English Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

This English Lemon Curd Recipe is one of my all-time favorites. Spread it on a freshly baked scone or even a yummy piece of toast with butter. And, I have the best Magnolia Table Scones recipe that will go nicely with a dollop of lemon curd.

English Lemon Curd Recipe (1)

Lemon Curd Recipe

I love this recipe. My good friend Mindy gave me this recipe, and she found it in an authentic and wonderful English cookbook that her mom gave her years ago. This cookbook was published in the mid-’60s. The recipe is easy, and you only need five ingredients, which makes it one of my favorites.

Did I mention that it only takes about 30 minutes to make? I know that Trader Joe’s sells delicious lemon curd, but I love this recipe more. It has a smooth, buttery consistency that melts in your mouth. Also, I always have many lemons on hand, so I love to make my own curd.

Tips for a Perfect Lemon Curd

I just made this recipe again, and I made a few important revisions. So, now you’ll get a fabulous lemon curd. Before my latest change, the eggs would scramble, so now you shouldn’t get this.

  • You’ll want to cook it over low heat; in the last bit, you’ll turn it to a medium-low temperature.
  • Use a double boiler to cook your curd. It provides a more even temperature.
  • Also, use cold butter when cooking your curd. The cold butter slows the cooking of the egg, so you’re less likely to get scrambled eggs in your homemade curd!

If you get bits of scrambled eggs, strain your curd or pick them out afterward. It is a personal preference. But if you cook it for 30 minutes, you should have a smooth, creamy curd!

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Meyer Lemons

So, I used my fresh Meyer Lemons from my garden. Do you know anything about Meyer Lemons?

What is the difference between a Meyer lemon and a lemon?

Meyer Lemons are a hybrid of a lemon crossed with a mandarin orange. The acidity is less than lemon, but it tastes like a lemon.

Do Meyer lemons look different than lemons?

So, they are rounder than a lemon and definitely more orange in color. I used my Meyer lemons in all these photos to see that they are more orange in color.

Can you substitute Meyer lemons for lemons when baking?

Yes! The Meyer lemons are less tangy, which is a bonus in my book. Also, since they are half orange, you can use them when a recipe calls for oranges.

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Lemon Curd Ingredients

I love making these little posters! This recipe has very few ingredients, and the results are homemade yummy goodness!

Fresh Lemons

I used my Meyer lemons, but regular lemons are fine, too.

Eggs

You’ll need to bring the eggs to room temperature. You can leave them out to get the right temperature or place them in a bowl of warm water. Keep the water running on them for a couple of minutes. Room-temperature eggs mix better with the other ingredients, thus preventing scrambled eggs in the curd.

Butter

I opted for salted butter, but feel free to use unsalted. Either kind will work. I adore that subtle hint of salt; it enhances the buttery goodness. Funny story—I decided to go with cold butter straight from the fridge recently, which turned out fantastic. The cold butter slowed the egg cooking process, preventing unwanted scrambled egg mishaps!

Lemon Zest

Add as much zest as you wish. The more zest, the more lemon flavor your curd!

Sugar

I used regular granulated sugar, but I have also made it with organic sugar, and the texture is the same despite the sugar’s coarser grains.

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English Lemon Curd Recipe (5)

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Lemon Curd

This buttery Lemon Curd has the perfect blend of sweetness and citrus. It is an easy recipe to make, and the taste is so delicious that you won't stop eating it. Enjoy the curd on scones, toast or just on a spoon! They make the perfect gift.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time12 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: British Baking, Dessert, LemonCurd, Scones

Author: Happy Happy Nester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter Cold butter works best. Also, cube the butter.
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • zest of 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Get all your ingredients ready.

  • Thoroughly whisk eggs in a bowl.

  • Add whisked eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and zest to a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk ingredients thoroughly. Next, add the butter cubes to the egg mixture. Note that the butter will melt while cooking.

  • Turn on the burner to the lowest heat setting. Next, place water in the bottom of a double boiler.

  • Place the saucepan on the double boiler and constantly stir with a rubber spatula. The heat should be at the lowest setting. Do not boil the curd; it will split, and you'll have scrambled egg bits.

    Stir with a spatula for 20 minutes.

  • After 20 minutes, increase the heat to a low-medium flame. Stir constantly. In the last five minutes, the curd will go from liquid yellow to an opaque creamy color and thicken up quite nicely.

  • Once it thickens, remove it from the stovetop and immediately transfer the cooked curd to a bowl. Make sure to keep stirring for a couple of minutes as it cools. If you get bits of scrambled egg, strain the curd or pluck out the bits of egg. The scrambled egg won't doesn't affect the flavor but is just an aesthetic choice.

  • This recipe makes 2 cups of lemon curd. Pour into a clean jar and place in the fridge once cooled. The lemon curd should last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Tried this recipe?Mention @happyhappynester or tag #happyhappynester!

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I like to prepare the ingredients before I start since it can be a little hectic once things start on the stove.

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Here is how I grated the lemon peel. Did you know I have a blog post about my favorite kitchen tools? The right tools make your experience in the kitchen go so much better.

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I used Meyer Lemons for this batch of Lemon Curd, but the regular lemons are perfect, too! We have a ton of lemons on our trees, and I thought I would make a fresh batch of curd and use some of our Meyer lemons. I still have many more lemons on the trees, so maybe more lemon recipes will pop up on the blog.

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This photo has the Magnolia Table Orange Scones, so check out that recipe too. And my friend Leslie has a wonderful citrusStained Lemon Tart that you might enjoy.

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My family is ready to dig into this beautiful jar of fresh English Lemon Curd. I hope you have a chance to make it this spring. I crave lemon recipes in the spring and summertime.

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Oh boy, now I need to pour a glass of my sparkling lemon ice tea! I’m so easily distracted.

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Or maybe we should have a piece of Lemon Sour Cream Pie instead? Yes, I have lemon recipes on my mind these days!

Cheers,

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English Lemon Curd Recipe (15)

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Janine Waite

I named my blog Happy Happy Nester because I love everything related to the home. I’ve always enjoyed decorating my surroundings. Get cozy and stay for a bit, thanks for visiting!

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English Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my lemon curd not 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!

What is English curd? ›

curd in British English

(kɜːd ) noun. 1. ( often plural) a substance formed from the coagulation of milk by acid or rennet, used in making cheese or eaten as a food.

How do you know when lemon curd is done? ›

Dip a spoon into the curd then run your finger over the back of it. If it leaves a clean line in the curd, it's cooked enough and ready to cool. Curd will thicken up more once cooled completely. Spoon into a container, cover and refrigerate.

How long is homemade lemon curd good for in the fridge? ›

Just be sure to put it in a tightly sealed glass or plastic container so it doesn't pick up any aromas from other things in your fridge. Fresh lemon curd will keep for one to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

What to do when curd won't set? ›

If the temperature was too low, the bacteria may not have had enough time to activate and set the yogurt. 2. Add more starter culture: If the temperature was correct but the yogurt still didn't set, you can try adding a little more starter culture to the mixture and incubating it again.

Does lemon curd freeze hard? ›

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 is curd called in USA? ›

Curd or dahi is called yogurt in the United States. Yogurt is a commercialized product that is made from milk that has been heat-treated to kill live bacteria. Dahi is a traditional yogurt that is made from cow's milk, buffalo milk, or goat milk.

What is another name for lemon curd? ›

Lemon curd's texture is smooth and silky, similar to a very smooth, creamy custard, and thick enough to be spread on scones and other foods. In Britain, lemon curd is also known as "lemon cheese," and other fruit curds are known as "[name of fruit] cheese."

Why does my lemon curd taste like metal? ›

To prevent the curd from acquiring a metallic taste, make absolutely sure that all utensils coming into contact with it--bowls, whisk, saucepan, and strainer--are made of non-reactive stainless steel or glass. Since the tart pan has a removable bottom, it is more easily maneuvered when set on a cookie sheet.

Why is my lemon curd so yellow? ›

Use Sufficient Egg Yolks

Eggs are an important component of lemon curd, but yolks are valued more than egg whites when it comes to making lemon curd. Lemon curd has traces of yellow in it naturally, but its striking golden colour comes from the yolks.

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.

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.

Can lemon curd go bad? ›

Shelf life

Plan to use canned lemon curd within 3–4 months. Browning and/or separation may occur with longer storage; discard any time these changes are observed. Prepared lemon curd can also be frozen instead of canned for up to one year without quality changes when thawed.

Can lemon curd sit out overnight? ›

In a covered, airtight container for up to one week. It doesn't really freeze well. Lemon curd does contain eggs and dairy (butter), so I'd be ok leaving it out for the day if I plan on serving it, but anything overnight definitely would need to be refrigerated.

Why is my lemon pie not setting? ›

The key to thickening Lemon Meringue Pie so it sets properly is to cook the filling until bubbles start to pop on the surface of the lemon/egg yolk mixture. It should be the consistency of thick pudding before you remove it from the heat. If it's not thick before you add it to the pie, it will never set properly.

Does lemon curd need to set in the fridge? ›

Place plastic wrap directly on top of the curd and let set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Lemon curd can also be frozen for several month.

Why is my lemon curd sticky? ›

There are majorly two reasons that curd turns sticky, firstly the bacteria culture used to make curd can impact the taste and texture. Secondly, if you keep the curd at a low temperature, it takes a lot of time to set as well as forms a slimy texture. This is because curd needs a slightly warm temperature to set.

Why is my lemon tart not setting? ›

I think you didn't cook it long enough after adding the eggs. Lemon pie filling has to be almost so thick you can cut it with a knife before you pour it into the shell or it won't set up. So you cook it until it becomes that thick.

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