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    Home » Side Treats » Homemade Lemon Curd

    Published: Jan 14, 2020 · Modified: Jan 27, 2021 by Cheryl Norris · This post may contain affiliate links

    Homemade Lemon Curd

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    This homemade Lemon Curd is deliciously sweet, tangy, creamy, and smooth, with a tart lemon flavor. It's perfect for scones, crepes, pound cake, and so much more. Yes, can buy it in the store, but with this easy recipe, you'll see how easy it is to make at home with just a few simple ingredients.

    Tart Lemon Curd in a jar

    Since I started the blog I've made curd using different fruits, but I think this is the best lemon curd you'll ever try. But if you don't have lemon and you have some other fruit in the refrigerator check out my recipes for strawberry curd, lime curd, and cranberry curd.

    Jump to:
    • What You Need To Make This Recipe
    • How to Make Lemon Curd
    • Different Ways to Use This Curd
    • Pro Tips for Making This Curd
    • Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Fruit Curd Recipes
    • Lemon Curd

    What You Need To Make This Recipe

    This lemon curd recipe consists of just 6 ingredients:

    Lemon Curd Ingredients: Lemons, Sugar, Eggs and Butter
    Ingredients
    • Fresh Lemons. Definitely use fresh lemon juice for this recipe instead of bottled lemon juice. Fresh lemons have a tart, floral scent that I find is not replicated in bottled juice.
    • Lemon Zest. The lemon zest gives a flavor boost from the citrus oil found in the skin
    • Whole Eggs and Egg Yolks. The eggs add flavor, thicken the curd and create a creamy texture. They also make a stable emulsion - meaning the curd won't separate or break apart when it cools.
    • Granulated Sugar. Sugar adds sweetness, but the main purpose of the sugar is to combine with the eggs to create a creamy custard. The sugar breaks up the protein clumps in the eggs, which results in raising the temperature in which the eggs set. Permitting the egg proteins to set slow and disperse with the other ingredients results in smooth and creamy curd.
    • Unsalted Butter. Butter adds richness to the curd and helps make the curd satiny smooth.
    • Kosher Salt. Just a little kosher salt elevates all the other flavors.

    You can also make this curd using Meyer lemons. Please see my recipe for Meyer Lemon Curd and try that if you happen to have Meyer lemons.

    How to Make Lemon Curd

    The first time I made lemon curd I made it out of curiosity. I'd never had it or heard of it before coming across it in a cookbook. I was amazed at how easy it was to make and how good it was. Once I made it there was no going back.

    The recipe starts with zesting the lemon directly into the sugar. When citrus fruit is zested the oils are released and a lot of the flavor and scent are in the oils. Zesting the fruit directly into the sugar ensures that you are capturing as much flavor as possible.

    Lemon curd ingredients in saucepan -  lemon juice, egg yolks, whole eggs, butter, sugar and lemon zest
    Ingredients in Saucepan

    Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a 3-quart non-reactive saucepan. Next add the fresh lemon juice, egg yolks, whole eggs, and butter and slowly stir the ingredients together. The butter will remain solid until you start to heat the mixture.

    Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk constantly. When the butter melts, reduce the heat to medium-low heat. Do not walk away from the curd while you are cooking it or it will burn. If you have to walk away for some reason, remove the pan from the heat.

    As the curd starts to thicken and steam rises from the surface, check the temperature often. Don't let the curd boil. Boiling curd will cause it to curdle and create a grainy texture.

    Once the curd has reached the right temperature remove it from the heat and pour it through a fine-mesh strainer set over a heatproof bowl to remove any bits of cooked egg whites and lemon zest. Place plastic wrap across the top of the curd and gently press it into the surface to keep a skin from forming on the surface of the curd.

    Lemon curd in stainless steel bowl after cooking it
    Curd - Ready to be Refrigerated

    Refrigerate the curd immediately to keep bacteria from forming. As the curd chills, it will thicken. Once it is completely chilled store it in an airtight container for up to two weeks. It can also be frozen for up to one year. If you freeze it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator about 24 hours before you're ready to use it.

    Homemade Lemon Curd with fresh lemons

    The directions call for a non-reactive saucepan, which is a pan that will not react with the acid in the lemons. Do not use an aluminum pan, use stainless steel. Using an aluminum pan will produce a metallic aftertaste.

    Different Ways to Use This Curd

    This curd is very versatile and you can use it for a variety of different desserts:

    • Use it as topping for pound cake or angel food cake
    • Use it as filling for lemon cupcakes or a lemon cake
    • Use it as the main ingredient for a lemon tart
    • Combine it with whipped cream to make a delicious pie filling
    • Spoon it over your favorite ice cream

    Pro Tips for Making This Curd

    • Use a non-reactive (stainless steel) saucepan to make the curd. An aluminum pan will react with the acid in this fruit and affect the taste.
    • Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the curd to ensure that it cooks long enough without boiling.
    • Use unsalted butter for this recipe. Salted butter will create an off-taste.

    Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I freeze lemon curd?

    Yes, the curd can be frozen for up to a year. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before you're ready to use.

    What happens if my lemon curd is curdled?

    Unfortunately, if the curd is allowed to boil it will curdle the eggs and make the curd grainy. You can try straining it twice through a fine-mesh strainer, but that not remove all the grainy bits.

    I'm allergic to dairy. Can I make it without the butter?

    Yes. If you are allergic to dairy you can make the curd without butter. It will be a little less creamy, but still taste delicious.

    Can I make lemon curd without eggs?

    No, you cannot make this curd without eggs. The addition of eggs is what makes this a curd. You can make a lemon filling which consists of lemon juice, sugar and cornstarch. In this case, the cornstarch is the thickener

    Other Fruit Curd Recipes

    For other delicious fruit curds and recipes using fruit curd, check out these recipes on the blog:

    • Seville Orange Curd
    • Coconut Cake with Lime Curd Filling
    • Blackberry Lemon Curd
    top down view of lemon curd in a jar next to fresh lemons

    I hope you try the recipe for this luscious lemon curd. If you do please rate the recipe below. And please subscribe to the newsletter to get informed of the latest recipes.

    Homemade Lemon Curd in a glass jar surrounded by fresh cut lemons

    Lemon Curd

    This homemade Lemon Curd is deliciously sweet, tangy, creamy, and smooth, with a tart lemon flavor. Use it as a dessert topping, a cake filling or on biscuits.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: English
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Yield: 2 cups
    Author: Cheryl Norris

    Ingredients

    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
    • 2 (100 grams) whole eggs
    • 4 (80 grams) large egg yolks
    • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
    • 3/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
    • 8 tablespoons (114 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Place a strainer over a medium-sized bowl near the stove.
    • Place the sugar in a small bowl and zest the lemons onto the sugar. Use your fingers to rub the sugar and zest together. Juice the lemons until you have 3/4 cups of juice.
    • In a nonreactive 2 quart saucepan, combine the whole eggs, eggs yolks, and sugar and whisk until well blended. Stir in the lemon juice, butter, and salt.
    • Cook the mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture is thickened. As you cook the mixture the butter will melt. When the mixture has thickened and reached a temperature of 185 degrees F pour it into the strainer. Press the curd through the strainer with a spatula to remove the solids.
    • Cover the surface of the curd with plastic wrap, gently pressing the plastic wrap onto the surface of the curd. Place the curd in the refrigerator and chill.
    • The lemon curd is good in the refrigerator for 2 weeks and can be frozen for up to 1 year. If freezing the curd package it in a freezer container after it has chilled. When ready to use place it in the refrigerator to thaw for 24 hours before intended use.

    Notes

    MEYER LEMON CURD. For Meyer Lemons which are not as tart, use 3/4 cups of sugar. Use the same amount for all the other ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 988kcal | Carbohydrates: 108g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 34g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 675mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 103g | Vitamin A: 2163IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg
    PIN IT FOR LATER!If you like this recipe Pin it for later and make it at home. Post a picture and mention @bakesbybrownsugar or tag #bakesbybrownsugar!
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    1. Maire says

      January 31, 2021 at 12:26 pm

      Hi Cheryl! This is a rick solid recipe! Thank you for sharing it - my meyer lemon curd was sublime.

      Reply
      • Cheryl Norris says

        February 02, 2021 at 12:26 pm

        Hi Maire
        I am so happy to hear that the recipe worked for you and that you are enjoying the final results. And thank you for the compliment on the recipe. My goal is to make recipes that work for my readers.

        Reply

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    I'm Cheryl, an engineer by day, and a baker by night. My goal is to be your go-to resource for creating the best versions of your favorite desserts. As a baking science geek, I am passionate about understanding what makes a recipe work and sharing that info with you. I love finding new recipes to share, and I hope you join me on this journey of deliciousness. Read more!

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