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60 Second Lemon Pudding requires no cooking, is egg-free and is the easiest thing you'll ever make. All you need are 3 simple ingredients, a bowl, whisk and 1 minute of time. This recipe comes together like magic and makes the perfect addition to icebox cakes, pies, parfaits and more!
Be prepared to be totally amazed. There's some culinary magic that's about to happen!
Like, real real magic. Like, you are just 60 seconds away from enjoying luscious, fresh, lemon pudding.
There's no cooking involved. No eggs. No gelatin, no whipping. Nothing of the sort. This recipe requires no work. Zilch. Nada.
If you're wondering if this recipe really comes together in just 60 seconds, make sure to watch the video in this post for stone cold proof. The video is not sped up, I promise you, and I included a timer/countdown and everything. I wanted to make sure you know that it is truly a 60 second recipe!!
Ok, enough of me yammering - let's get to it.
The Ingredients
The other bonus about this recipe is that you likely already have the ingredients in your pantry and fridge.
I always have heavy cream on hand because I use it for morning coffee, and I always have lemons laying around. Of course, as a baker, I have a stockpile of condensed milk in my pantry because it's great for easy desserts (ehem, you've seen my recipe for Brigadiero, right?)
When I came across the recipe for 10 minute Lime Cracker Pie from Food52, the recipe looked amazing, but the part that completely fascinated me was the idea that sweetened condensed milk, cream and lime juice made a silky, ultra creamy INSTANT pudding.
I was like, wait, do people know about this!?! This has to be the easiest pudding recipe in the entire universe, and I had no freaking clue this existed.
The original recipe is essentially an icebox cake made with crackers, but I wanted to pull the pudding part away from it and highlight it on it's own. I felt it deserved some spotlight because there are so many other great uses for this besides icebox cake.
I modified the recipe a little bit.
Instead of limes, I used lemon juice and I actually skipped adding the zest because I didn't really love the texture of zest mixed in with the creamy pudding.
How does 60 second lemon pudding work?
It seems like magic, but we can thank science for this delectable, tasty, fresh lemon pudding.
Here is how you make easy lemon pudding.
In a large bowl, mix together the sweetened condensed milk until completely combined. Then, add the lemon juice.
Basically, as soon as the acid hits the dairy, the mixture instantly thickens. Normally when you add lemon juice to straight up milk or cream, it results in curdling. However, with the added condensed milk, there are no curds that form.
It all stays silky smooth.
Now, don't expect it to get ULTRA thick. This pudding is on the thinner side, but in my opinion, is plenty thick enough to enjoy right after it's made. It's probably a tad thin for a pie. You could still add it to a pie shell but you're not going to have perfect, pretty slices of pudding pie.
If you're looking for really thick pudding, all you need to do is chill it for at least 8 hours or so, and it will thicken up nicely.
Substitutes
Given there are only 3 ingredients in this recipe, I hope you don't find the need to experiment with substitutes. And, I only say that because I want to ensure you get the right results with this recipe! 🙂
Frankly, I have not tested this recipe using anything other than lemon or lime juice, sweetened condensed milk or heavy cream. Each ingredient plays an important role to making this an easy indulgence to enjoy any time.
I'm really not sure if you could replace the cream with whole milk or half and half. I imagine it would thicken, but due to the higher water content I'm not sure if it would thicken enough.
I've also been curious to see if this would work with fresh squeezed orange juice, but I know the acid levels are different compared to a lemon or lime. Oranges are less acidic.
Lemon Pudding Desserts
As mentioned, this recipe traces back to that inspirational post on Food52, but there are a ton more uses for this than just icebox cake (although, icebox cake is always a fab choice!)
Here are some ideas:
- Trifles
- Parfaits
- Pies
- Dessert jars (I have a couple recipes in the works!)
- Use it to top fruit salad
- Basically, anywhere you need to layer in a luscious, citrusy pudding
60 Second Lemon Pudding
60 Second Lemon Pudding requires no cooking, is egg-free and is the easiest thing you'll ever make. All you need are 3 simple ingredients, a bowl, whisk and 1 minute of time. This recipe comes together like magic and makes the perfect addition to icebox cakes, pies, parfaits and more!
- Total Time: 1 minute
- Yield: 2 cups pudding
Ingredients
- 1 - 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1c heavy whipping cream
- 3½-4 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (juice from 1 - 1½ lemons)
Instructions
It is extremely important to follow this exact order of ingredients. The lemon juice must be added last!
- In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream together using a whisk. No need to whip or beat the mixture, just stir with the whisk to combine.
- Add the lemon juice and immediately stir.
- The mixture should thicken within a matter of seconds. Stir well with the whisk until the lemon juice is completely combined.
- Use lemon pudding as an ingredient for icebox cake, trifles, parfaits, pudding cups, dessert jars, pie filling, as fruit topping and more!
- Recipe makes about 2 ½c pudding. This recipe can be easily doubled in the same bowl.
- Ingredient substitutes are not recommended.
- Once made, the pudding is on the thinner side. To thicken, chill in the fridge for 8 hours - overnight.
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
60 Second Lemon Pudding was originally posted on Owlbbaking.com
Recipe adapted from Food52
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Category: Pudding
- Cuisine: American
Panela
Can this be used as a later in a dish that needs to be baked? (ie lemon bars)
Liz
Good question! Nope, this is a no-bake pudding only.
diane randall
it seems the directions above is missing the heavy cream and yet the recipe calls for it. is it save to say yes to mixing the heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk until well combined? also if i were to make a tart would i fill the bake tart shell before or after letting the pudding set overnight?
Liz
Hi Diane! The instructions to add the heavy cream are in the first line, "In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream together using a whisk."
You could fill the tart shell before or after it sets. This pudding doesn't get crazy firm!
Tracey
I made this as written. It tasted like sweetened condensed milk. NO Lemon flavour. Used lemons from my tree. I added 1-1/2 tsp of lemon extract. Initially 1/4 cup of lemon juice. I added another Tbsp of juice and 1 Tablespoon of zest. It still only tastes like sweetened condensed milk! So disappointing. I was hoping for a nice light pudding to serve inside a hollowed out lemon. Will see how it tastes after it gets refrigerated overnight
Liz
Thanks for the feedback! The lemon flavor is very light and I like the touch of extra lemon extract!
Pamela
So yummy! I know you said three ingredients but I did add the lemon zest.
Liz
That's a great addition!!
Crystal Jones
Hi! So I accidently put the lemon juice in before the whipping cream. Will this mess with the texture? The flavor is amazing. I let it sit overnight but it's still on the thin side. Is there a way to thicken it up?
Angela
Could you use Greek yogurt in place of the heavy cream?
Liz
For this recipe, substitutions will not work due to the thickening reaction of the cream and lemon juice.
Jay
Can you use heavy cream that has been frozen and then thawed?
Paz
Wonderful
Joan
Why would anyone use another recipe. This is like eating lemon velvet !!! So easy, so quick. I have to confess that I make it for company,: then hope they cancel!!
hahaha
Kathy Brown
Looks good!
Peter
How much is "1c heavy whipping cream" ?
Liz
Hey Peter! It's about 236 mL or 8oz.
Jay
So I made this. I used heavy cream that i had previously frozen. Worked perfectly. I also used 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice as i wanted it lemony. One guess said it was really lemony but she was young.😉
I loved it!