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.
201 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 ml caster sugar - 6
19.4 ml cornflour
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 9 min.
Cooking: 15 min.
All in all: 25 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 19:10.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
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.
62 K5 25 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.
67 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.
14 K 45 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.
42 K 2 hours 25 min.
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...
49 K4.9 1 hour 20 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Milk
Like these other recipes: Savoury mini-madeleines with 2 cheeses, Muffin dough, Potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) purée, Jam doughnuts, Blackcurrant, vanilla and lime verrine , ... See them all 60
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Strawberry, kiwi and mascarpone verrines, Crème brulée, Pizza dough, Boulangère tart tatin with vine nectarines, Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée), ... See them all 357
Cornflour
Like these other recipes: Du Barry soup, Upside-down Parmentier, Blanquette of veal, Caramelized pear custard tart, Italian hot chocolate , ... See them all 33
Egg yolk
Like these other recipes: Fruit crémeux, Chocolate mousse, Coffee custard, Steamed leeks with morel sabayon, Crusty cockle tart, ... See them all 73
Other recipes you may also like
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.January 1st 2025291 K 24.5 3 hours 8 min.
European glass
A little dessert that's rather long to make, but which will always impress your guests. Layered in a glass: a jellied red fruit coulis, a layer of pineapple charlotte cream, a layer of kiwi coulis, topped with a peeled clementine segment. It's "european" because it resembles the italian flag, and in...August 15th 2010232 K5 2 hours 30 min.
Macarons (the original French macaroons)
This recipe really is "of the moment": the success of these small, highly-coloured cakes, in an infinite variety of flavours, is impressive. It's a recipe which needs some care, in order to produce a result worthy of a professional pastrychef. No problem, I will guide you through the recipe,...October 3rd 20191.59 M 714.6 2 hours 40 min.
Four-tier glasses
This starter recipe, served in a glass, consists of four tiers of different vegetable preparations. Each can be made the day before, and it's only the assembly that is tricky.June 2nd 2015263 K5 1 hour 40 min.
Green parsley sauce
This sauce, with a great parsley taste, is perfect with steamed vegetables or fish. At the bottom you will find the coulis version of this recipe.February 21th 2011523 K 44.3 25 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-03-30)
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.