‘Renato Syllabubs’

‘Renato Syllabubs’ from 365 Orange Recipes, the eccentric 1909 compilation by ‘Mrs. J. L. Lane.’ It is unclear while the elusive Mrs. Lane chose to call this a ‘Renato’ syllabub but by any name this formula is a classic example of one of the oldest English desserts. In common with all the recipes from the Lane cookbook, this one is simple and short. You will, however, want to get things started a day early, as Mrs. Lane understood:

“Steep the grated peel of 1 orange over night in 1 pint of Madeira wine; in the morning, add 3 tablespoonfuls of brandy, 3 cupfuls of rich cream beaten stiff with the white of 1 egg, and the juice of 1 orange. Sweeten to taste and serve in glasses very cold.” (Lane 85)

Notes:

-The texture may be refined with little or no loss of taste by straining the zest from the Madeira before assembling the syllabub.

-Any variety of Madeira, from the driest Rainwater to sweetest Malmsey, would be appropriate for Mrs. Lane’s syllabub.