Easy Homemade Lemon Curd
This easy lemon curd is bright, tangy, super creamy, and perfect for scones, biscuits, or any lemon desserts. With 5 simple ingredients and one pot, you'll have homemade lemon curd in less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- Pinch fine sea salt
- 5 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter cold
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Rub the lemon zest into the sugar until it resembles wet sand.
- Add it to a pot and whisk in the eggs. Then whisk in the lemon juice and salt.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 8-12 minutes, stirring constantly, until the lemon curd temperature reaches 170F/78C, looks vibrant yellow, and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Pour the curd through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl.
- Stir in the cold butter and vanilla extract until combined.
- Cover the top with plastic wrap so that it touches the surface of the curd. This will prevent any dry skin from forming. Set the bowl in an ice bath to cool for 20 minutes.
- Then pour it into a clean glass mason jar and chill in the fridge until ready to use. It will be thinner after cooling but will thicken in the fridge when the butter re-solidifies.
- Serve cold or hot on yogurt, pancakes, ice cream, or crepes. You can also use it as a filling for cakes or cupcakes! Store in an airtight container, specifically a glass mason jar. It can be refrigerated for up to 1 month! Because lemon juice's acidity can react with metal, I don't recommend storing it in any metal container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight before using, and consume within 4 weeks.
Video
Notes
Why didn't my curd set? It may not be set if the curd isn't cooked long enough or the ingredients are incorrectly measured.
Metallic aftertaste: Avoid using metal utensils and pots that aren't stainless steel or ceramic. The acid in lemon juice can react with metal, resulting in a metallic aftertaste.
Flavor variations: You can replace the lemon juice and zest with the same from oranges, limes, or grapefruits!
