Lemon Curd – Love, Life and Sugar

March 12, 2023

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

lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon

Straightforward Home made Lemon Curd

For those who’re are in search of a simple strategy 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 truffles, cupcakes, cookies, and breakfast items. The tanginess of the lemon. The sweetness of the sugar. The richness of the egg yolks. When mixed, it really is lemon heaven in a spoon.

And in case you’ve by no means had it do-it-yourself earlier than, you might be 100% lacking out! The flavour isn’t even comparable. Retailer-bought lemon curd completely lacks taste, whereas this do-it-yourself lemon curd is shiny, refreshing, tangy and so wonderful. And contemplating it solely takes about 20 minutes to make, it’s so very definitely 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 a variety, 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 Straightforward. This recipe solely takes 10 minutes of cook dinner time after which some chill time. It is so simple as mixing a number of substances collectively, cooking them over a double broiler, overlaying the entire thing in plastic wrap, and inserting it within the fridge to relax. Not too unhealthy for a goodie that can completely blow your thoughts. 
  • Solely 5 easy substances. 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. Examine your kitchen. You would possibly have already got the whole lot 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 infinite.

What You’ll Want

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

  • Recent 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 may have a bitter style.
  • Sugar: To provide 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 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.

Learn how to Make Lemon Curd

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

  • Mix. In a double broiler set over simmering water, mix the entire substances. 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
  • Cook dinner. Cook dinner, whisking continually, 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.
  • Cook dinner over low warmth. This together with fixed whisking (see my subsequent level) will assist preserve 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 cook dinner it extra shortly.
  • Whisk continually. When cooking the lemon curd, it’s important to whisk continually. This may assist forestall the eggs from scrambling with the additional advantage of aerating the custard.
  • Don’t over cook dinner. The curd will grow to be to thick and lump if over cooked.
  • Cool fully. The curd will thicken because it cools. You’ll want to cool it fully earlier than utilizing and including as a fill for truffles, and so forth.
  • Pressure. I don’t usually pressure my lemon curd, however in case 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 will be integrated into an virtually infinite 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

Learn how to Retailer

As soon as chilled, switch the lemon curd to an hermetic container corresponding to a mason jar, leaving not less than 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).

You can too retailer the sealed container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. When 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

See How It’s Made

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lemon curd being drizzled into clear jar with a spoon