Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

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This incredibly easy Lemon Curd recipe is sweet, tart, silky smooth and perfect for spreading on all manner of baked goods. Lemon curd is so easy to make and is so much better than store bought. It’s simply amazing and so refreshing! We love to spread it on these The BEST Homemade Biscuitsand Lemon Blueberry Sconesbut I also use it s a filling in theseLemon Meringue Cookie Cups– so good!

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (1)

Lemon Curd Recipe

I cannot get enough of lemon desserts all year long. They are my absolute favorite with that tart, bold, bright flavor. Refreshing and entirely irresistible. We have many lemon desserts that are on regular rotation in our home including this easy Lemon Bread andLemon Bundt Cake. Really great for a crowd.

But when I want to make something that really epitomizes that amazing lemon flavor, nothing but this lemon curd will do.

Such incredible lemon flavor that really brightens up any dish and can be served in a variety of ways. It also makes a great gift for friends and family.

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (2)

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Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

This easy lemon curd is a breeze to make and if you love lemon like I do, there is simply nothing better. Such a bright, intense lemon flavor that is impossible to resist.

Here’s how easy it is to make:

  • Melt butter in microwave
  • Whisk together sugar and eggs
  • Stir in lemon juice and zest
  • Whisk in the melted butter.
  • Microwave on 50% power for one minute. Stir.
  • Continue microwaving at 100% power in one minute intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. (The curd will thicken as it cools.)
  • Strain curd through a fine-mesh sieve to remove zest.
  • Pour curd into sterile jars and store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (3)

What Is Lemon Curd?

If you are a fan of lemons, chances are you’re a BIG fan of lemon curd. I know I am! Lemon curd is essentially wrapping up that tart, refreshing lemon flavor in a smooth, creamy package which makes it perfect for all sorts of recipes.

Lemon curd is a type of preserves. It’s made with sugar, eggs, lemon – of course!, and butter. It can be used for all sorts of recipes.

Lemon Curd Uses

There is no end to the different ways to enjoy lemon curd. It’s exceptionally versatile and delicious.

  • Topping Greek yogurt with a dollop makes for a great snack!
  • Spreading it on a piece of toast or pound cake.
  • Makes the perfect filling for cakes and tarts and even donuts!
  • The perfect spread on these Lemon Blueberry Scones. In fact, I always make up a batch when I know we’re having scones and often when we’re making biscuits.
  • Delicious as a topping on buttermilk pancakes or even these blueberry pancakes.

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (4)

Alright. I might as well be honest here. I also eat lemon curd by the spoonful. Especially this kind. Cause I know just how easy it is to whip up another batch 🙂

Now I’m sure many of you will be skeptical. I mean, the microwave? Sounds a little far-fetched, I admit. But try this once, just once, and I know you’ll be convinced.

What Do I Need To Make Lemon Curd

You guys. Not a whole lot. I mean, how simple is this:

  • sugar – granulated
  • butter – I’ve use salted and unsalted in this recipe, both work fine
  • eggs – three of them plus one egg yolk
  • lemons – both the juice and the zest for really amazing lemon flavor

That’s right! Just 4 simple ingredients that you probably have on hand.

The bright tangy flavor and cheerfully boldyellow color will have you smiling in no time. Even on a cold, gloomy day in January.

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (5)

Love lemons? Try these favorites:

  • Lemon Blueberry Scones
  • Amazing Microwave Lemon Bars
  • No Bake Blueberry Lemon Cream Pie
  • Lemon Drop Bars
  • Lemon Zucchini Cake

How To Make Lemon Curd

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

This incredibly easy Lemon Curd recipe is sweet, tart and perfect for spreading on all manner of baked goods. Lemon curd is so easy to make in the microwave and blows store bought lemon curd out of the water. It's simply amazing and so refreshing!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword lemon curd

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes minutes

Total Time 11 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Calories 86kcal

Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice
  • lemon zest from 3 lemons

Instructions

  • Melt butter in microwave, set aside to cool slightly.

  • Whisk together sugar and eggs in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl.

  • Whisk in lemon juice and zest.

  • Finally whisk in the butter.

  • Microwave on 50% power for one minute. Stir.

  • Continue microwaving at 100% power in one minute intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. (The curd will thicken as it cools.)

  • Strain curd through a fine-mesh sieve to remove zest.

  • Pour curd into sterile jars and store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

Makes 1 pint or 2 cups.

Nutrition

Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 18mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (7)

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (8)

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Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does lemon curd last? ›

This homemade lemon curd will last in your fridge for 1-2 weeks, but you can also freeze it! You guys know how I love freezing everything. In the freezer, the lemon curd will last at least a few months and the beautiful part is that it only hardens about as much as ice cream, so you can scoop it out as needed.

What can be used as a substitute for lemon curd? ›

If you don't want to use lemon curd then we would suggest using an alternative flavour of fruit curd. We have seen passionfruit, rhubarb and tart orange (or Seville orange) curds being sold online in the UK. All of these flavours would go well with summer berries.

How do you thicken lemon curd at home? ›

To make a thicker curd, you can also add another egg yolk to the recipe, or a teaspoon of cornflour mixed into a tablespoon of water and cook until thickened.

What's the difference between lemon curd and custard? ›

It was also called lemon cheese. While curd resembles pudding or custard, the difference lies in the way it's thickened. Custards and puddings rely on cornstarch, milk and cream, while eggs are the primary thickener for curd, making it lighter and brighter.

Why did my lemon curd turn green? ›

If your lemon curd turned green, it likely had a reaction to something metal. Avoid using a copper or aluminum pan as those will react with the lemon juice and cause the discoloration in the lemon curd, and could even cause a slightly metallic aftertaste.

Does homemade lemon curd go bad? ›

Fresh lemon curd will keep for one to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

Why did my lemon curd curdle? ›

The most common reason why your homemade lemon curd split is cooking the curd on too high temperature. Because lemon curd is an egg yolk based "sauce," it requires gently cooking so that the egg doesn't become scrambled.

Do grocery stores sell lemon curd? ›

It's kept in jars and sold in the jam aisle of the supermarket. Yet technically, lemon curd is more of a thick custard than a traditional preserve.

Can you buy lemon curd in a jar? ›

If your baking experiments tend to result in disaster, a little jar from the grocery store might be the solution.

Why won t my lemon curd set? ›

Keep whisking over heat and be patient until it thickens. (Remember: The curd will become thicker once it cools.) If you've cooked the curd well beyond the recommended time and it's still thin like water, chances are your measurements were off and you added too much juice—or not enough egg.

Why won't my lemon curd set? ›

Trouble shooting: Most Lemon Curds are runny because they don't get cooked long enough, to 170 degrees F, to thicken the egg yolks – so cook on! If your curd isn't thickened after 10 minutes, or up to 15 if using a double boiler, then increase the temperature of the stove slightly – and don't stop whisking!

Why does my lemon curd taste eggy? ›

If you just place all the ingredients in a saucepan without beating the butter and sugar with the eggs first, the curd tends to taste eggy.

What is Sicilian lemon curd? ›

Sicilian Lemon Curd Deliciously rich and smooth, tangy organic lemon curd. Naturally ripened in the Sicilian sunshine, organic lemons are mixed with organic British free-range eggs and just enough organic butter to create our Sicilian lemon curd.

How do you know when lemon curd is thick enough? ›

I cook mine for about 2 minutes because I like thick lemon curd. Test the thickness by dipping the back of a spoon into your lemon curd and drag your finger across it. If it holds the shape without dripping off too quickly, it's done!

Is lemon curd good for you? ›

In any amount of lemon curd, the proportion of unhealthy elements like carbs and fat is going to be extremely higher than good elements like protein. In any serving size of lemon curd, you will only receive a benefit of 2.2 percent of protein while getting almost 27 percent fat and nearly 71 percent carbs.

How long does lemon curd last in fridge? ›

Store the curd: Lemon curd will keep in your refrigerator for up to a month according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 1 year. To thaw, transfer your curd from the freezer to the fridge 24 hours before you need it.

How long can curd be stored in fridge? ›

Buy the freshest curds that you can. Eat what you want, but if you can't finish the bag right away or if you intend to keep it for a while put it into the refrigerator. Once refrigerated, you can usually keep the curds about two weeks.

How many days homemade curd can be stored in fridge? ›

It can be stored at low temperatures (less than 5 degrees C) for several weeks. You can usually store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but it becomes much stronger at the end of that period.

How do you store opened lemon curd? ›

It will keep for several weeks sealed in the fridge and for up to a week in the fridge once opened. Yes, you can freeze lemon curd. Perhaps in small practically sized freezer boxes or bags for up to 3 months. Thank you so much.

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