Ingredients

FOR THE LEMON POSSET
500g/1 lb fresh raspberries
500ml/17 fl oz (2 cups plus 1 tablespoon) Jersey or double cream (fat content 50%)
140g/5 oz (⅔ cup) caster (superfine) sugar
120ml/4 fl oz (½ cup) freshly squeezed lemon juice
TO SERVE
crystallised lemon verbena leaves
shortbread biscuits or langues de chat biscuits

Lemon posset is easy to prepare, and there is just one thing to bear in mind when making it; the richer the cream you use, the silkier the posset will be. Whenever I can, I use rich Jersey cream in this dish; it yields a texture so melt-in-the-mouth that it raises the bar for all set-cream desserts – it really is that good! I sometimes add a few lemons or rose-scented geranium leaves to the pan of cream while it is heating. The flavour of the leaves plays so nicely with the raspberries and tangy cream.

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Instructions

1.TO MAKE THE LEMON POSSET
2.Divide the raspberries between eight serving glasses, reserving 8 raspberries for decoration, or alternatively place all the raspberries in one large serving dish.
3.Place the cream and sugar in a heavy pan on a medium heat, stir and bring to a simmer.
4.It is normal for the cream to expand when it is close to simmering point, so stand by the pan and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer for 5 minutes.
5.Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
6.Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a jug.
7.Pour the hot lemon cream over the raspberries in each serving glass, or alternatively over the raspberries in the large serving dish.
8.Chill for at least 4 hours until set.
9.TO SERVE
10.Decorate each posset with the reserved raspberries and crystallised lemon verbena leaves.
11.Serve with shortbread biscuits or langues de chat.

Recipes and images
extracted from Ballymaloe
Desserts: Iconic Recipes
and Stories from Ireland by
JR Ryall
. Photography by
Cliodhna Prendergast.
Published by Phaidon, $95.
phaidon.com