BEST LEMON CURD RECIPE (2024)

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Lemon curd is an incredibly delicious and thick citrus packed filling or spread. It’s vibrant yellow color and tangy lemon taste makes best homemade lemon curd a great addition to many recipes.

There are so many different recipes using lemon curd that it’s always a great idea to find an easy lemon curd recipe that lets you make it at home. Homemade lemon curd tastes great and is much cheaper than store bought.

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Making This Foolproof Lemon Curd

This lemon curd recipe is so easy to make that you don’t even need to touch your stove if you don’t want to! Using a microwave safe bowl, you can make your delicious lemon curd in the microwave within minutes.

I also recommend having a strainer for the lemon curd to run through at the end because it gives you a much smoother texture at the end.

What Is Lemon Curd Used For?

Lemon curd is used for a lot of different things including lemon pie filling, in tarts, on cakes, or used as a jam-like spread on scones, muffins, and slices of bread. It’s so good that you may even just want to eat it with a spoon! I won’t tell anyone if you do!

What Is The Difference Between Lemon Curd And Lemon Pie Filling?

Lemon pie filling and lemon curd are both very similar, but there are some distinct differences. Lemon curd is made with egg yolks and uses the natural pectin in the lemons to solidify the mix whereas lemon pie filling is thickened with flour or cornstarch. Curd is also much smoother in texture and intense in flavor.

Lemon Curd Ingredients

-4 lemons

-1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

-3 eggs + 2 egg yolks

-1/2 cup butter

-1/4 tsp vanilla extract

-¼ cup lemon zest (can be made from zesting 3 lemons)

-1 cup of lemon juice from juicing 4 lemons

How to Make Lemon Curd in the Microwave

Melt your butter in a medium sized glass bowl in the microwave.

Add in the sugar and stir. Microwave 1 minute.

Add the lemon juice and the lemon zest. Microwave for 2 minutes.

Beat the eggs until smooth. Pour out about 1/3 cup of the hot lemon butter mixture into a 1 cup measuring cup. Add in about 1/4 of the egg mixture. Stir constantly, and then pour it into the bowl with the rest of the lemon mixture. Stir, and then microwave for 1 minute.

Repeat the process, tempering the eggs with a small amount of lemon mixture so that the eggs don’t cook. Stir after each 1 minute interval in the microwave. Continue until all of the eggs are mixed in.

Microwave for 2 minutes, stopping at the 1 minute mark to stir again. Add in the vanilla extract.

Run the mixture through a strainer, if desired. I like to do this when the lemon curd is still hot because it’s quick & easy. Straining yields a lovely smooth lemon curd, so I highly recommend doing this.

Transfer the lemon curd to jars and refrigerate. The curd will thicken upon cooling.

How to Make Lemon Curd on the Stovetop

Combine butter, sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a medium sized saucepan. Turn on medium-low heat and stir occasionally as mixture warms up. Cook about 10 minutes until mixture begins to gently bubble.

Beat the eggs until smooth. Ladle out about 1/3 cup of the hot lemon butter mixture into a 1 cup measuring cup. Let cool 1 minute. Add in about 1/4 of the egg mixture. Stir constantly, and then pour it into the bowl with the rest of the lemon mixture. Reduce heat slightly.

Repeat the process, tempering the eggs with a small amount of lemon mixture so that the eggs don’t cook. Stir often. Continue until all of the eggs are mixed in.

Cook on low heat for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.Add in the vanilla extract.

Transfer the lemon curd to jars and refrigerate. The curd will thicken upon cooling.

Best Lemon Curd Recipe

Lemon curd is an incredibly delicious and thick citrus packed filling or spread. It’s vibrant yellow color and tangy lemon taste makes it a great addition to many recipes.

4.91 from 10 votes

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Ingredients

4 lemons
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon zest from 3-4 lemons
1 cup lemon juice from juicing 4 lemons

Instructions

MICROWAVE INSTRUCTIONS

Melt butter in medium glass bowl in the microwave. Add sugar and stir. Microwave 1 minute.
Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Microwave 2 minutes.
Beat eggs and yolks until smooth. Pour out about 1/3 cup of hot lemon butter mixture into a 1 cup measuring cup. Add in about 1/4 of the egg mixture. Stir constantly, then pour into the bowl with the rest of the lemon mixture. Stir, then microwave for 1 minute.
Repeat process, tempering eggs with a small amount of lemon mixture so that the eggs don’t cook. Stir after each 1 minute interval in the microwave. Continue until all of the eggs are mixed in.
Microwave 2 minutes, stopping at 1 minute to stir again. Add in vanilla extract.
Run mixture through strainer, if desired. I like to do this when the lemon curd is hot because it’s quick & easy. Straining yields a lovely smooth lemon curd, so I highly recommend it.
Transfer lemon curd to jars and refrigerate. Curd will thicken upon cooling.

STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

Combine butter, sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a medium sized saucepan. Turn on medium-low heat and stir occasionally as mixture warms up. Cook about 10 minutes until mixture begins to gently bubble.
Beat the eggs until smooth. Ladle out about 1/3 cup of the hot lemon butter mixture into a 1 cup measuring cup. Let cool 1 minute. Add in about 1/4 of the egg mixture. Stir constantly, and then pour it into the bowl with the rest of the lemon mixture. Reduce heat slightly.
Repeat the process, tempering the eggs with a small amount of lemon mixture so that the eggs don’t cook. Stir often. Continue until all of the eggs are mixed in.
Cook on low heat for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.Add in the vanilla extract.
Run the mixture through a strainer, if desired. I like to do this when the lemon curd is still hot because it’s quick & easy. Straining yields a lovely smooth lemon curd, so I highly recommend doing this.
Transfer the lemon curd to jars and refrigerate. The curd will thicken upon cooling.

Video

Notes

Yields 3 cups of freshly made lemon curd.

Nutrition

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Can You Freeze Homemade Lemon Curd?

Yes, you can! Lemon curd does very well when frozen. Simply place it in an airtight container and store it in your freezer for up to a year. Thaw in the fridge for a day or two before use, and use it within 4 weeks.

How Do You Know When Lemon Curd Is Done?

If you can run the back of a spoon through the lemon curd and leave a trail behind, you know it’s ready. It may still seem a little thinner than you’d like, but that’s okay because it will thicken as it cools.

Can You Eat Lemon Curd On Toast?

Absolutely! Scoop out some homemade lemon curd and spread it over a nice golden piece of toast and enjoy!

Check Out These Lemon Dessert Recipes!

Lemon Drop Glazed Mini Muffins
Lemon Cake Truffles
Lemon Butter Cookies
Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Lemon Lush
Easy Lemon Bread
Lemon Poke Cake
Lemon Blueberry Quick Bread
Lemon Icebox Pie
Lemon Sugar Cookies

With a homemade lemon curd, you can make your own filling for tarts, pies, cakes, and more! The intense lemon flavor is perfect for so many lemon recipes!

FAQs

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.

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What is the best store-bought lemon curd? ›

Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Lemon Curd

The Wilkin & Sons curd was the clear winner for its smooth and creamy texture and "real lemon flavor," but the price tag raised eyebrows. The Wilkin & Sons curd was the clear winner for its smooth and creamy texture and "real lemon flavor," but the price tag raised eyebrows.

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What happens if you cook lemon curd too long? ›

Overcooking will cause proteins to bond too tightly, squeezing water out from between them and giving them a rubbery, lumpy texture. If you over-heat the lemon curd, the egg proteins can coagulate and you will see little bits of cooked egg.

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What consistency should lemon curd be? ›

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).

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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How do you add curd to thicken it? ›

Simply add a small amount of yogurt, like a spoonful, at a time. Stir your yogurt into the curry and keep adding a little more at a time until it reaches your desired thickness. This is great for Indian-style curries as a cream substitute.

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Can you eat lemon curd straight from the jar in a jar? ›

Eat on toast, stirred into plain yogurt or straight from the jar with a spoon.

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What is Sicilian lemon curd? ›

Sicilian Lemon Curd Deliciously rich and smooth, tangy organic lemon curd. Naturally ripened in the Sicilian sunshine, organic lemons are mixed with organic British free-range eggs and just enough organic butter to create our Sicilian lemon curd.

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Why is my lemon curd so yellow? ›

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.

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How to tell when lemon curd is done? ›

I cook mine for about 2 minutes because I like thick lemon curd. Test the thickness by dipping the back of a spoon into your lemon curd and drag your finger across it. If it holds the shape without dripping off too quickly, it's done!

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Why does my lemon curd taste like eggs? ›

Does 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.

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Why did my lemon curd turn green? ›

When this acid comes into contact with certain metals, notably copper or aluminum, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction causes the metal to oxidize and release ions, and when these ions mix with the lemon curd, it results in a greenish tint to the mixture.

How do I thicken my 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.

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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.

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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.

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Why is my lemon tart not setting? ›

If the filling is runny and flowing out of the tart when you cut into it, then it is likely that the curd was not cooked for quite long enough. You need to be patient when cooking citrus curds as if you heat the mixture too quickly then it can curdle and become lumpy. You need to keep a low heat and stir constatntly.

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