This sweet-tart passion fruit curd is creamy, fruity, absolutely delicious, and the perfect filling for tarts and cakes. If you love Lemon Curd, then you'll definitely love this easy-to-make passion fruit version. Passion fruit has an aroma that is so distinct and fragrant, that it's immediately recognizable and one of the reasons you'll love this recipe.
Fruit curds are an excellent way to create a delicious custard using fresh or frozen fruit. One of the first curds, I made for the blog was homemade strawberry curd, and to this day it continues to be one of the most popular recipes on my blog.
I love the flavor of passion fruit (also known as lilikoi) so I'm happy to share this intensely flavored and aromatic curd recipe with you. Once you made it, you can use it as a spread for biscuits or as a tart filling as in this Passion Fruit Tart.
Living in Portland, OR it's hard to come by fresh passion fruit, but I found passion fruit concentrate works really well to create a creamy delicious curd. You can also use fresh passion fruit or passion fruit puree for this recipe.
Once you've made this curd try my other Fruit Curds including:
- Lemon curd - a classic that should be part of baking repertoire
- Lime curd - this curd has a slight floral aroma that pairs well with coconut
- Blueberry curd - make this curd during blueberry season for the best flavor possible
What is Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is the fruit of the Passiflora vine, a type of passion flower. It has a tough outer skin and a juicy deed-filled center. It has a tart-sweet flavor, but the thing that makes passion fruit stand out is the fragrant aroma which also adds to the eating experience.
Whole passion fruits have a brown-greenish smooth skin when first picked, but as they ripen the skin becomes wrinkled and turns a reddish brown. Depending on where you live Caribbean or Latin grocery stores might be the best place to find the fruit.
Passion Fruit Curd Ingredients
The basic recipe for this passion fruit curd consists of four ingredients:
- Passion Fruit Concentrate. The concentrate is the puree with the water removed. So for this recipe I added an equal amount of water to the concentrate before combining it with the other ingredients. See the recipe notes if you're using passion fruit puree instead of concentrate.
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Passion Fruit Curd
Step 1: Measure out the passion fruit concentrate and the water and pour them into a 3 or 4-quart saucepan and whisk together.
Step 2: Separate the egg yolks into a glass container with two whole eggs. Store the leftover egg whites in the refrigerator in an airtight glass container.
Step 3: Add the sugar to the passion fruit and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and whisk until the eggs are thoroughly incorporated.
Step 4: Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk it constantly making sure to cover the entire bottom of the pan.
Do not walk away from the curd while you are cooking it or it will burn. If you have to walk away, remove the pan from the heat.
The temperature is listed in the recipe to ensure that you have cooked the curd enough so it will thicken as it cools. As the curd starts to thicken and steam rises from the surface, check the temperature often using an instant-read thermometer.
Don't let the curd boil. Boiling curd will cause it to curdle and create a grainy texture. If the passion fruit curd does curdle, strain it twice through a fine-mesh strainer, to remove the grainy bits. If that doesn't work, process it in a blender to try and smooth it out.
Step 5: When the curd has thickened and reached the right temperature remove it from the heat and whisk in the butter one tablespoon at a time.
Step 6: Strain the curd through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any solids (little bits of cooked eggs) so it is extra smooth.
Step 7: Chill the curd immediately to keep bacteria from forming. Cover the surface of the curd with plastic wrap to keep a skin from forming on the surface of the curd as it cools.
What To Do With Passion Fruit Curd
You can use passion fruit curd as the star ingredient in different desserts including:
- Passion Fruit Tart
- Cake with Passion Fruit Filling
- Passion Fruit Bars
- Passion Fruit Pavlovas
You can also use it as an everyday treat as a:
- Spread for biscuits and toast
- Ice cream topping
How to Fix Runny Fruit Curd
Refrigerate: If the passion fruit curd is runny make sure it's bee refrigerated for at least 2 hours.
Cook it More: If the curd is runny it may not have been cooked long enough. The eggs need to reach a temperature of 170F. Gently reheat the curd over medium heat, whisking constantly. Check the temperature with a thermometer or look for signs like the curd coating the back of a spoon and leaving trails when whisked.
Add Cornstarch: Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water until smooth. Whisk it into the warm curd, then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Don't overcook, or the curd can become gummy.
Add An Extra Egg Yolk: Whisk an additional egg yolk in a small bowl, then slowly drizzle it into the warm curd while whisking continuously. Return the curd to heat and cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently.
What to Do with Leftover Egg Whites
For this recipe, you'll have four leftover egg whites. Please do not throw them out. Here are the things that you can make with egg whites:
- Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Meringue Topping for a cake or tart
- Combine them with more egg whites to make Angel Food Cake
- Vanilla Cake
- Macarons
If you're not going to be baking again soon freeze the eggs whites by placing them in a quart-sized freezer bag. Lay the bag flat in the freezer. When you're ready to use the eggs place them in the refrigerator to thaw 24 hours before you're ready to use them.
Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
- Use a nonreactive (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.
- If using the curd to make a tart, the warm curd can be poured directly into the prepared tart shell
If you make this passion fruit curd recipe please leave a rating and a comment below.
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How to Make Homemade Passion Fruit Curd
Equipment
- 3 Quart Saucepan
- Whisk
- Medium-sized bowl
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons passion fruit concentrate
- 6 tablespoon water
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (175 grams) granulated sugar
- 4 (80 grams) large egg yolks
- 2 (100 grams) large eggs
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
Instructions
How to Make the Curd
- Place a strainer over a large bowl, near the stove. Use a 2 or 3-quart non-reactive saucepan for this dessert.
- Place the passion fruit concentrate, the water, and the sugar in the saucepan and whisk together to combine. Taste the mixture and if you want it a little sweeter add 2 more tablespoons of sugar.
- Add the egg yolks and whole eggs and whisk until the eggs are incorporated.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture is thickened and is 185 degrees F. It should coat the back of wooden spoon and leave a visible trail when you run your finger through it. When the mixture has thickened and reached temperature remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in the butter 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Pour the passion fruit curd into the strainer and press it through the strainer with a spatula.
- 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 for at least 2 hours.
Storage
- The passion fruit curd is good in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to one year. If freezing the curd remove the curd from the freezer 24 hours before you’re ready to use it and thaw it in the refrigerator.
Humuhumu says
Another gorgeous and delicious curd! The passion fruit flavor was bright and tangy, and the curd was rich and irresistible. Your instructions were clear and worked perfectly. Thank you!
Cheryl Norris says
Hi Humuhumu
I'm so glad you're enjoying the fruit curds. Thank you making this recipe and for the compliments. And thank you for the feedback on the directions, I'm glad to learn they were easy to follow which was my intent. I absolutely loved the passion fruit curd. It is so addictive.
Lynn Casey says
I have juiced fresh passion fruit and frozen it into cubes in my freezer. Can I use the thawed cubes for the passion fruit concentrate.
Cheryl Norris says
Hi Lynn
You should be able to make it with the frozen fruit from the fresh passion fruit. Since I used concentrate, I recommend starting with 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) or thawed passion fruit juice and omit the water in the recipe. Please let me know how it turns out.
Chris says
Can you share how/where to find passion fruit concentrate or purée? Would love to try this recipe but struggle finding this key ingredient. Thanks!
Cheryl Norris says
Hi Chris
If you have access, it can be ordered from Amazon. I like the brands Perfect Puree and Pacific Fruit. Two other brands are Pitaya Foods and Goya and I have found them at regular grocery stores. They sell frozen passion fruit, which does not need to be diluted. If you buy those brands, thaw the passion fruit and then measure out 3/4 cup of passion fruit, do not add water. Another option is to check with restaurant supply stores in your area.
Brynn says
I’m a sucker for all things passionfruit and it’s one of the most popular fruits where I live, and this curd is incredible! I made it for the tart recipe with the coconut crust, and everyone was delighted and had second helpings.
I used 8 ripe fruits and strained the seeds out of the juice and some of the pulp, and I also used a little less sugar than called for because my family likes tart treats. I procrastinated and didn’t make the curd the day-ahead, so I chilled it in the freezer for 20 min instead of letting it cool in the fridge for the recommended time, and thankfully that worked just fine.
I normally use a different recipe for passionfruit tart but I think this will be my new go-to. Thanks so much!!
Cheryl Norris says
Hi Brynn
I'm so glad to read that you enjoyed this fruit curd and the passion fruit tart and that the tart recipe may be your go to 🙌🏾. Thank you for leaving this review and the information on the number of fresh passion fruit that you used. That's very useful.