Rediscovering a Castle Dessert from 50 Years Ago

At Celtic Castles, we offer a truly personalised service, built on deep knowledge of our properties and close working relationships with their owners. Representing over a hundred castles across the UK, Ireland, and France, we handle countless guest enquiries - and every so often, one stands out.

In our world, luxury isn't always about extravagance. Often, it's a memory: a scent, a taste… This is the story of such a moment, shared by a young couple at Inverlochy Castle - and how a simple email brought a cherished memory to life.

“My husband and I stayed at Inverlochy Castle years ago, probably May of 1979, we loved our stay and we had the best dessert we've ever had there. I was wondering if you could let us know what it possibly was. I remember the chef was a woman, but we didn't get more details at the time and have recently wished we had.

It was a moulded pudding (vanilla based I think) served with a warm sauce (possibly crème anglaise).

I would love to try to make a similar dessert or if you could provide me with the recipe from you files, even better."

— Sue, Canada

On the Case: Uncovering a Castle’s Sweet Secret

We always enjoy a challenge and so we got to work with Inverlochy Castle.

David Robertson, now the General Manager, first worked at Inverlochy as a teenager, where he fondly remembered Mary Shaw, the talented chef behind the castle’s iconic desserts. Although many chefs have, of course, been and gone since then, he was convinced that that particular dish sounded like Mary’s Marmalade Soufflé.

Driven by nostalgia and after a little investigation, we unearthed a recipe which we believe to have been inspired by Mary’s creation and we’re pleased to be able to share step-by-step instructions so you can also recreate the dish at home.

Ingredients

For the pudding

• 3 eggs, separated
• 120g caster sugar
• 3 tbsp coarse-cut marmalade (gently melted)
• Grated zest of 1 small orange
• Juice of ½ a small lemon
• A little softened butter (for greasing)

For the custard

• 250ml full-fat milk
• ½ vanilla pod, split lengthways
• 3 egg yolks
• 50g caster sugar
• 1 tbsp Cointreau or Grand Marnier (optional but recommended)

Equipment needed

• A double boiler with 2L+ capacity, or a heatproof bowl that fits over a saucepan for steaming
• Buttered foil for covering

Method:

Soufflé

• Whisk egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, whisk until glossy and firm peaks form.
• Fold in melted marmalade, orange zest, and lemon juice gently.
• Butter the top half of the double boiler/bowl.
• Spoon in mixture, smooth top, leaving room to rise.
• Cover loosely with buttered foil.
• Steam over simmering water for 45–60 minutes, until firm and springy.

Orange Custard

• Warm milk with split vanilla pod; simmer then infuse for 10 mins.
• Whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale.
• Strain milk into yolks, whisking constantly.
• Cook over moderate heat, stirring until custard coats the spoon.
• If split, blend briefly to smooth.
• Stir in orange liqueur and chill until very cold.

To Serve

• Turn out soufflé onto a cold dish, pour chilled custard around it, and serve immediately.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Sue recalls:

“We spent a year planning that vacation, back then we didn't have the internet so I'm not sure how we found out about the hotel, but it was probably mentioned in one of the reference books we bought about traveling in the UK. We only stayed the one night, but our memories of that stay and our entire dinner there are just great. Thank you so much!”

Plan Your Own Unforgettable Castle Stay

Requests like these remind us that travel is about more than just destinations - it’s about the memories we carry with us for a lifetime. Whether you're revisiting a special place or discovering it for the first time, we'd love to help you create an experience that you may also treasure decades from now.

With our free, quick and expert service, planning your perfect castle stay is simple — and filled with personal touches that are bound to make it truly memorable.

Discover how Celtic Castles can help or learn more about Inverlochy Castle.