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.
206 K 3.8/5 (48 reviews)
25 min.
Easy
175 g
6 IngredientsLast modified on: May 9th 2018
For 175 g, you will need:
- 1
4.4 oz Milk - 2
½ lemon - 3
¼ vanilla pod - 4
2 egg yolk - 5
0.5 oz caster sugar - 6
0.3 oz cornflour
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 ¼ 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 | 10 RDI=5 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 320 RDI=20 % | 1,360 RDI: 20 % |
| Per 100 g | 5 RDI=2 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 6 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=7 % | 550 RDI: 7 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 175 g : 1.10 €
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
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.
70 K 3 hours 15 min.
Ramekins with almonds, apples and lemon
A small individual dessert in a ramekin with 3 layers: almond cream, caramelized apples and lemon custard.
17 K 45 min.
Strawberry feuilleté
This elegant French dessert is not quite a tart. The base is a circle of puff pastry baked and caramelized, then topped when cold with a thin layer of lime-flavoured confectioner's custard and beautiful fresh strawberries.
54 K3.8 45 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.
65 K5 25 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.
46 K 2 hours 25 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Milk
Like these other recipes: Choux pastry (pâte à choux), Dublin fruit scones, Jam doughnuts, Kugelhof for Nanou, Dipping bread with cheese, ... See them all 60
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Italian Meringue, Citrus syrup, New tiramisu, Apple Pie, Little caramelized peach tarts, ... See them all 361
Cornflour
Like these other recipes: Blanquette of veal, Rich hazelnut buttercream, Italian hot chocolate , Upside-down Parmentier, Chocolate eclairs, ... See them all 33
Egg yolk
Like these other recipes: Scallops with crunchy vegetables and wine sabayon, Dauphinoise potatoes with Serano ham, Hazelnut and orange cake, Gnocchi alla romana, Key Lime Pie for Jeremy, ... See them all 73
Other recipes you may also like
Herb olive oil
This flavoured olive oil, easy to prepare, goes very well with Mediterranean cuisine: pizzas, pastas, pan bagnat, etc...February 21th 2011314 K3.8 25 min.
Ch'ti mussel tarts
A blind-baked puff pastry case, filled with shelled mussels in a velvety sauce made with beer and Maroilles cheese.October 7th 202049 K 1 hour 20 min.
Crème brulée
Crème brûlée (burned cream) is quite easy to prepare: it's a simple egg-cream dessert. The only difficulty is in making the delicious crunchy caramel layer on top. The perfect crème brulée (for me) is a cold and soft cream, with on top a nice hot caramel crust. This is a completely new version...December 31th 20111.67 M 74.3 4 hours 40 min.
Fresh mint ice-cream
This well-flavoured ice-cream is excellent on its own, or in profiteroles with a chocolate sauce for example.February 21th 2011535 K4.6 1 hour 35 min.
Chinois
"Chinese" - what a strange name for this cake! A kind of brioche, filled with confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière) which can be decorated with fondant icing.September 10th 2018269 K 24.7 5 hours 30 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)
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.