Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
Sweet & tangy homemade lemon curd is perfect for cakes, tarts, or by the spoonful! Easy recipe, simple ingredients and so much better than store-bought!
Servings: 1.25 cups
Calories: 830kcal
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest about 1 lemon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice about 3 large lemons
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cut in small cubes
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- First, zest one lemon and set zest aside. Squeeze 3 large lemons, including the one you zested, enough to make ½ cup lemon juice. Strain out seeds and pulp.
- Whisk eggs, sugar, lemon zest and salt in a medium saucepan. Whisk briskly until the mixture is frothy and lighter in color.
- Add lemon juice and whisk until combined.
- Add the butter cubes to the lemon mixture.
- Place on the stove over low to medium low heat and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens. This usually takes 9-12 minutes. Use a digital thermometer to take the guess work out. It should read between 160-170°F for the proper thickening where it coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and strain through a strainer into a glass or ceramic bowl. Stir with a whisk to make the process go a little faster.
- Stir in vanilla extract then cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap sits on the top of the lemon curd to avoid a skin developing on the top of the curd.
- Let it sit for about 30 minutes so that the mixture comes to room temperature. Pour into a jar with a tight fitting lid to store or into individual dishes if serving as dessert.
- Chill for 2 hours before using.
Notes
STORE/FREEZE
To Store: Transfer the cooled curd to an airtight container in the refrigerator. Note that it keeps best in glass because a metal container can give it a metallic taste. It will last up to 2 weeks.
To Freeze: Transfer the cooled curd to a freezer-safe container, leaving ½-inch of room at the top because it will expand when freezing. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Calories: 830kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 544mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 1790IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg
