Home > Dessert > Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (VIDEO)

June 10, 2022

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe (VIDEO)

Name: Lemon Curd Recipe
Prep time: 6 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 large eggs; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; pinch of fine sea salt; 1 tsp grated lemon zest (from 1 medium lemon); 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 3 lemons, strained); 6 Tbsp unsalted butter (cut into small pieces); 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Homemade Lemon Curd tastes like the best part of Lemon Bars – the creamy lemony center. This lemon curd has a wonderfully fresh and vibrant lemon flavor with the perfect amount of sweetness to balance the tanginess.

Making your own Lemon Curd Recipe is easier than you think and it tastes better than store-bought. It also keeps really well. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to make it from scratch.

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My In-laws live in California and have several lemon trees growing in their backyard. Every year they give us a large box of homegrown lemons and I sure put them to good use. I do everything from freezing the zest to freezing the lemon juice in ice cube trays and then enjoy their lemons all through winter. If you love lemons, check out our post on What to do with Lemons.

Lemon Curd Video Tutorial

Watch Natasha make easy Lemon Curd. All you need is a saucepan, whisk and sieve to strain it through. It requires only 6 ingredients (including salt) and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. Just like nearly everything, homemade tastes best.

What is Lemon Curd?

Lemon curd is a spread made out of fresh lemon juice, eggs, sugar, zest, and butter. The eggs in the recipe thicken the mixture, giving it a custard-like consistency. It’s often used as a dessert topping or spread for cakes, cookies, tarts, etc.

Serve this over Sponge Cake, with Strawbery Scones or Crepes. It’s also a tasty filling for Lemon Curd Tartlets. There are so many uses for Lemon Curd.

Ingredients

The key to making great lemon curd is to use fresh lemon juice. Avoid using concentrate or you’ll wish you just bought a jar of the stuff.

Eggs – use 3 large whole eggs right out of the fridge.
Sugar – We found that 1/2 cup of granulated sugar cuts the tartness perfectly.
Salt – a pinch of fine sea salt balances the flavors.
Lemon – since you’ll need the zest and juice, make sure to zest a lemon before squeezing the juice.
Butter – use unsalted butter, sliced into pieces for quicker melting.
Vanilla Extract – we always use real vanilla extract.

Ingredients with lemons, eggs, vanilla, butter, sugar and salt

How to Make Lemon Curd

In a medium saucepan – vigorously whisk together eggs, sugar, salt, and lemon zest until frothy.
Add lemon juice while whisking and stir until combined.
Set saucepan over low heat – and whisk constantly until mixture is thickened (8-9 minutes). It should coat the back of a spoon without running when you pull your finger across the spoon.
Strain – pour the lemon curd through a fine-mesh sieve, stirring over the sieve with a whisk to help it strain through. Discard the solids.
Add vanilla – stir in vanilla extract until combined.
Cool and store – once lemon curd is at room temperature cover and store in the refrigerator up to one week.

Pro Tip: Lemon Curd is cooked at 170˚F. You can use an instant-read thermometer to gauge progress. I take it off the stove at around 175-180˚F which is when it starts to lightly bubble.

Common Questions

Can I use Meyer lemons?

Meyer lemons are sweeter and less tart than regular lemons so it won’t have the same punch of lemon flavor. Consider using less sugar.

How to buy lemons?

Look for lemons that have a smooth firm skin, vibrant yellow, and unblemished. Avoid pale-colored (overripe) lemons and avoid any green-tinted (underripe) lemons.

Can I use lemon juice from concentrate?

This is a hard NO. I mean it, please do yourself a favor and squeeze real lemons.

Do you need a double boiler?

A double boiler is not necessary for making lemon curd. It’s an extra dish to wash and will take longer to heat up and thicken.

Can I use less sugar?

We have tested this with 1/3 cup of sugar and it worked very well. It’s slightly less sweet and the lemon flavor is slightly more pronounced. If you are looking to reduce the sugar, it will still work.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, but use a large saucepan, and keep in mind it will take a little longer to heat through and thicken up.

Make-Ahead

To Refrigerate: once cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Freezing: transfer to a freezer-safe container, leaving 1/2″ of headroom at the top and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
To Reheat: lemon curd should be served cold. There is no need to heat it.

top view of creamy lemon curd in a glass mason jar ready to store in the refrigerator or freezer.

This recipe is so versatile and delicious and it keeps really well. I hope it becomes a new favorite for you. Let me know your favorite ways to enjoy lemon curd in the comments below.

More Lemon Recipes to try

If you need a good recipe for using up lemon juice, add Lemon Curd to your recipe repertoire. Here are some more great lemon desserts to try:

Lemon Curd Recipe

4.96 from 48 votes

Prep Time: 6 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Homemade Lemon curd in a glass jar with spoon

Fresh homemade Lemon Curd has vibrant lemon flavor and tastes like the creamy filling in Lemon Bars. It’s so much better than store-bought and this is the easiest method that comes together quickly in a saucepan.

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade lemon curd recipe, lemon curd

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $2-$5

Calories: 60

Servings: 20 people (makes 1 1/4 cups)

Ingredients

3 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
pinch of fine sea salt
1 tsp grated lemon zest, from 1 medium lemon
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, from 3 lemons, strained
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a medium (2 qt) saucepan, combine eggs, sugar, zest, and a pinch of salt. Whisk vigorously until well combined, frothy, and lightened in color.
Whisk in lemon juice until blended.
Add butter pieces and set the pot over low heat, whisking constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is thickened (7-9 minutes). The lemon curd will thicken around 160-170˚F. Once you see it start bubbling, let it gently simmer for a few seconds then remove it from the heat at around 175-180˚F on a thermometer. When it's ready, it should coat the back of a spoon without running when you pull your finger across the spoon.
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve (if you stir in the sieve with the whisk, it will push the mixture through the sieve faster). Discard the solids left in the sieve.
Stir in vanilla extract. Let the mixture cool to room temperature then store covered in the refrigerator to fully set. Keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Nutrition Facts

Lemon Curd Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 60 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 34mg11%

Sodium 10mg0%

Potassium 17mg0%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 141IU3%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 5mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.