Lemon Curd

A from-scratch Lemon Curd that is perfectly tangy, creamy and sweet! This is so much better than store-bought and so easy to make. It only takes 4 ingredients and 30 minutes to make. Enjoy it on your scones, crepes, Angel Food Cake, biscuits and so much more!

Lemon curd always seemed like a super fancy and hard-to-make treat, but then I made it myself and discovered how easy it is. I don’t buy those expensive jars at the store anymore – it’s so easy you can have a batch made in about 30 minutes!

If you’ve been intimidated like I was to make your own from scratch, rest assured you can use this recipe to learn how to make lemon curd that turns out perfectly every time. You are going to love it. And one you use lemon curd on a lemon meringue cheesecake will have you storing this recipe away to use time and time again!

Why You’ll Love this Lemon Curd Recipe

• You only need four ingredients to make this lemon curd. So easy and absolutely delicious!
• It’s made with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, so it’s perfectly tart and delicious. No fake lemon flavor with a weird aftertaste.
• There are so many use for lemon curd in breakfast and dessert recipes. It is a useful and adaptable treat.

Ingredients for Lemon Curd

• Butter – It is best to use unsalted is best for this recipe.
• Medium eggs – Allow the eggs to come to room temperature before incorporating them with the other eggs. They will mix better with the other ingredients compared to cold eggs.
• Lemons – You will need one cup of juice plus zest from two lemons. I prefer to use organic lemons. Be sure to avoid the white pitch when zesting the lemons. Want to make lime curd? You can swap limes for lemons!
• Granulated sugar – Sweeten the lemon curd with granulated sugar!

How to Make Lemon Curd

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Then whisk the eggs in a small bowl until they are foamy and the color is bright yellow.

Once the butter is melted, add the lemon juice, sugar, and zest. Stir in the whisked eggs.

Warm the mixture over medium low heat while stirring continuously. You want to maintain the temperature between 185 and 195°F – don’t let it boil. If it boils the mixture will separate.

Cook the mixture until it thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. At this point, transfer it to containers and allow it to cool. As it cools, it will thicken even more.

Once cooled, secure the lids or cover tightly with a piece of plastic wrap and keep the lemon curd in the refrigerator.

Do you have to refrigerate lemon curd?

Yes, once it’s cooled, you will need to keep it in the fridge, so it doesn’t spoil. It will keep for up to four weeks in the refrigerator. Just keep it in an airtight container.

Why is my lemon curd not thickening?

If your lemon curd is thin, you might not have cooked it long enough. You need to cook it long enough for the eggs to cook, which is what thickens it. Also, be sure to add the right amount of butter – as the butter cools in the curd, it will help thicken it, too.

What is lemon curd?

It’s a type of spread usually made with citrus – lemon is a popular type of curd. You can use oranges and other citrus types to make it, too, or even other types of fruits like berries or tropical fruit.

What to Do with Lemon Curd

Now that you have your homemade lemon curd you’ll want to use it on all the things! There are so many ways to put it to use:

• Serve it with breakfast! Spread it on muffins, toast, croissants, english muffins, scones, even waffles, and pancakes! You can also use it to make breakfast parfaits with yogurt and granola.
• Use it as a filling! Cookies, layer cakes, lemon meringue pie, tarts, trifles…you can use it as a filling for all of your favorite desserts.
• Serve it for dessert! I love to spoon it over a slice of angel food cake or pound cake. You can also use a dollop as a topping for ice cream. And it pairs well with fresh berries as a dessert topping alongside it.

Surprise your family with this homemade lemon curd and you will get rave reviews! It’s so simple and a fun way to brighten up your breakfast or dessert. I hope you love it!

More Sweet Sauces You’ll Love!

• You only need three ingredients to make the best Strawberry Sauce – serve it with desserts or breakfast dishes like pancakes and waffles!
• I love to make Homemade Caramel Sauce for desserts and as a dip for apples. It’s so easy you’ll skip the store-bought kind.
• Treat yourself to Hot Fudge Sauce the next time you have ice cream for dessert. It’s easy to make and so rich and chocolatey.
• Grab some blueberries and make homemade Blueberry Sauce – we love it on waffles, pancakes, ice cream, and cake!