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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Frozen Lemon Mousse

8 Servings

20 minutes plus freezing

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Thanks to store-bought lemon curd, you don’t need to spend any time at the stovetop to make this ethereal frozen mousse. With the help of a stand mixer, the base comes together in a few minutes, then is frozen in a loaf pan until firm enough to unmold and slice. Bonne Maman is one of our favorite brands for lemon curd; Chivers also is good. Vodka minimizes iciness and helps prevents the texture becoming too firm so we don’t advise omitting it (its flavor is hardly detectable). The mousse will keep in the freezer for a couple weeks, making this an ideal make-ahead dessert. Mixed fresh berries are a perfect garnish. Note: The eggs in this recipe are not cooked. If you wish to use pasteurized eggs in place of the raw eggs, use 1 cup, however to obtain the proper volume, the pasteurized eggs must be whipped alone, without the lemon sugar. Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl and rub them together with your fingers, then whip the eggs as directed until almost doubled in volume; with the mixer running on medium, sprinkle in the lemon sugar, then continue to whip for about another 10 seconds.

8

Servings

Tip

Don’t skip the step of mixing the sugar and lemon zest for 15 seconds or so before adding the eggs. The sugar rubs the zest and brings out its essential oils. Also, for maximum airiness in the mousse, use a light hand when folding the egg and cream mixtures and err on the side of under-combined rather than totally homogeneous (it’s fine to see a few streaks).

20 minutes

plus freezing

Ingredients

  • 54

    grams (¼ cup) white sugar

  • 1

    tablespoon grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided

Directions

Reviews
Carol B.
March 25, 2025
Substitute
Can I substitute limoncello for vodka?
Gerald F.
June 23, 2026
Why divide lemon juice?
Why divided - no mention in recipe about when to use it as divided. Just mix both with vodka?
DOMINIQUE M.
June 23, 2026
not eating raw eggs
wish there was a way to make eggs safe.
Julie
June 23, 2026
Question
This looks deliciously summery. May I sub another liquor for the vodka? Perhaps gin?
James T.
August 26, 2024
Perfect for summer
It's widely known how well lemon and fresh fruit pair. This dessert is exactly that pairing, add in a warm summer evening with good friends and perfection is achieved.

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