Orange Lemon Posset
Orange Lemon Posset is a rich, luscious dessert perfect for citrus lovers! This 4-ingredient recipe is the easiest fancy dessert you’ll ever make!
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Orange Lemon Posset is a rich, creamy citrus dessert made with fresh orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, and heavy cream.
The texture of posset feels like a combination of custard, yogurt, and pudding, but with a luxuriously smooth, silky texture.
If you like creamy lemon or orange Creamsicle flavors, this is for you!
Fun Fact: Posset dates back at least to Shakespearean times, as it’s mentioned in Macbeth and Hamlet, where it was a warm drink. It eventually evolved into a cold dessert.
What’s fascinating about posset is actually the science of how it’s made.
The acid from the citrus reacts with the fat and proteins in the cream and creates a thick, silky texture as it chills.
Since oranges aren’t acidic enough to set the posset, lemon pulls double duty by providing the necessary acid while also adding a touch of brightness to the orange flavor.
This recipe is really easy to make, as we basically just cook cream and sugar, add citrus juice and chill until set. However, the proper method and timing is essential to a successful posset.
Posset can be finicky! I finally mastered it by lots of trial and error over countless attempts and am now sharing my recipe with you!
Ingredients needed (scroll down to recipe card for complete recipe):
- Naval oranges
- Lemon – fresh not bottled
- Heavy Cream/Heaving Whipping Cream (not whipping cream or half & half)
- Sugar
📍The full recipe with exact ingredient amounts and instructions is on the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
I like to use a muffin pan to hold the orange halves stable so they don’t fall over and spill while chilling in the fridge.
This recipe fills 6 orange halves and also a small ramekin, which is not pictured.
How to serve posset
Posset should be served cold. They can be served in emptied orange rinds as shown in the photos or in small ramekins.
They’re beautiful and delicious as-as, but you could serve them with fresh raspberries, blackberries, or mint leaves for a garnish if desired.
💡Tips & Tricks
- Cream: It’s very important to use heavy cream/heavy whipping cream and not regular whipping cream, half & half, or any other dairy products. There are no substitutions as the 36-40% milk fat in heavy cream is essential for proper setting.
- Lemon: Since oranges alone aren’t acidic enough, the acid in lemon is an important part of the posset setting correctly.
- I do not trim the ends off the orange to help it stay flat. If you accidentally go too deep, you’ll create an unfixable opening that the liquid will seep out of. Instead, I use a muffin pan.
- Strain: For a nice smooth texture, be sure to not skip the straining step.
Looking for more citrus desserts? Here are some favorites:
- Mini Lemon Bundt Cakes
- Easy Lemon Cream Cheese Tarts
- Mini Key Lime Pies
- Lemon Cheesecake Cheese Ball
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Orange Lemon Posset
Equipment
- spoon (grapefruit spoon is ideal)
- paring knife
- small sauce pan
- liquid measuring cup
- Muffin pan
Ingredients
- 3 Naval oranges
- 1/4 cup juice from the Naval oranges
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 16 ounces heavy cream or heavy whipping cream (2 cups/1pint)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Cut the oranges in half around the middle, not from stem to end. Juice the oranges until you get 1/4 cup of orange juice. Use extra juice beyond 1/4 cup and extra orange as you wish.
- Use a paring knife to cut around the white pith of the orange halves, then use a spoon or if you have one, I prefer the teeth of a grapefruit spoon, and scrape the insides out, careful not to puncture a hole anywhere in the orange rind.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the 1/4 cup of orange juice. Set aside.
- Add the heavy cream and sugar to a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, while stirring almost constantly. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and set a timer for 3 minutes. During the 3 minutes, stir the liquid often and scrape the sides of the pan making sure it doesn't create a film. After 3-4 minutes, the mixture should seem thicker and lightly coat a spoon. Add an additional minute if necessary. Remove pan from heat and set a timer for 1-2 minutes.
- After the mixture sat for 1-2 minutes, add the orange and lemon juices to the mixture and stir to combine. Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup.
- Place the orange halves staggered on a muffin pan as shown in the photos in the post. Making sure the orange halves are not tilted, pour the mixture into the orange halves almost to the top. You should have enough leftover to pour into a small ramekin.
- Refrigerate the possets uncovered for at least 4 hours. 6 hours-overnight is ideal, especially if the refrigerator is being opened a lot. Covering them before they have set will result in condensation dripping down into the posset. They're great as-is, but feel free to garnish them with with mint sprigs and/or fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe makes 6 possets in orange halves, with some leftover filling that I pour in a small ramekin. I don’t list the servings as “7” as they wouldn’t be uniform for serving, but it will make 7 possets.
- This recipe was developed with Naval oranges and has not been tested with store-bought orange juice or any other types of oranges.
- If you do not have a muffin pan, you could use 7 small crème brûlée sized ramekins.
- The cook time listed helps evaporate water and reduce the cream, which gives you a thicker texture. The sit time listed is necessary to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot, but hot enough for the chemical reaction with the citrus to work properly.
- Please read the tips & tricks in the body of this post for ways to avoid your posset from not setting properly.
- After the possets have set, you can store them in a lidded container in the fridge. For the best texture, eat within 48 hours.
- After they have been stored covered, you may see condensation on top of the possets. Either dab with a paper towel or carefully tilt the liquid over the side.
My new favorite dessert! If you like orange creamsicle or creamy lemon flavors, this dessert is for you!