LEMON POSSETS RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring cream, sugar, and grapefruit zest to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high, whisking occasionally, and cook (still whisking from time to time) until sugar is dissolved and cream is reduced by about a quarter (mixture should be just shy of 2 cups), 8–10 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat; immediately add grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and salt; whisk vigorously just until combined. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring glass or a small bowl or other container with a spout.
• Pour into 4 glasses, dividing evenly (about ½ cup each) and chill until set, at least 3 hours. Do ahead: Possets can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• Cook guava paste and ¼ cup water in small saucepan over medium, whisking vigorously, until paste is melted and mixture is smooth, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, whisking well.
• Spoon jelly over set possets (about 1½ Tbsp. per portion) and smooth surface with a spoon. Chill until jelly is cool, 10–15 minutes.
• Just before serving, sprinkle tops of possets with salt. Do ahead: Possets with jelly (but without sea salt) can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

Steps:

• For the posset, place the double cream and the sugar into a large pan over a low heat and bring to the boil slowly. Boil for three minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Add the lemon juice and zest and whisk well.
• Pour the lemon cream mixture into six large serving glasses and refrigerate for three hours.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4.
• For the shortbread, sift the icing sugar, flour and cornflour together into a bowl and add the ground almonds.
• Transfer the flour mixture to a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until there are no visible lumps of butter.
• Add the almond essence. Pulse again, then turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and bring together to form a smooth dough.
• Grease a muffin tray with butter.
• Divide the dough up and roll into small balls. Place the balls into the muffin cups, flattening the tops slightly with your fingers. The dough should come about one third of the way up the side of each muffin cup to give a nice proportion to the finished biscuit.
• Transfer to the oven and bake the shortbreads for 8-12 minutes, until they are a light golden colour.
• Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then, using your thumb, make a small indentation into the top of each biscuit.
• Let the shortbreads cool for a few minutes, then turn the mould over and tap the shortbreads out. (Be gentle, as the biscuits are fragile while they are still warm.)
• When all the shortbreads are baked and cooled, dust the tops with icing sugar. Fill the indentations in the biscuits with lemon curd.
• To serve, place the lemon possets onto plates with a shortbread alongside. Sprinkle a little lemon zest on top, if you want.