Ever wonder how to make lemon curd? Look no further! With just a handful of simple ingredients you could make your own easy lemon curd from scratch. This easy lemon curd recipe is tart, not too sweet and ultra lemony. Ready to make it?
Hi friends!
How about an easy homemade lemon curd recipe? Once you make your own, there’s no going back to store-bought. It’s just too easy (and tasty).
I used curd in lemon cream tarts a while back. I decided that this deliciousness needs to shine on its own.
So today, I’ve brought you simple step by step instructions on how to make lemon curd right in your own kitchen!
Lemon Curd Versus Lemon Pie Filling
Lemon curd is a type of preserve made simply from lemon, butter, eggs and sugar and a pinch of salt.
You can actually make a variety of fruit curds, like grapefruit, pineapple or orange. Today, though, it’s lemon!
The difference between curd vs pie filling is primarily the thickening agents, the thickness and potency of lemon flavour.
The thickeners in curd are actually the egg yolks and pectin in the fruit.
Whereas, lemon pie filling typically has a thickening agent, like cornstarch.
Also, pie filling is typically thicker than curd. Flavour-wise, curd is a lot more potent and punchy in lemon flavour than lemon pie filling too.
How to Make Lemon Curd
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
- Add sugar and salt and stir to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add lemon zest.
- Then, add lemon juice.
- Finally, and egg yolks. Then, place the saucepan back on the heat and whisk constantly to combine and until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
- It’s ready when it’s thick enough to cover the back of a spoon when you draw a line through it with your finger.
- Pour the curd into a strainer (that’s over a bowl).
- Strain curd through a sieve and press with a spatula. This will remove any solids, especially those egg solids.
- When the curd is pressed through a sieve, pour into a glass jar, allow to cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate. It will thicken further as it cools (and it’s best enjoyed when cooled, if ya ask me). Told ya it was easy!
Uses for Lemon Curd
- Fold cooled curd into whipped cream for a delicious dessert topping
- Enjoy over Greek yogurt
- Dollop over granola and berries
- Spoon over vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat
- Eat straight from the jar!
- Spread over toast
- Use in no bake dessert in a jar
Tips for Making This Recipe
- Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Just melt the butter. You don’t want it too hot.
- Add the lemon juice to the melted butter before adding eggs to cool down the butter. You don’t want scrambled eggs.
- Once you start making the lemon curd, whisk, whisk, whisk!
- While optional, I like to strain the cooked lemon curd through a sieve to remove any egg solids. This makes for a creamier lemon curd.
More Easy Lemon Recipes
I’ve made other curds in the past too. Perhaps I’ll share one of those another day.
If you make this lemon curd recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (really simple and yummy!)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 5 large egg yolks
Instructions
- Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
- To butter, add sugar and salt and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat and add lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks, whisking to combine.
- Place pot back on heat, whisking continuously for about 5 to 8 minutes until mixture coats the back of a spoon. Don't boil.
- Remove from the heat and strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl to remove any egg solids.
- Pour into a storage jar. Allow to cool slightly before covering. Store in the fridge. Mixture will further thicken as it cools. Enjoy within 3 to 5 days.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot.
- Just melt the butter.
- Add the lemon juice to the butter before adding eggs to cool down the butter. You don’t want scrambled eggs.
- Once you start making the lemon curd, whisk, whisk, whisk!
- While optional, I like to strain the cooked lemon curd through a sieve to remove any egg solids. This makes for a creamier lemon curd.
Nutrition (ESTIMATE ONLY)
Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 Serving.
Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.
Bernice Hill
Perfect curd! You really can’t skip that strainer step no matter how careful you are. Curd is so delicious and versatile…
Girl Heart Food
Totally!! Thank you so much Bernice 🙂
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for posting this lemon curd recipe. We love lemons and although I’ve had lemon curd, I’ve never made it myself. Great job, as always!
Girl Heart Food
Now is the time to make it 😉 Thanks so much Dan for the kind comment! Hope you’re having a lovely week 🙂
Kevin
Step by step recipes are some of my favorite! This lemon curd looks and sounds great!
Girl Heart Food
Right?! Thanks Kevin!
Mimi
It’s been years since I’ve made a curd, and I’m pretty sure it was lemon. What I want to try is peach or apricot. I’ve seen some over the years, and that sounds better to me only because I’m not a citrus “freak.” Or cherry?
Girl Heart Food
All of those sound wonderful to me!!
Shashi at SavorySpin
This looks so delicious! I could take a spoon and dive right into that jar! I’ve never made my own lemon curd – I recently had some lemon curd mini pies at a friends house and WOA – they were so good so I am drooling over your pictures, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
I think I did 😉 Thanks Shashi! You’re so sweet!
David @ Spiced
I love a good homemade lemon curd! A spoonful of curd with a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream is just magical. But you’re totally right about the ‘whisk whisk whisk’ part. I always get a good arm workout when I make lemon curd! This looks amazing, and I can’t wait to see how you use it in a new recipe soon. Also, thanks for the no-bake cheesecake love here! 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thanks so much David! And it was my pleasure 😉 Happy Monday!
Daisy > DaisyLinden.com
I hate ready made bottled things. Which is why a Big Thanks for the recipe, I absolutely love it!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Daisy! Hope you get a chance to try this one out soon 🙂
Milena
How fabulous! Lemon curd tarts are a true treat in my opinion and I might have to follow your directions here tomorrow and whisk some luscious lemon curd. The tarts will have to share with me, I so think you are right about eating it straight out of the jar!
Girl Heart Food
Happy to hear that!! Hope you love it, Milena 🙂 Thanks so much!
Tracy | Baking Mischief
Yes! Lemon curd is the best. It’s been forever since I made a batch, and now I totally want some!! Especially love the idea of folding it into whipped cream. Why have I never tried that before!!?? It’s all I can think about now. 😉
Girl Heart Food
Totally! It’s so yummy! Hope you try it out 🙂 Thanks Tracy!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Just thinking about lemon curd makes my mouth water! I love all that bright lovely lemon flavor! This looks so yummy!
Girl Heart Food
Haha – I know what ya mean! Thanks Kathy 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I’ve never been sold on making my own lemon curd, but now I am! And after you outlined all the possible ways to enjoy lemon curd, I’m craving it! With granola and berries would be amazing! Also, I bet the grapefruit curd you make has a lovely colour! Happy almost Friday Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! It’s so so good! And once you make homemade, there’s no going back to store bought! Hope you’re having a great weekend, Leanne 🙂
[email protected]
Thank you for the step by step instructions! Great post! I love lemon curd but have never made it. This will change! Happy weekend, dear! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Annie! Happy you like it 🙂 Hope your weekend is going awesome! XOXO
Traci
Who knew that making lemon curd was so easy? Looks like this recipe turns out gorgeous results! Just pinned! Thanks for sharing, Dawn 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Super easy! Thanks a million, Traci 🙂 Appreciate it!
Angela
WOw, I never realized how easy it is to make your own lemon curd!! I’ve used the jarred stuff so many times… time to change that! Thanks!
Girl Heart Food
So easy!! Definitely worth trying 😉 Thanks Angela!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
LOVE lemon curd! In fact, I’ve been on a fruit curd kick lately (for some cakes I have in the works) and I can’t get enough of any of them. How can something with such an unappetizing name taste sooooo good? Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Love it so much too! Thanks Kelsie! Hope you’re having a fab weekend 🙂
Tara
Yum! Lemon curd has been on my list, but haven’t gotten around to trying it yet. I love how easy it is to put together!
Girl Heart Food
So easy! Hope you get a chance to try this one out soon, Tara 🙂
Julia
I so love homemade lemon curd! When I make it I can hardly wait for it to cool down a bit so I can “taste” it! Yours looks delicious 🙂
Girl Heart Food
So delicious, right?? Me too 😉 Thanks Julia 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Lemon curd is so perfect to have in the fridge for so many things! This looks perfect 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Definitely 😉 Thanks Jennifer!
Demeter
Homemade is always so much better than store bought! This looks so creamy and perfect!
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale
Ohhhh… this looks so lovely and luscious! What great step by step instructions to make it! I can’t wait to try. I have actually never had lemon curd, but I love lemon, so I know I will love this! xoxo!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I love lemon curd Dawn! So delicious with so many things. And love all your step by step pics! Well done! Happy almost the weekend!