Calvados Syllabub
by Nigella. Featured in HOW TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESSIntroduction
Syllabub is one of those ethereal, dreamy confections which seem at odds with the description 'pudding'. But this scented, whipped cream, piled up to swell cloudily out of its container, is a perfect way to end dinner and gloriously easy to boot.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
Syllabub is one of those ethereal, dreamy confections which seem at odds with the description 'pudding'. But this scented, whipped cream, piled up to swell cloudily out of its container, is a perfect way to end dinner and gloriously easy to boot.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.

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(UK only)
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Ingredients
Serves: 4
- 8 tablespoons dry cider
- 2 tablespoons calvados
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons caster sugar
- juice of 1 lemon
- 300 millilitres double cream
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup dry hard cider
- 2 tablespoons calvados
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup superfine sugar
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Please note that nigella.com is not able to accept responsibility for any substitutions that Ocado may need to make as a result of stock availability or otherwise. For any queries, head to ocado.com/customercare.
Feel free to use the “swap” feature and adjust brands and quantities as needed.
Method
You will need 4 x 150ml / 6oz glasses.
- Whip the cream to soft peaks in a freestanding mixer. If you haven't got one, don't worry — but I would then advise a hand-held electric mixer.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cider, Calvados, ground cinnamon, lemon juice and sugar. Then gradually beat this mixture into your whipped cream, and keep whisking until you have a creamy mixture that's light and airy but able to form soft peaks. I always think of syllabub as occupying some notional territory between solid and liquid; you're aiming, as you whisk, for what Jane Grigson called "bulky whiteness" — so be careful not to let the cream become too thick or, indeed, to go further and curdle.
- Spoon the syllabub into the glasses (and those you see here were bought by my maternal grandparents on their honeymoon in Venice) and puncture each semi-solid mound with a cinnamon stick, just as a Flake is plunged into a scoop of ice cream. If that's just a little too frou-frou for you (and I quite understand), simply dust the uneven tops with the merest haze of ground cinnamon.
You will need 4 x 150ml / 6oz glasses.
- Whip the cream to soft peaks in a freestanding mixer. If you haven't got one, don't worry — but I would then advise a hand-held electric mixer.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cider, Calvados, ground cinnamon, lemon juice and sugar. Then gradually beat this mixture into your whipped cream, and keep whisking until you have a creamy mixture that's light and airy but able to form soft peaks. I always think of syllabub as occupying some notional territory between solid and liquid; you're aiming, as you whisk, for what Jane Grigson called "bulky whiteness" — so be careful not to let the cream become too thick or, indeed, to go further and curdle.
- Spoon the syllabub into the glasses (and those you see here were bought by my maternal grandparents on their honeymoon in Venice) and puncture each semi-solid mound with a cinnamon stick, just as a Flake is plunged into a scoop of ice cream. If that's just a little too frou-frou for you (and I quite understand), simply dust the uneven tops with the merest haze of ground cinnamon.
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What 2 Others have said
This is my favorite syllabub recipe. The combo of the cider, Calvados, and lemon really make it taste like a nice, crisp apple. I served this after the Roast Squash and Sweet Potato Soup from “Christmas” and the Cranberry and Fennel Seed Soda Buns from “Simply”. It was a perfect autumnal evening!
I have made this dessert many times and my guests love it.