March 17, 2021 By Brandy 27 Comments

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe (Video)

Name: Homemade Lemon Curd
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 69 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar; 1/3 cup lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 4 egg yolks; 5 Tbsp butter

Filed Under: Dessert Recipes

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Lemon curd might sound fancy, but it’s actually SUPER easy to make. Try our homemade lemon curd recipe, it’s delicious! You’ll find yourself finding more and more ways to enjoy this yummy treat! This post was originally shared in 2012 and now includes a step by step video!

Try our lemon curd cheesecakes, lemon curd hand pies, lemon raspberry turnovers and thumbprint lemon cookies!

Watch our step by step video!

What is lemon curd?

Lemon curd is a very rich dessert that can be used as a topping or spread. It has the consistency of pudding and has a deep yellow color that you would assume would be from the lemons, but is actually from the egg yolks! Lemon curd is simmered over the stove then chilled. Store bought lemon curd is delicious, but homemade is even better and EASY to make.

Homeamde Lemon Curd Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest (zest from 1 lemon)
4 egg yolks
5 Tbsp butter

Directions

Whisk sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks in a sauce pan and heat on medium heat until thickened (should look like a hollandaise sauce) and the mixture sticks to the back of a spoon (6-8 minutes). Mixture should be heated enough to simmer while cooking.
Remove from heat. Stir in butter, one tablespoon at a time and stir until smooth and melted.
Transfer mixture to a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap AGAINST the curd to prevent the top from drying out. Refrigerate for an hour to allow the curd to chill and thicken.

How To Store Lemon Curd

My recipe makes 1 cup of curd. I usually double the recipe and store the leftovers in the refrigerator. You can also freeze containers of lemon curd up to 6 months or can jars of curd for a longer shelf life!

(Lemon curd hand pie recipe HERE)

Ways To USe Lemon Curd

Spread over shortbread cookies or warm bread
Served with vanilla ice cream
Use as a filling for turnovers, hand pies, macarons, scones, or cupcakes
On waffles, pancakes, German pancakes or popovers
As a filling between cake layers

Here are 23 more ways!

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe

Homemade Lemon Curd

Lemon curd might sound fancy, but it actually SUPER easy to make. Try our homemade lemon curd recipe, it's delicious! You'll find yourself finding more and more ways to enjoy this yummy treat!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

chill: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 9 minutes

Servings: (Tablespoons)

Calories: 60kcal

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
4 egg yolks
5 Tbsp butter

Instructions

Whisk sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks in a sauce pan and heat on medium heat until thickened (should look like a hollandaise sauce) and the mixture sticks to the back of a spoon (6-8 minutes). Mixture should be heated enough to simmer while cooking.
Remove from heat.
Stir in butter, one tablespoon at a time and stir until smooth and melted.
Transfer mixture to a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap AGAINST the curd to prevent the top from drying out. Refrigerate for an hour to allow the curd to chill and thicken.

Notes

Nutrition