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.
209 K 3.8/5 (48 reviews)
25 min.
Easy
700 g
6 IngredientsLast modified on: May 9th 2018
For 700 g, you will need:
- 1
2 cups + 2 tablespoons Milk - 2
2 lemons - 3
1 vanilla pod - 4
6 egg yolks - 5
1⁄3 cup caster sugar - 6
2 ½ tablespoons 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 1 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.
Mix 6 egg yolks and 1⁄3 cup caster sugar with a soft spatula. Add 2 ½ tablespoons cornflour and mix again.
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 | 50 RDI=20 % | 130 RDI=10 % | 60 RDI=10 % | 1,300 RDI=70 % | 5,440 RDI: 70 % |
| Per 100 g | 5 RDI=2 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 6 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=7 % | 550 RDI: 7 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 700 g : 4.35 €
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
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.
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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.
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Ramekins with almonds, apples and lemon
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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.
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Lemon Meringue Pie Verrines
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This recipe uses (among others)
Milk
Like these other recipes: Mustard baps, Liège waffles, Savoury mini-madeleines with 2 cheeses, Potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) purée, Crème de foie gras, ... See them all 60
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Dublin fruit scones, Nougat, Pears in red wine with blackcurrant , Strawberry, kiwi and mascarpone verrines, Eton mess, ... See them all 361
Cornflour
Like these other recipes: Leopard cake, Caramelized pear custard tart, Almond cream or frangipane, Apple confectioner's custard, Chocolate eclairs, ... See them all 33
Egg yolk
Like these other recipes: Panettone, Savoury French toast, Lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream), Breton sablé biscuit dough, Sausage with duchess potatoes and a Mont d'Or fondue , ... See them all 74
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