Great Recipes

Everyday food made easy

Lemon Pastry Cream

September 19, 2026

Smooth, creamy, and wonderfully fragrant, this lemon pastry cream is a deliciously fresh filling with a bright citrus flavor. It has a silky texture and is incredibly versatile, making it perfect for filling tarts, cakes, mille-feuille, cream puffs, cupcakes, pastries, or individual dessert cups. 💛

The combination of creamy custard and fresh lemon gives this pastry cream a lovely balance of sweetness and acidity, making it especially delicious in desserts that need a refreshing touch.

⏱️ Preparation Time

10 minutes

🔥 Cooking Time

10 minutes

🕒 Total Time

20 minutes, plus cooling time

🍽️ Servings

4–6

🧾 Ingredients

  • 100 g sugar

  • 2 egg yolks

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • Juice of 1 lemon

  • 20 g cornstarch (cornflour)

  • 250 ml hot milk

Optional

  • A small knob of butter, added at the end, for an even silkier and richer texture

👩‍🍳 Instructions