Lemon Curd – Love, Life and Sugar

March 9, 2023

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

lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon

Simple Selfmade Lemon Curd

If you happen to’re are on the lookout for a simple solution to up the sport of your subsequent baking endeavor, look no additional. This custard-like lemon curd is the right addition to an unlimited array of muffins, 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 in the event you’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 wonderful. 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 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 a ramification, filling, or a topping for quite a lot 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 a number of components collectively, cooking them over a double broiler, masking the entire thing in plastic wrap, and putting it within the fridge to relax. Not too unhealthy for a goodie that may completely blow your thoughts. 
  • Solely 5 easy components. 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 would possibly have already got every part it takes.
  • Versatile. This lemon curd enhances so many various 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 limitless.

What You’ll Want

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

  • 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 offer some sweetness and lower 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 take advantage of 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.

Tips on how to Make Lemon Curd

All it takes is a fast 3 steps and also you’re in your approach. Prepare dinner, chill, and use with reckless abandon. Right here is an summary of 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 components. 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 consistently, 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 is going to additionally be certain 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 rapidly.
  • Whisk consistently. When cooking the lemon curd, it’s important to whisk consistently. It will assist forestall the eggs from scrambling with the additional advantage of aerating the custard.
  • Don’t over prepare dinner. The curd will develop into to thick and lump if over cooked.
  • Cool fully. The curd will thicken because it cools. Be sure you cool it fully earlier than utilizing and including as a fill for muffins, and so forth.
  • Pressure. I don’t usually pressure my lemon curd, however in the event you discover it has ended up lumpy for some purpose, be at liberty to pressure it by means of a sieve.

Methods to Use Lemon Curd

This dessert unfold and filling is so versatile and could be included into an nearly limitless checklist of baked items. Lets take 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

Tips on how to Retailer

As soon as chilled, switch the lemon curd to an hermetic container equivalent to a mason jar, leaving not less than 1/2 inch of house between the curd and the lid, and seal. Retailer it within the fridge for 1-2 weeks (the earlier you employ it the higher).

You too can retailer the sealed container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. If you find yourself prepared to make use of it, transfer the container to the fridge and permit it to thaw fully earlier than spreading, filling, or dipping.

Extra Lemon Dessert Concepts

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lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon