
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Use only the yellow outside of the lemon peels. Let the peels steep for four hours. Strain through lawn or lace fabric. Do not let the mixture boil when thickening.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Pare into one quart of boiling water the peels of four large lemons, the yellow outside only
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Let it stand for four hours
Take them out and add to the water the juice of the four lemons and one cupful of fine white sugar
Beat the yolks of ten eggs and mix all together
Strain it through a piece of lawn or lace into a porcelain lined stewpan
Set it over a slow fire; stir it one way until it is as thick as good cream, but do not let it boil
Take it from the fire, and, when cool, serve in custard cups
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Steeping lemon peels in hot water extracts aromatic oils without the bitter pith compounds, creating a perfumed base. The high ratio of egg yolks (10 to 1 quart liquid) creates a stable emulsion through lecithin, which binds fat and water molecules. Gentle heating below boiling (around 170-180°F) allows the egg proteins to coagulate slowly into a silky custard; boiling would cause the proteins to seize and curdle, breaking the emulsion.
The lemon-infused water can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. The finished lemon cream can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. The texture may thicken further upon chilling; gently whisk before serving if needed.
Store in an airtight container or covered custard cups in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Due to the high egg content, do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. This dessert is best served chilled and does not freeze well as the custard will separate upon thawing.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The lemon-infused water can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. The finished lemon cream can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. The texture may thicken further upon chilling; gently whisk before serving if needed.
Store in an airtight container or covered custard cups in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Due to the high egg content, do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. This dessert is best served chilled and does not freeze well as the custard will separate upon thawing.