Easy methods to Make Lemon Curd (Straightforward Lemon Curd Recipe)

Easy methods to Make Lemon Curd (Straightforward Lemon Curd Recipe)

The best lemon curd recipe you’ll ever make! It’s the proper sweet-tart addition to your muffins, pastries, and quite a lot of different baked items.

Lemon curd in a glass jar.

Lemon flavored desserts are my all-time favourite. Whether or not it’s a lemon flavored cake, pie, or perhaps a easy loaf, I’ll gladly select that over something chocolatey.

There’s one thing about that sweet-tart taste that’s simply mouthwatering, and this lemon curd recipe is not any exception. I’ll fortunately eat this with a spoon! (And have).

The easiest lemon curd recipe you will ever make! It's the perfect sweet-tart addition to your cakes, pastries, and a variety of other baked goods. | livforcake.com

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What’s Lemon Curd?

Lemon Curd is a citrusy candy custard made with just a few easy components.  It originated in England within the late nineteenth century and is historically made with:

– Lemon juice (and zest)
– Entire eggs (or egg yolks)
– Sugar
– Butter

All components are whisked collectively and cooked over low warmth till the combination thickens into an excellent curd.

Lemon juice and lemon zest.

Lemon is arguably the commonest taste, however curd might be made with any citrus fruits similar to lime, orange, grapefruit, and so on. You can additionally make it with numerous berries or different fruits like ardour fruit or mango. 

The makes use of for lemon curd are seemingly countless relating to desserts and pastries. It may be used as a filling for muffins (like this Lemon Cake and Lemon Elderflower Cake), cupcakes, pies, and tarts.

A slice of cake with lemon curd filling

You may also use it as a topping for scones, pastries, waffles, and pancakes. Or you may add it to your favourite buttercream so as to add a little bit of taste.

Within the UK it’s typically served as an accompaniment to Afternoon Tea alongside jam and clotted cream.

And, in fact, it’s the filling for the fantastic dessert generally known as Lemon Meringue Pie.

Lemon curd in an open glass jar.

Easy methods to Make Lemon Curd

There are a selection of various methods to make lemon curd.

  • Some recipes name for entire eggs, some for yolks, some for a little bit of each.
  • Some name for beating the butter and sugar first, some say so as to add the butter on the finish.
  • Some prepare dinner it in a pot, and a few use a double boiler.

There is no such thing as a proper or unsuitable so far as I’m involved, and all yield an equally scrumptious outcome. I wish to throw all the things right into a pot and prepare dinner it till it thickens. It’s simple, fast, and requires minimal cleanup.

I additionally like to make use of entire eggs in my lemon curd recipe slightly than simply yolks, as a result of I like my curd a pleasant delicate yellow coloration. That didn’t actually work out for me this time as a result of my eggs had probably the most orange yolks ever, which resulted in an excellent yellow curd.

Oh nicely! It’s alleged to be yellow, proper??

Lemon Curd Tip

For those who’d choose to only use yolks for a richer curd, or perhaps you will have some yolks leftover from making Swiss Meringue Buttercream, use two yolks for each entire egg.

For this recipe, you’d use 8 yolks. You may also use a mixture of entire eggs and yolks. For instance, two entire eggs and 4 yolks.

Alright, let’s get into the step-by-step course of of constructing this lemon curd recipe.

Step #1 – Whisk Eggs & Sugar – Place eggs and sugar right into a small pot, whisk to mix.

Eggs and sugar in a pot.
Eggs and sugar whisked together.

Step #2 – Add lemon juice, zest, and butter – Add lemon juice, zest, and butter, and whisk to mix.

Remaining ingredients added to the pot.

Step #3 – Prepare dinner till Thickened – Prepare dinner over medium-low warmth, whisking continually till the combination thickens and coats the again of a spoon (or reaches 170°F). To check if it coats the again of a spoon, dip the spoon within the curd after which run your finger down the center. The curd is about when it doesn’t drip down.

Spoon coated with lemon curd.

Step #4 – Chill to Set – Switch to a glass bowl and lay plastic wrap instantly on the floor to forestall a pores and skin from forming. Chill for two hours to set. Makes 2 cups

Plastic wrap directly on top of the curd.

Ought to I Pressure It?

I often don’t pressure my curd, as a result of I don’t thoughts the little bits of zest in there.

Nevertheless, if you need a superbly easy curd, or are anxious about some potential small bits of egg which will have gotten cooked, go forward and pressure it.

I strained it this time as a result of I needed to cease whisking right here and there to take photos, and I needed to verify I didn’t have any cooked bits of egg in there.

Positive sufficient, I did.

Strainer with bits of zest and cooked egg.

Storage & Perishability

I really like the truth that I could make this upfront and retailer it till I would like it. For those who’re like me and wish to area out your baking, it’s an enormous time saver.

I wish to retailer mine in a plastic bag within the freezer. I discover it takes up much less area this manner.

Is it bizarre to get resealable plastic luggage from Ikea? I really like these ones, higher than any model identify ones I can get on the grocery retailer. They’re thick and durable, and work so nicely within the freezer!

Lemon curd will final for 1-2 weeks within the fridge or for 3 months within the freezer.

Lemon curd in a freezer bag.
Why Does my Lemon Curd Style Metallic?

Sure varieties of metallic can react with the lemon and provides the ensuing curd a metallic style. Aluminum and unlined copper pots and bowls appear to be the culprits.

I’ve used stainless-steel bowls and whisks and haven’t had a problem, however I do advocate cooling and storing the curd in a glass or plastic container.

One more reason your curd could have an off-putting or bitter style is because of the pith within the rind. Whenever you’re zesting your curd, make sure to zest solely the outermost a part of the rind. Don’t get any of the white stuff. 

This zester from Microplane is my favourite. It’s sharp and does a superbly tremendous zest with none pith!

Close up of lemon zester.

For those who’re a lemon dessert lover like I’m, I hope you strive (and love) this lemon curd recipe as a lot as I do.

Make sure to let me know within the feedback if you happen to give it a go!

Lemon curd on a spoon.

Suggestions for making this Lemon Curd Recipe:

  • Don’t use aluminum or copper pots/instruments, as they can provide the curd a metallic style.
  • Don’t zest any of the white pith, this can give your curd a bitter style.
  • For those who’d choose to only use yolks for a richer curd, use two yolks for each entire egg within the recipe.
  • Make sure to prepare dinner over low warmth and stir continually so the eggs don’t get cooked.
  • Don’t let the curd boil.
  • Pressure your curd if you need it tremendous easy or are anxious about bits of cooked egg.
  • Place plastic wrap instantly on high of the curd to forestall a pores and skin from forming.
  • Retailer within the fridge for 1-2 weeks or freeze for as much as 3 months.
A jar of lemon curd

Lemon Curd

The best lemon curd recipe you’ll ever make! It is the proper sweet-tart addition to your muffins, pastries, and quite a lot of different baked items.

Course Dessert

Delicacies American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 10 minutes

Chilling Time 2 hours

Whole Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Servings 16 (makes 2 cups)

Energy 108kcal

Substances 

 

Lemon Curd:

  • 4 giant eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice recent squeezed, from one giant lemon
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest from one giant lemon
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter cubed

Directions 

Lemon Curd:

  • Place eggs and sugar right into a small pot, whisk to mix. Add lemon juice, zest, and butter. Prepare dinner over medium-low warmth whisking continually till combination thickens and coats the again of a spoon.

  • Switch to a glass bowl and lay plastic wrap instantly on the floor to forestall a pores and skin from forming. Chill for two hours to set. Makes 2 cups.

  • The curd will final for 1-2 weeks within the fridge or might be frozen for 3 months.

Energy: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFats: 6gSaturated Fats: 3gLdl cholesterol: 64mgSodium: 21mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 208IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

The dietary info and metric conversions are calculated mechanically. I can’t assure the accuracy of this knowledge. If that is necessary to you, please confirm along with your favourite vitamin calculator and/or metric conversion software.

Lemon curd collage

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