudding

5:03

SKC - Easy Lemon Pudding

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. Syllabubs, another sweet frothy drink, are closely related.

History lesson over! Lemon posset is fast becoming a trendy dessert, especially in Britain.

Easy Lemon Pudding
Sally Vargas

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!

Easy Lemon Pudding in three cups topped with berries
Sally Vargas

More Lemony Desserts!

Easy Lemon Pudding

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Chilling 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins
Servings 4 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

  1. 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.

    Easy Lemon Pudding with just 4-ingredients: whipping cream, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice
    Sally Vargas
  2. Add the lemon juice and continue to simmer for 5 more minutes:

    Stir frequently.

  3. Take the pan off the heat and let the cream cool for 5 minutes.
  4. 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.

  5. 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.