A classic British posset offers a subtle nod to the traditions of a tea party with the fragrant flavors of Earl Grey. Creamy, rich, and delicately infused with tea, this Earl Grey Posset is a simple and elegant way to end a sophisticated meal..
In spring, when my garden is bursting with color and the air is scented with rose and lavender, hosting friends for a garden tea party is always a delight. Guests arrive dressed for the occasion, ready to mingle and sip in a setting made beautiful by nature. As the afternoon stretches on, I like to serve a sweet and unexpected dessert that draws inspiration from the flavors of tea.
My Earl Grey Posset captures the essence of a tea party while signaling something modern and elevated. A classic British dessert, a posset is creamy, delicate, and elegant. Warm cream is steeped with Earl Grey, infusing the dessert with subtle herbal and floral notes. I love serving these in tulip glasses, letting their soft, pale color and graceful shape reinforce the garden party mood.
These possets make a stunning finale to my Simply Romantic Spring Tea Party menu. Guests already sense that this gathering is elevated and tea-inspired from the moment they arrive with an herbal cocktail and luxurious small bites. The creamy dessert in its floral glass adds a final sweet note that feels perfectly in tune with a warm spring afternoon — soft, refined, and effortlessly romantic.
Earl Grey Posset
Ingredients
Method
- In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream and sugar to a gentle boil stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
- Add the Earl Grey tea, cover, and steep for 10-12 minutes until fragrant. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a liquid measuring cup.
- Stir in the lemon juice. The cream will begin to thicken slightly.
- Divide and pour into serving glasses or tea cups. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight until softly set. Garnish with berries or shortbread cookies to serve.
From My Table
- The absolute beauty of this dessert is that it can and should be made in advance. It’s simple to bring together, so I always make it the night before. Let it set in the refrigerator in the glasses you intend to serve it in. Then all you need to do is garnish them when you’re ready to serve. They’re a host’s dream.
- Have fun with the glasses you serve these in! I found these beautiful tulip shaped glasses which are perfect for Spring and fit the these of the garden party perfectly. But these could easily be served in coupe glasses or even tea cups, depending on the celebration.
- Be careful not to steep the Earl Grey longer than 10 minutes. You want that beautiful tea flavor. You don’t want it to grow bitter.
- Garnish the posset with berries or little shortbread cookies to mix up the flavors.
A Romantic Afternoon Tea
I’m serving this lovely British posset for dessert with my Simply Romantic Garden Tea party. That menu is absolutely gorgeous and also features a floral tea cocktail, white bean and pesto swirl dip, and crisp crostini with whipped goat cheese. The Earl Grey posset would also make a delicate and easy dessert after some of my other Spring forward main dishes like Silky Green Spring Pasta, Spring Salmon with Mustard and Dill, or a fan favorite, my One Pot Sun Dried Tomato and Feta Gnocchi. It’s a hugely versatile dessert that’s a bit unexpected and sweetly delicious.
