Lemon Curd – Love, Life and Sugar

March 13, 2023

This Lemon Curd is nice, tart, easy and tremendous simple to make with solely 4 elements! It’s shiny taste is WAY higher than store-bought and can be utilized for layer desserts, pound desserts, cheesecakes and extra!

lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon

Simple Do-it-yourself Lemon Curd

When you’re are searching for a straightforward method to up the sport of your subsequent baking endeavor, look no additional. This custard-like lemon curd is the proper addition to an unlimited array of desserts, cupcakes, cookies, and breakfast items. The tanginess of the lemon. The sweetness of the sugar. The richness of the egg yolks. When mixed, it actually is lemon heaven in a spoon.

And for those who’ve by no means had it selfmade earlier than, you’re 100% lacking out! The flavour isn’t even comparable. Retailer-bought lemon curd completely lacks taste, whereas this selfmade lemon curd is shiny, refreshing, tangy and so superb. And contemplating it solely takes about 20 minutes to make, it’s so very well worth the effort.

What’s Lemon Curd?

Lemon curd is a wealthy dessert unfold or topping. It has an intense tart lemon taste that can also be candy. It makes use of egg yolks to thicken the custard-like topping and is made up of lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, egg yolks, and butter. It’s served chilly as an expansion, filling, or a topping for a wide range of baked items.

overhead image of lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Fast and Simple. This recipe solely takes 10 minutes of prepare dinner time after which some chill time. It is so simple as mixing just a few elements collectively, cooking them over a double broiler, protecting the entire thing in plastic wrap, and putting it within the fridge to sit back. Not too unhealthy for a goodie that may completely blow your thoughts. 
  • Solely 5 easy elements. If you consider it, it’s actually solely 4 as a result of the lemon performs two roles in offering its juice and its zest. Verify your kitchen. You may have already got every thing it takes.
  • Versatile. This lemon curd enhances so many alternative baked items impecibly. Use it as a cupcake filling, a cake filling, a topping for buttermilk biscuits, to high a cheesecake, or as a noon pick-me-up (simply savor a spoonful…no disgrace). The chances are countless.

What You’ll Want

Solely 4 elements (used as 5 due to the lemon zest and juice) and also you’ll be in your means. Here’s what you have to to make creamy lemon curd. Scroll to the recipe under for particular measurements, and many others.

  • Contemporary lemon juice: Don’t be tempted to seize the bottle! It’s not appropriate for this recipe. Use solely contemporary lemon juice.
  • Lemon zest: Zest solely the yellow half, not the white half, which might have a bitter style.
  • Sugar: To present some sweetness and reduce the tartness a bit.
  • Egg yolks: Used to thicken the curd and brighten the lemon taste.
  • Salted butter: So as to add creaminess and taste. I exploit salted butter so as to add a contact of additional taste with out including an excessive amount of, however be at liberty to make use of unsalted butter.
zesting a lemon on a zester over a white cutting board
squeezing lemon juice into a measuring cup using a juicer.

The way to Make Lemon Curd

All it takes is a fast 3 steps and also you’re in your means. Prepare dinner, chill, and use with reckless abandon. Right here is an outline of methods to make this yummy dessert unfold. Scroll to the recipe under for extra detailed directions.

  • Mix. In a double broiler set over simmering water, mix all the elements. Warmth till they start to soften/skinny out.
all the ingredients combined in metal bowl over simmering pot of water.
all ingredients in metal pot after they've melted and smoothed out
  • Prepare dinner. Prepare dinner, whisking always, till the combination reaches 160 levels F or coats the again of the spoon.
finished/cooked curd in metal bowl
cooked lemon curd coating the back of a spoon
cooked lemon curd on back of spoon with a line through it to show thickness
  • Chill. Switch the lemon curd to a big bowl, press a layer of clear wrap excessive, and chill within the fridge.
cooked lemon curd in clear bowl with clear wrap pressed on top
  • Serve. As soon as the curd is correctly chilled, use it as you’ll!

Ideas for Success

  • Use contemporary lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice is not going to give the identical taste.
  • Prepare dinner over low warmth. This together with fixed whisking (see my subsequent level) will assist maintain the eggs from scrambling. It would additionally be sure that the lemon curd doesn’t burn on the backside of the double broiler. Don’t flip the warmth as much as prepare dinner it extra shortly.
  • Whisk always. When cooking the lemon curd, it’s important to whisk always. It will assist forestall the eggs from scrambling with the additional advantage of aerating the custard.
  • Don’t over prepare dinner. The curd will turn out to be to thick and lump if over cooked.
  • Cool utterly. The curd will thicken because it cools. Remember to cool it utterly earlier than utilizing and including as a fill for desserts, and many others.
  • Pressure. I don’t usually pressure my lemon curd, however for those who discover it has ended up lumpy for some purpose, be at liberty to pressure it by way of a sieve.

Methods to Use Lemon Curd

This dessert unfold and filling is so versatile and might be integrated into an virtually countless record of baked items. Lets have a look at a few of my favourite methods to make use of this lemon curd

lemon curd in glass jar with blue cloth and spoon in it

The way to Retailer

As soon as chilled, switch the lemon curd to an hermetic container corresponding to a mason jar, leaving a minimum of 1/2 inch of area between the curd and the lid, and seal. Retailer it within the fridge for 1-2 weeks (the earlier you utilize it the higher).

It’s also possible to retailer the sealed container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. If you end up prepared to make use of it, transfer the container to the fridge and permit it to thaw utterly earlier than spreading, filling, or dipping.

Extra Lemon Dessert Concepts

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lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon