Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

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Lemon curd is easily made from scratch from fresh lemons, butter, sugar, and egg yolks. The intense citrus flavor is irresistible. This tart dessert spread can be used as a tangy ingredient in sweets, baked goods, or breakfast. Once you make your own, you’ll never go back to store bought!

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why this recipe works so well:
  • What exactly is lemon curd?
  • Equipment needed:
  • Here’s how to make it:
  • Cooking tips for perfect results:
  • Best ways to enjoy lemon curd:
  • Lemon Curd Recipe

Why this recipe works so well:

Lemon curd, especially the homemade kind, makes my mouth pucker! So if intense flavor is what you’re looking for, this recipe is for you.

  • 4 simple ingredients – Butter, sugar, lemons, and egg yolks are all that’s needed to create this recipe.
  • Perfect results – Unlike store bought lemon curd, you can control the thickness of your curd.
  • Easy to make – Some kitchen equipment is needed, but the process is simple and no experience is needed with this easy recipe.

What exactly is lemon curd?

Simply put, it is a citrus dessert spread or topping that is made from fresh lemon zest and juice, sugar, butter and egg yolks.

The ingredients are gently cooked together over heat and then allowed to cool. The final result is a smooth, luscious, intensely flavored lemon treat. Similar to a pudding or custard, the rich and creamy egg yolks produce the richest, most flavorful lemon curd.

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2)

Equipment needed:

  • Electric mixer: You can use a stand mixer like a KitchenAid or a hand mixer.
  • Double boiler: If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make your own with a pan of water and a bowl on top.
  • Whisk: Any kind of metal whisk will work and the curd is whisked the entire time it is cooked.
  • Zester: I highly recommend using a Microplane.
  • Thermometer: You will need to cook the lemon curd to a specific temperature.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. You’ll start by creaming the softened butter using an electric mixer. You’ll beat in the sugar and lemon zest until it is light and fluffy. Then, you’ll reduce the speed to low and mix in the egg yolks, one at a time. Finally you’ll mix in the lemon juice.
  2. To cook the curd, you’ll use a double boiler set up on the stove where the steam from gently boiling water heats the curd mixture in the bowl above. Continually whisk the mixture while it heats. It will take about 10 minutes to cook.
  3. Once the lemon curd hits the desired temperature, you’ll cover it and refrigerate until it’s cool.

Cooking tips for perfect results:

  • Gentle cooking: You must be careful to be gentle with the heat which is why I recommend using a double boiler as opposed to cooking in a pan over direct heat. Any time you’re cooking eggs on the stove top, they can curdle if you increase the temperature too rapidly or you don’t whisk it enough.
  • Desired thickness: The lemon curd gets thick when you cook it. I stopped cooking when it got to 170°F because I like it on the thinner side. If you prefer it to be thicker, just continue cooking until it reaches 180°F. You can also add an additional egg yolk if you want it thicker.
  • Lemon varieties: Standard lemons that are available year-round can definitely be used to make homemade lemon curd. My preference, however, is to use Meyer Lemons. They are sweeter, less acidic, and more aromatic. The downside is that they are generally only available during the first couple months of the year.
Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (3)

Best ways to enjoy lemon curd:

You’ve made your own delicious homemade lemon curd. Now you need to know what to do with it. Here are some great ideas:

  • Cut up strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, banana, and raspberries and toss in a spoonful of the lemon curd. The result will be some Fruit Salad. Not only will the curd sweeten it with a tart tang, but the acid in the lemon will keep the fruit looking fresh.
  • Transform that lemon curd into lemon meringue pie. All I did was thicken my lemon curd with some corn starch and it created the perfect filling for this citrus classic.
  • Use lemon curd on top of vanilla ice cream. A little goes a long way here.
  • How about ditching the syrup and topping your lemon blueberry pancakes with lemon curd and warm berries. Mercy.
  • Replace the chocolate in s’mores with your homemade lemon curd. Take it to the next level by also making your own homemade marshmallows. It will taste like a heavenly lemon meringue pie, without the work or the dirty dishes.
  • And you simply cannot make lemon curd without also making some homemadeButtermilk Lemon Scones or Raspberry Lemon Scones!

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Lemon curd is easily made from scratch from fresh lemons, butter, sugar, and egg yolks. The intense citrus flavor in lemon curd is irresistible. This tart dessert spread can be used as a tangy ingredient in sweets, baked good, or breakfast. Once you make your own, you’ll never go back to store bought!

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter (1 cube) softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • zest from 3 lemons
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • Using a stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the sugar and lemon zest and blend until smooth, scraping sides down half way through.

  • On low speed, add the egg yolks one at a time. Then add the lemon juice. Mix until combined.

  • Add about 1/2 inch of water to a pan and set a non-reactive metal bowl on top. You want a double boiler set up so that the steam from the water cooks the lemon curd; not direct heat.

  • Add the lemon mixture to the bowl and heat the water so that it boils, whisking the lemon mixture the entire time. Be sure to use an instant read thermometer. The curd should thicken around 170 degrees F, after about 10 minutes of cooking and whisking, and this will yield lemon curd that is on the thinner side. If you want your lemon curd to be a bit thicker and less runny, bring the temperature up to 180 degrees F before removing from the heat, still constantly whisking.

  • Remove the curd from the heat, transfer to a glass container, cover the surface of the curd with plastic wrap so that a skin doesn’t form, and refrigerate until cool.

  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week or so. Alternatively, you can freeze lemon curd and thaw in the refrigerator before using.

Notes

Recipe makes about 2 cups. Nutritional info based on a serving size of approximately 2 tablespoons.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 76mg, Sodium: 54mg, Potassium: 18mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 258IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

FAQs

How long does home made lemon curd last once opened? ›

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.

Why is my homemade lemon curd runny? ›

Problem: My Lemon Curd is Too Runny

The curd wasn't cooked long enough to allow the egg to thicken, or not enough butter was added.

How to thicken homemade lemon curd? ›

To make a thicker curd, you can also add another egg yolk to the recipe, or a teaspoon of cornflour mixed into a tablespoon of water and cook until thickened.

Can you overcook lemon curd? ›

Yes, overcooking will make the curd lumpy instead of smooth. If your lemon curd turns out slightly lumpy, first try to put it through a blender, then strain it through a fine mesh strainer. Unfortunately, if this doesn't fix the texture, you may need to discard the curd and start over.

How do you know if homemade curd has gone bad? ›

Excessive clumping or curdling: yogurt should have a smooth texture, so a clumpy or curdled consistency is a sign of spoilage and a tip-off to throw the yogurt away. Excessive liquid: Yogurt typically has a small amount of liquid on its surface (which can be poured off if preferred).

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.

How to tell when lemon curd is done? ›

Lemon Curd should thick enough to coat the back of a spoon when it's hot and should thicken up to pudding-like consistency when it's chilled. The curd can take up to 10 minutes to thicken to the consistency of pourable pudding, so be patient (remember it will thicken more once it cools).

Why does my lemon curd taste eggy? ›

Although lemon curd uses egg yolks and/or egg whites, the final product shouldn't taste eggy. If it does, it may mean that you've overcooked your eggs. In saying that, traditional lemon curd does have a distinct after taste which doesn't sit well with some.

How do you fix metallic taste in lemon curd? ›

Processed white, granulated sugar have the tendency to make lemon curds metallic. So, if you find that your curd have a slight metallic flavor, you can try substituting process sugar for raw sugar, like cane sugar.

Can I freeze lemon curd? ›

Shelf Life: Prepared lemon curd can be frozen for up to 1 year without quality changes when thawed. To thaw, place container in a refrigerator at 40°F or lower for 24 hours before intended use. After thawing, consume within 4 weeks.

Why is my lemon curd bitter? ›

Caution: Make sure that no white pith gets into the curd mixture, either from peeling the zest, (cut any white pith off the backs of the peeled strips with a pairing knife if necessary), or from juicing the lemons (don't squeeze too close to the pith). Either of these things could cause the curd to be bitter.

Why is my lemon curd foamy? ›

Between the heat and whisking, lemon curd gets foamy while it's cooking. As the curd begins to thicken, the foam will start to settle down, and then the addition of the butter at the end of cooking eliminates the foam. So don't panic when you see foam, just keep whisking and cooking.

What happens if you don't add butter to lemon curd? ›

While still tasty, your lemon curd will simply not dazzle the same way one made with cold butter would. Adding one tablespoon of butter at a time will also help keep the mixture smooth, per the Associated Press.

What to do if your lemon curd does not set? ›

You could try:
  1. Reheating it. Continuously whisk until the mixture reaches 170. ...
  2. Bloom one package (2.5 tsp or 7g) in 1/4 cup ( 60g ) of water for 5 minutes. Dissolve the bloomed gelatin in the microwave for 3-5 seconds. ...
  3. Mix 2 tablespoon of cornstarch in a 2 tablespoons of water and mix into lemon curd.
Mar 11, 2022

Can you leave lemon curd 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.

What is the shelf life of homemade curd in fridge? ›

Upto 5 days and 11 days dahi could be stored at room temperature (24°C) and refrigeration temperature (7°C) was in good condition with acceptable quality respectively. ... Products like yoghurt are known more for their therapeutic significance than nutritional value [11] .

Does lemon spoil curd? ›

Lemon has citric acid, which when paired directly with milk or other dairy products may react and lead to curdling and spoil the texture. Apart from that, consuming the two can trigger acidic reactions and cause severe heartburn and acidity. Lemon is acidic in nature, which can intensify the heat of spicy foods.

How long does lemon curd pie last in the fridge? ›

It's really important to place plastic wrap directly on top of the lemon curd as it cools to prevent a skin from forming. Don't overbake the tart it only needs around 10 minutes just until the edges have set. Storage - will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days or can be frozen.

How to store curd for a long time? ›

Store the curd in an airtight container in the refrigerator at temperatures between 1.6°C to 4.4°C, and always use a clean spoon for serving to prevent contamination. If necessary, freeze small portions in ice cube trays for longer-term storage. Discard any curd that develops an off smell, taste, or appearance.

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