Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe (Small Batch)

The store-bought variety can’t compete with this homemade lemon curd recipe.  Super easy from-scratch lemon curd is tangy, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweet.  You only need 5 ingredients and it’s ready in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

lemons
sugar
eggs
unsalted butter
 kosher salt

Instructions

• In a medium bowl cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs slowly one at a time.
• Mix in the lemon juice.
• Transfer to heavy saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thickened, about 7-8 minutes.
• Transfer lemon curd to a bowl or jars and cover with a plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour.
• Lemon curd can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Best saucepan for cooking lemon curd.

Use a Stainless steel or enameled cast iron, or the Mauviel Jam Pan for larger amounts.   Don't use aluminum cookware,  the acid in the lemon juice will react with the aluminum and impart a metallic flavor to your curd.

The reason to use unsalted butter is so you can control the amount of salt otherwise you can use a salted butter and omit the salt from the recipe. Also the cook time is only 10 minutes so stay with the curd and keep stirring it so it's nice and smooth.

You can also substitute lime juice and zest for tasty Lime Curd.

Stir your curd often.

Stirring often and scraping the bottom sides of the saucepan with a wooden spoon will help prevent burning, and the stirring gives you a nice creamy curd .

Watch the cooking temperature.

Never let the curd boil! In about 10 minutes or less  the curd will thicken and reach the right consistency.

How to tell if the lemon curd is done.

When the curd reaches  170 degrees Fahrenheit, right before it simmers,  it's done.   The curd will continue to thicken as it cools. If your making a double batch the cook time will be longer.

Some ways to use lemon curd: 

This time of year I use lemon curd in a variety of ways.  There are so many ways to enjoy this seet, tangy and tart topping.

• A dollop on pancakes or waffles
• Use as a filling for cupcakes, or lemon cream pie
• Layered on top of a cheesecake
• Classic lemon bars
• Use in a lemon & berry trifle
• As a spread on homemade biscuits, or croissants
• Yummy stirred into yogurt
• As an ice cream topping

If you have any tips to share, please let me know in the comments section!

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Lemon Curd

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Tart and tangy lemon curd, great for lemon bars or lemon cream pie.

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Ingredients

• 4 large lemons (1/2 cup lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of lemon zest, grated0
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
• A pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs slowly one at a timne.
3. Mix in the lemon juice.
4. Transfer to heavy saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thickened, about 7-8 minutes.
5. Transfer lemon curd to a bowl or jars and cover with a plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour. Lemon curd can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 214Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 3gSugar: 21gProtein: 6g

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #aweekendcook.