How to Make Lemon Curd ( Easy 4 Ingredient Recipe) (2024)

February 27, 2024

Homemade Lemon Curd is, creamy, sweet, and tangy! This delicious citrusy spread can be slathered on scones, dolloped on pancakes, or used as a cake filling. You only need 4 ingredients and about 10 minutes to make the very best lemon curd.

If you are not familiar with Lemon curd, it is an amazing velvety dessert spread or topping with intense lemon flavor. You will find so many uses for it. One of my favorite ways to use it is as a filling between cake layers or layered in a trifle with pound cake.

Not only is it a wonderful topping but it can also be used as an ingredient in many lemon desserts such as lemon curd cheesecake, frosting, whipped cream, cookies, and lemon cake.

Sure you can buy it in the grocery store, but it won’t be as good as this lemon curd recipe. When it is as easy as this to make fresh lemon curd at home, why would you buy it?

Ingredients

All you need to make this recipe are a handful of simple ingredients.

• Egg Yolksfrom large eggs will thicken the mixture.
• White Granulated Sugarprovides sweetness to perfectly balance out the tartness of the lemons.
• Cold Butterwhich has been cut into small pieces is what creates a creamy lemon curd.
• Fresh Lemonsthat have been zested and juiced.If you want the most intense tart lemon flavor I recommend using fresh lemon juice rather than bottled lemon juice.

How to Make the Best Batch of Lemon Curd

1. Add sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and juice to a small heavy saucepan and whisk until combined.
2. Cook over medium low heat whisking constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.
3. When the mixture coats the back of a spoon, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cold butter pieces. The lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools.
4. Transfer the mixture to a mason jar or a glass bowl and cover the surface of the curd with a piece of plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid.

Cooking Tips

• It is best to start with room temperature eggs so that they blend evenly with the sugar.
• To avoid curdling the eggs be sure to mix all of the ingredients before heating the pan.
• Don’t try to speed up the process by increasing the heat or you may scramble the eggs.
• Whisk constantly until the mixture thickens to ensure no lumps form.
• Lemon zest provides the essential oils that give the lemon curd its bright flavor. But if you don’t like the texture, you can pass the curd through a fine mesh strainer before setting it to cool.

Storage and Freezing

The best way to store fresh lemon curd is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to store mine in a small mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and it stays fresh for several weeks.

If you need a longer storage solution, lemon curd freezes well and will keep in the freezer for up to a year. Just make sure to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before using it.

FAQ’s

Other Recipes For Lemon Lovers

Lemon is an ingredient that compliments sweet and savory dishes alike and I have recipes covering both sides of the spectrum. For all my lemon-loving friends out there I have some lemon recipes that you will love!

Fish and seafood likeEasy Shrimp OreganataandSalmon with Lemon Pepper, showcase the zingy flavor of lemon. Chicken also naturally pairs well with lemon. A couple of our favorites areLemony Roasted ChickenandPollo al Limone (Chicken Limone). On the sweeter side,Lemon Meringue Pie,Lemon Ricotta Cookies,Anginetti, andLemon Pistachio Biscottiare all bursting with citrusy flavor.

I love to get your feedback so if you tried this Lemon Curd recipeor any other recipes on this website, please leave me a comment below. I hope you enjoy our recipes and look forward to hearing from you!

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Lemon Curd Recipe