Lemon Confectioner's Custard
This recipe is for a confectioner's custard with a difference: it's a little less sweet than the classic confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream) and has double lemon flavour, using both zest and juice, for plenty of tangy lemon taste.
It's the perfect filling for lemon tarts, of course, but also verrines, profiteroles, eclairs, etc.
It's the perfect filling for lemon tarts, of course, but also verrines, profiteroles, eclairs, etc.
203 K 3.8/5 (48 reviews)
25 min.
Easy
350 g
6 IngredientsLast modified on: May 9th 2018
For 350 g, you will need:
- 1
250 ml Milk - 2
1 lemon - 3
½ vanilla pod - 4
3 egg yolks - 5
30 g caster sugar - 6
20 g cornflour - Total weight: 495 grams
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 9 min.
Cooking: 15 min.
All in all: 25 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 2 min.
Stage 2 - 1 min.
...and add ½ vanilla pod. Mix well.
Stage 3 - 7 min.
Bring to the boil on medium heat.
As soon as the milk comes to the boil, take off the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
As soon as the milk comes to the boil, take off the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
Stage 4 - 3 min.
Stage 5 - 1 min.
Pour the milk, while it is still hot, onto the egg yolks through a sieve to remove the lemon zest (which has a rather unpleasant texture in the mouth). Stir to mix thoroughly.
Stage 6 - 7 min.
Pour the mixture back into the pan, put on low heat and leave to thicken while beating continuously.
Stage 7 - 2 min.
Once the custard has thickened, leave to cook for 10 minutes uncovered, then add the lemon juice and beat in rapidly with the whisk.
Your lemon confectioner's custard is ready.
Your lemon confectioner's custard is ready.
Stage 8
If you want to cool the custard quickly, even very quickly, do it like the professionals. See how in this video.
Remarks
To make a lime version of this custard, simply use a lime instead of the lemon.
Keeping: 1 or 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Based on recipe by Gaston Lenôtre.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 30 RDI=10 % | 60 RDI=6 % | 30 RDI=5 % | 650 RDI=30 % | 2,720 RDI: 30 % |
| Per 100 g | 5 RDI=2 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 6 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=7 % | 550 RDI: 7 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 350 g : 2.20 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Some other recipes using this recipeSee them all 6
Clafoutis "Marie-Antoinette"
This "Marie-Antoinette" clafoutis is a lighter version of the traditional fruit-in-batter baked dessert, almost a soufflé, with apples and lemon. The apples are sautéed in butter and Calvados, then combined with a lemon-flavoured confectioner's custard, lightened with raw meringue. This mixture is...
51 K4.9 1 hour 20 min.
Ramekins with almonds, apples and lemon
A small individual dessert in a ramekin with 3 layers: almond cream, caramelized apples and lemon custard.
16 K 45 min.
Lemon and lime custard tart
This is a delicious version of the classic French baker's "flan", with the twin flavours of lemon and lime. It involves two different confectioner's custards poured one on top of the other. This gives an attractive layered effect when the tart is cut. Not just pretty, it is delicious.
69 K 3 hours 15 min.
Mini lemon millefeuilles
These dainty and delicious mini millefeuilles have layers of puff pastry filled with lemon confectioner's custard (pastry cream). They are a bit tricky because they are quite fragile and do not keep well once assembled. But freshly made, they are a true delight.
44 K 2 hours 25 min.
Lemon Meringue Pie Verrines
This is a new twist on the classic lemon meringue pie. All the elements are there: sweet crunchy bits, meringue and lemon custard, but presented in layers in a glass.
64 K5 25 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Milk
Like these other recipes: Cornmeal baps for Anne, Hamburger buns, Household cake (Gâteau de ménage), Almond tuiles, Chocolate sauce, ... See them all 60
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Nonettes, Chocolate cream with a crunch, irish coffee mousse, Apple and almond gratin, Kouign-amann brioche, Pears and caramelised walnut samosas , ... See them all 361
Cornflour
Like these other recipes: Chocolate-verbena cream, Rabbit civet "à la normande", Pistachio cream, Eggs meurette, Paris flan filling, ... See them all 33
Egg yolk
Like these other recipes: Scallops with crunchy vegetables and wine sabayon, Ramekins of duchess potatoes, Apple and almond gratin, Finger biscuits, Little lemon biscuits, ... See them all 73
Other recipes you may also like
Clarified butter
This is a way of melting butter to eliminate all the impurities. The clarified butter can then be heated without spoiling, and is more digestible. It is ideal for cooking at high temperatures where small black specks would spoil the appearance, or for emulsified sauces like béarnaise or mousseline.June 21th 2017465 K4.2 2 hours 15 min.
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub)
A sabayon is a delicious and delicate preparation based on egg yolks and sugar, with a liquid added (wine, alcohol, fruit juice, etc), which is then whipped in a bain-marie until it is both light and smooth. Usually sabayon is sweet (syllabub), but you can make it savoury, in which case there is...November 12th 2017938 K 54 20 min.
Guacamole
For this typically Mexican recipe there are two main methods: smooth mashed avocado (made with a blender), or simple mashed avocado (made with a fork) with small pieces. And you can add, or not, finely diced tomato. You will find the first version (smooth) below.November 26th 2011300 K4.1 1 hour 25 min.
Natural leaven
Leaven is a natural raising agent, a fermented mixture of water, flour and the microscopic yeasts which are present in the air. It's a delicate living substance, sensitive to the external environment. The recipe is around 4000 years old and dates back to the Egypt of the Pharaohs, via a beautiful...April 3rd 20201.71 M 304.0 7 days 15 min.
How to glaze a tart
Professional pastrycooks usually say that "a beautiful cake is already half sold", it is one of the reasons why they do not put a tart on sale without glazing it ("abricoter" in Fench), i.e. coating it with a thick apricot syrup. This glaze gives a glossy finish to the tart (see the photographs...February 15th 2016455 K4.4 7 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-01)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.