Key Lime Pie Posset

A Spoonful of Sunshine

There’s something about a Key Lime Pie that instantly makes you think of sunshine, soft breezes, and that perfect balance between tart and sweet. But what if you could capture that same magic, the tang, the creaminess, the simplicity, in a silky, spoonable dessert that takes less than fifteen minutes of actual effort?

Enter the Key Lime Pie Posset, a classic British dessert meets tropical daydream. It’s made with just three main ingredients: cream, sugar, and lime. That’s it. No eggs, no gelatin, no cornstarch, just pure alchemy.

What Exactly Is a Posset?

A posset sounds fancy, but it’s surprisingly simple. Historically, it started as a warm drink made with milk curdled by wine or ale (thankfully, we’ve moved on from that). The modern version is a chilled dessert, thickened naturally by acid instead of eggs or starch.

Here’s the science behind it: when you heat cream and sugar together, the sugar dissolves and slightly reduces the liquid. Add lime juice at the end, and the acid causes the milk proteins in the cream to thicken into a luscious, custard-like texture. Once chilled, it sets perfectly smooth, no baking, no whisking over a double boiler, and no stress.

Think of it as the love child between Key Lime Pie filling and panna cotta, with all the zesty satisfaction and none of the fuss.

The Flavor

The beauty of this posset lies in its restraint, just enough lime juice to bring brightness without overpowering the cream’s natural richness. The zest adds a subtle perfume that lingers on your tongue, like sunshine in every spoonful.

Top it with softly whipped cream and a touch of vanilla for balance, and you’ve got an elegant, melt-in-your-mouth dessert that feels both luxurious and low-effort.

Let’s Make It

You’ll only need one saucepan and a few minutes of patience. The hardest part? Waiting for it to chill.

1. Combine and Heat

In a small saucepan, pour in your cream and sugar. Gently heat over medium, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Once it reaches a gentle simmer, let it bubble for about 3 minutes. This slightly thickens the mixture and deepens the sweetness.

2. Add the Magic

Remove from heat, then whisk in the lime juice and zest. You’ll notice the cream start to thicken almost immediately, that’s the acid at work.

3. Pour and Chill

Carefully pour the mixture into small glass cups or ramekins. Let them cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes before transferring to the fridge. Chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

4. Top and Serve

Whip together heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spoon or pipe a dollop onto each posset just before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of extra zest if you’re feeling fancy.

How to Serve

These possets are lovely all on their own, but you can easily dress them up:

• Crushed graham cracker crumble on top for a nod to the pie

• Thin slices of candied lime for an elegant twist

• Or keep it classic, just that cloud of whipped cream and a hint of zest

They’re perfect for dinner parties, brunch tables, or quiet nights when you need a quick dose of summer.

Quirky Tip

Once you’ve mastered this base, the flavor possibilities are endless. Try swapping the lime for lemon, grapefruit, or even passionfruit. Each version brings its own mood, bright, floral, tropical. It’s one of those recipes that proves simple doesn’t mean boring.

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Recipe Card | Key Lime Pie Possets

The easiest, creamiest dessert that tastes like sunshine in a cup.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Possets:

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp lime juice

• 1 tbsp lime zest

For the Whipped Cream Topping:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• 3 tbsp granulated sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine cream and sugar. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves.

2. Bring to a gentle simmer and let bubble for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Remove from heat. Stir in lime juice and zest until fully combined.

4. Pour into four small glass cups or ramekins. Let cool 20 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

5. Before serving, whip cream, sugar, and vanilla together until soft peaks form.

6. Top each posset with whipped cream and a sprinkle of lime zest. Serve chilled.