Easy German Lemon Mousse | Zitronenspeise
One spoonful of this decadent lemon mousse will send you to culinary heaven. Best of all, this recipe is so easy without complicated steps or ingredients that anyone can make it.
Growing up in Germany, this was one of my favorite desserts, however, it was typically made with gelatin. Since gelatin can be a bit harder to find here in the US and to use, I created a recipe that doesn’t need it. And you would never know it!
Whether you call it lemon mousse, lemon dessert, Zitronenspeise, or Zitronencreme, this is a lemon lover’s dream!
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What you’ll love about this recipe:
The ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you need:
- Lemons: Fresh-pressed lemon juice is the best and most flavorful and we need the zest
- Sugar: I use granulated cane sugar
- Cornstarch: This ingredient gives this dessert more body
- Yogurt: Adds a nice fresh flavor and compliments the lemon
- Heavy whipping cream: This makes the lemon mousse so decadent
Useful tools and equipment
I find having these kitchen tools helpful:
- Citrus press: I love making fresh lemon juice
- Zester: Adding lemon zest gives this dessert a burst of flavor
- Medium bowl: for mixing the ingredients
- Small saucepan: for heating up the lemon dessert base
- Wire whisk: makes whisking the base a snap
- Hand-held blender: I love to whip my cream and find using a small hand mixer easier than using a stand mixer
Substitutions and variations
- Lemons: We are lucky that we have lemon trees but organic lemons are great, too. You can experiment with regular, Meyer lemons, or other types of citrus.
- Sugar: I have not tried it but I bet you could also make this with honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup.
- Yogurt: While not strictly necessary, you can use whole milk yogurt (even better when you make your own yogurt), low-fat yogurt, or Greek yogurt.
How to serve
- Serve it as a dessert in individual pretty bowls or ramekins
- Spoon it over shortbread crust or cookies for a buttery contrast
- Serve it with fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries for a pop of color
- Decorate it with some mint leaves
- Drizzle it with some honey for added sweetness
- Serve it with an extra dollop of whipped cream
Make ahead of time?
Here are some ways to save time:
- Make the lemon-yogurt base and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator
- Make the entire dessert and store it tightly covered in the refrigerator
How long does it last?
You can keep this German lemon dessert in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure to cover it tightly.
How to Make Zitronenspeise
This is just a summary of the steps involved. For the full instructions, see the recipe card further down in this post.
Step 1: Prepare the Lemon Base
Zest the lemons and juice them. In a small saucepan, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar but be sure to keep some of lemon juice in a small bowl on the side. Add the cornstarch to the rest of the lemon juice.
Step 2: Cook the Base
Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Take it off the heat, whisk in the cornstarch slurry, and return it to the stove. Continually whisking gently cook the lemon mixture until it reaches the consistency of loose pudding. Remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Incorporate the Yogurt
Once the lemon base has cooled, add the yogurt.
Step 4: Whip the Cream
In a separate bowl, using a hand-held blender on high speed whip the heavy cream.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Gently fold the whipped cream into the white mixture.
Step 6: Chill and Serve
Spoon the mousse into individual serving dishes or one large bowl. Chill it in the refrigerator for at least two hours. When ready to serve, garnish with a few strips of lemon zest, a mint leaf, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Tips for Success!
Use fresh lemons – Freshly squeezed juice and zest make all the difference in flavor.
Be gentle when folding – To ensure to get a very fluffy lemon mousse.
Chill properly – Letting the mousse rest in the fridge enhances the flavor and texture.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments!
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Lemon Mousse | Zitronenspeise
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP cornstarch
- ⅔ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup yogurt
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- lemon zest
Instructions
- Zest the lemons and juice them. You’ll need about ⅔ cup of fresh lemon juice, but feel free to adjust based on how tart you like your mousse. In a small saucepan, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar but be sure to keep 3 TBSP of lemon juice in a small bowl on the side. Add the cornstarch to the rest of the lemon juice.
- Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Take it off the heat, whisk in the cornstarch slurry, and return it to the stove. Over medium low heat and continually whisking gently cook the lemon mixture until it reaches the consistency of loose pudding. Remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- Once the lemon base has cooled, whisk in the yogurt.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand-held blender on high speed to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the white mixture. Go slow with this step to keep the mousse as light and fluffy as possible.
- Whisk in the yogurt. Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator until cool to the touch.
- Spoon the mousse into individual serving dishes or one large bowl. Chill it in the refrigerator for at least two hours. When ready to serve, garnish with a few strips of lemon zest or a sprinkle of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.
Notes
- adjust the amount of sugar to the sourness of your lemons
- you can add grated lemon zest to the mousse and garnish with strips of lemon peel
- fresh lemon juice is best but bottled will work, too
Nutrition
Try These Other Delicious Desserts
If you love this lemon mousse, you might also enjoy:
- German Red Berry Pudding: A fresh and healthy dessert option
- Easy Sourdough Lemon Bar Recipe: Great for when you have lots of lemons
- Easy Sourdough Lemon Cake: You could use this fluffy mousse as frosting for this cake
- Classic German Rice Pudding | Milchreis: This dessert will bring back childhood memories