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    Home » My Latest Recipes

    Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

    Jun 13, 2023 · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy lemon curd recipe is rich and tangy with a bright citrus flavor. Keep a jar of this curd in the fridge to spread on crepes or scones. Add it to cake fillings, swirl into yogurt or top off pancakes fresh from the griddle.

    lemon curd recipe from dessertswithstephanie.com
    Jump to:
    • What is lemon curd
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Lemon curd uses
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tips
    • Lemon Curd Recipe
    • Related
    • Food safety

    What is lemon curd

    Lemon curd is a sweet and citrusy spread made from lemon juice, eggs, sugar, and butter. It is used in a variety of sweet and savory recipes.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for lemon curd
    • Unsalted butter: cut the butter into ½" cubes and keep in refrigerator
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Egg yolks: save those egg whites for an omelet, meringue cookies or macarons
    • Lemon juice: use freshly squeezed or a high-quality bottled juice. I like the Nellie & Joe's.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    The process involves cooking the egg yolks, sugar and lemon juice together on a stovetop. The ingredients are cooked over low heat until they thicken to a custard-like consistency. Then, cold butter cubes are stirred into the hot curd.

    See the recipe card below for more details.

    Lemon curd uses

    Lemon curd can be used in various ways. Consider one of the following:

    • Cake fillings: lighten the curd with whipped cream
    • Toast, crepes or scones: Spread on a bit of the curd and enjoy!
    • Lemon Thumbprint Cookies: Use the curd to fill thumbprint cookies.
    thumbprint cookies with lemon curd

    Equipment

    Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan for making the lemon curd. This allows for more even heat distribution and lessens the possibility of burning the curd.

    Storage

    Store the curd in a clean, airtight container for up to 10 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Top tips

    While the curd is still warm, place it in a container and press plastic wrap against the top. This will help prevent a skin from forming on the curd.

    Lemon curd can be a unique and thoughtful homemade gift. Package it in decorative jars, add a personalized label and ribbon, and give it to friends or friends.

    lemon curd in a bowl

    Lemon Curd Recipe

    This recipe creates a delicious and versatile Lemon Curd for use in a variety of dessert dishes.
    5 from 33 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Cooling Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Spanish

    Equipment

    • 1 Heavy-bottomed saucepan

    Ingredients
      

    • 200 Grams Granulated sugar (1 cup)
    • 8 Large Egg yolks
    • 4 Fluid ounces Lemon juice (fresh or bottled) (½ cup)
    • 112 Grams Unsalted Butter, cold and cut into ½" cubes (8 Tablespoons / 4 ounces)

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the lemon juice, egg yolks and granulated sugar in a small saucepan.
    • Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
    • Continue to heat for 3 - 5 minutes until mixture thickens and begins to simmer (temperature will be approximately 180 ℉).
    • Remove saucepan from the heat and stir in cold butter. Continue stirring until all the butter has melted.
    • Optional if any lumps formed in curd: Strain curd through a sieve placed over a bowl to remove any lumps.
    • Press plastic wrap over the top of the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Place in refrigerator until cooled completely.
    Keyword lemon curd
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • easy mango curd recipe
      Easy Mango Curd with Four Ingredients
    • cookies with lemon zest on a serving platter
      Zesty Lemon Cookie Recipe with Video Instruction

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Giangi Townsend says

      July 14, 2023 at 1:42 am

      5 stars
      I am so in love with your lemon curd, and I always keep a jar in the refrigerator. You ne ver know when it will come in handy.
      Thank you for your recipe.

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        July 14, 2023 at 1:31 pm

        Aw Giangi, thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    2. Jessica says

      July 13, 2023 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      I made this lemon curd today and OMG was it delicious! So bright, fresh and delectable!

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        July 13, 2023 at 9:27 pm

        Thank you for letting me know, Jessica. So pleased the recipe worked well for you.

        Reply
    3. Gloria says

      July 12, 2023 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love lemon curd. I could (and do) eat it by the spoonful. Such a great recipe.

      Reply
    4. Mary says

      June 30, 2023 at 5:09 am

      5 stars
      Love this lemon curd recipe. Made it with Meyer lemons and ate it with a spoon. Yum.

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        June 30, 2023 at 2:56 pm

        Mary, yes, Meyer lemons are the best! Thank you for your review.

        Reply
    5. Andréa Janssen says

      June 21, 2023 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      I wanted to make lemon curd cupcakes and was looking for a delicious recipe to make the lemon curd from scratch. So glad I found this recipe!

      Reply
    6. Gloria says

      June 21, 2023 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      I can eat lemon curd by the spoonful. So easy to make, and so much better than store bought.

      Reply
    7. Connie Grigg says

      June 21, 2023 at 12:37 pm

      5 stars
      Brilliant. I am always looking for ways to use lemons- never thought of lemon curd. Never knew it was so simple! Thank you for this beautiful recipe. Yum!

      Reply

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    Pastry Chef Stephanie

    Welcome to Desserts With Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your visit. All the recipes and techniques I discuss on this site have been fully tested in my bakery for more than 15 years. Let's have some fun in the kitchen and put a smile on someone's face with a little sweetness.

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