How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (2024)

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My easy Lemon Curd recipe is the perfect easy curd! Just a few ingredients and you can make it from scratch. It tastes so much better than from the store.

I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s always silky smooth and perfectly tart and sweet.

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How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (1)

BEST Lemon Curd Recipe Video

Why you need this recipe

I am in love with lemon curd and lemon all the things! I’ve been making this homemade curd for years and decided I finally needed to share it with you.

If you’ve never made homemade lemon curd, you should. It’s so much tastier than the kind from the jar. Plus, store-bought is sometimes hard to find and it’s expensive.

Lemon Curd is a simple recipe made with just a few ingredients and it goes great on toast, in fillings for desserts, or on a spoon. You can use this curd to make things like lemon tarts or fillings for lemon cupcakes or lemon pastry.

Table of Contents

  • BEST Lemon Curd Recipe Video
  • Why you need this recipe
  • Ingredients in easy lemon curd
  • How to make lemon curd
  • Commonly asked questions
  • How to use Lemon Curd
  • Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (2)

Ingredients in easy lemon curd

All lemon curd recipes are basically similar, with similar ingredients. However, my lemon curd recipe has one big difference:

I use whole eggs.

Most recipes for lemon curd that you see will call for just egg yolks. I hate using yolks and not whites because I always forget to use the whites for something. They end up going to waste which kills me because eggs aren’t cheap. So I developed a lemon curd recipe with whole eggs to eliminate waste.

Here’s what you need:

  • Fresh lemon juice: it’s important to juice it yourself
  • Lemon zest: learn how to zest lemons
  • Granulated Sugar: for sweet
  • Whole Eggs
  • Unsalted Butter

That’s it! Sometimes I add a pinch of salt as well, especially since I use unsalted butter.

It’s like making a custard, but instead you’re making curd. I like to think of this as a cross between jam and lemon custard. It’s got a consistency that’s between the two and a flavor that’s unparalleled.

How to make lemon curd

Whisk: It’s really important that you whisk all the ingredients together first, before turning it onto the heat. You don’t want the eggs to scramble!

Cook: Then, like when you’re making pudding or a cream sauce, you cook and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. It’ll bubble and coat the back of a spoon and that’s how you know it’s done.

Strain: Now, because we are using whole eggs, we have to make sure that none of the egg whites cooked. This is why I always strain my curd using a fine mesh strainer. It takes out any lumps or chunks and gives a nice silky lemon curd.

Always strain your curd so it stays silky smooth!

PRO TIP

At this point, the curd is a bit thin but don’t worry: it will thicken as it cools.

How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (3)

Commonly asked questions

My curd didn’t set, what happened?

Did you cook it long enough? It should boil and coat the back of a spoon and be very thick. Let it cool. Once it cools and chills it will thicken. Make sure to use fresh lemon juice so the pectin can work its magic.

How does curd thicken?

Curd thickens because of the eggs and the natural pectin in the fresh lemon juice. That’s why it’s important to use fresh lemon juice! It thickens more as it cools as well.

How do you store it?

Store this in a jar or other airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze lemon curd?

Yes you can! I like freezing it in plastic containers. Just thaw in the refrigerator.

How do you fix lemon curd that doesn’t thicken?

First, make sure it’s been cooked long enough. It should be thick and coat the back of the spoon (thicker than heavy whipping cream) so if it’s still runny, make sure to cook it longer. If you’ve let it cool and it’s still thin, warm it back up over low heat and add a bit of cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water) and cook until it thickens.

What temperature do you cook lemon curd at?

Make sure it doesn’t bubble or it could break. Cook it at a low temperature!

How to use Lemon Curd

There are so many ways to use this recipe! Besides putting it on toast or eating it with a spoon, you can use it anywhere you’d use jam or pudding. Here are some of my favorite recipes to use this in:

  • Lemon Tarts
  • Lemon no bake dessert
  • No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
  • Lemon Cake Roll
  • Lemon Cupcakes
  • Lemon Mini Cheesecakes

How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (4)

Easy Lemon Curd

4.85 from 166 votes

This easy lemon curd recipe is perfect for breakfast or dessert! It’s easy and comes together in under 10 minutes.

Prep Time 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Yield 16 servings

Serving Size 1 serving

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Ingredients

  • 3 large large eggs
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter diced

Instructions

  • Place eggs, sugar, salt, juice, and zest in a medium saucepan. Do not put it over the heat yet. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth.

  • Place over low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens, about 4-5 minutes. Turn all the way to low and add the butter. Stir until smooth.

  • Remove from heat and pour into jar(s). Makes just shy of 2 cups.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

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Last Updated on April 30, 2023

How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust (2024)

FAQs

How to make Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - Crazy for Crust? ›

If your lemon curd hasn't thickened, it may not have been heated enough. It can take up to 30 minutes of constant stirring to cook lemon curd, especially if it's a large batch. Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled. If your cooled curd is not thick enough, you can reheat it to thicken.

Why is my lemon curd not thick enough? ›

If your lemon curd hasn't thickened, it may not have been heated enough. It can take up to 30 minutes of constant stirring to cook lemon curd, especially if it's a large batch. Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled. If your cooled curd is not thick enough, you can reheat it to thicken.

What makes lemon curd grainy? ›

Grainy or gritty lemon curd comes from curdled (over-coagulated) eggs, as a result of overcooking. The easiest way to prevent curdling is to use a double boiler to slow the rate of cooking-- and to monitor the temperature with a thermometer.

Why does my lemon curd have foam on top? ›

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.

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

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.

How do you fix lemon curd that didn't 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

Why is my curd not setting? ›

Usually the temperature of milk determines how well your curd will set. Too cold or too hot temperature can make the curd setting process tougher. Firstly boil your milk properly and switch off the flame. Once the boiled milk cools down to 20 per cent, then the milk is ready to be set.

How do you fix gritty curd? ›

If you make your lemon curd over too high a heat or don't stir it regularly as it cooks, you may find that it goes a little lumpy with flecks of cooked egg white in it. The easiest way to fix this is to give it a quick blitz in a blender (or using a stick blender) until it is smooth.

Can you fix grainy curd? ›

How to fix grainy curd: Add one egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of the juice (in this recipe, lemon juice) to a saucepan and whisk them together fully. Turn the heat on the lowest possible setting. Add one tablespoon of your cold curd back to the pan.

Why does my homemade lemon curd taste metallic? ›

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 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.

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.

Can I freeze homemade 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.

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.

How do you thicken lemon curd? ›

Fortunately, it doesn't take long at all. Just a few minutes of cooking will do the trick. The key is to cook the lemon curd over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens.

How do you make lemon curd thicker? ›

Add a cornstarch slurry: First, ensure your curd is cooked to 170 degrees F and if it still hasn't thickened, whisk 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

Why is my curd not thick? ›

The temperature is too low. If the temp is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the cultures will not ferment properly and the milk will stay runny. The temperature is too high. If the temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the yogurt will ferment too fast and will also render the yogurt runny.

How do you add curd to thicken it? ›

Yes you can, but you are better off using arrow root, corn starch or any other type of starch if the food chemistry you are trying to achieve for your sauce is the property of thickening. Whisk the curd, put a little water and put it. If you have some ground paste to add to the curry, mix it in the curd and pour it.

What makes curd thicker? ›

There are different methods for making curd, like whisking, foaming, and scrubbing, but the first thing you need to do is mix the milk and curd culture together. This is important because it helps the milk and curd starter combine fully, which leads to a thicker and richer curd.

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