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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

    Author: Peter's Food Adventures · Published: Jul 31, 2015 · Modified: Sep 10, 2021

    Jump to Recipe

    This Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter, is bursting with lemon citrus goodness. Easy to make and so tasty! Smooth, creamy, tangy, yet sweet. Perfect breakfast treat on toast, waffles, scones, pancakes and more.

    This Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter, is bursting with lemon citrus goodness. Easy to make and so tasty! Smooth, creamy, tangy, yet sweet. Perfect breakfast treat on toast, waffles, scones, pancakes and more.
    • lemon curd ingredients, egg yolks in a bowl
    • whisking lemon curd in a pot

    Lemon season continues at my house, which means it's time to make easy Lemon Curd recipe! I figure we have over 100 lemons of various shapes and sizes. Home grown lemons don't all look exactly the same as they do in the store. Some of my lemons were small and others have grown to the size of large mangoes. Regardless the size or colour, they still taste the same. So now I'm racking my brain to utilize my lemons.

    Is Lemon Curd and Lemon Butter the same thing?

    Lemon Curd is almost like a Lemon Jam. It's also called Lemon Butter, and it's delicious on fresh scones made with 7-UP or on toast. While camping, we put it inside a pie iron sandwich maker with a marshmallow for a lemon meringue pie iron treat. Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter is like a silky lemony custard, and easy to make. If you have an abundance of passionfruit, you can also make Passionfruit Curd.

    Lemon Curd Recipe in a glass jar

    How to make Lemon Butter from Scratch

    Some lemon curd recipes just throw it all in the pot, other recipes use the microwave, some recipes curdle the ingredients together before cooking. My preference is to cream the eggs with the sugar first, then add the butter slowly over low heat. You have to watch the temperature so the eggs don't cook, then you have a weird lemon omelette. That happened to me once, I was distracted with the kids, walked away and had ribbons or egg though the curd. What a waste of effort!

    How long will Lemon Curd last in the fridge?

    I don't can my lemon curd to seal it, like a jam and don't recommend it. I usually keep it in fridge, and it usually lasts about 1 to 2 weeks long.

    Is Lemon Curd the same as Lemon Meringue Pie filling?

    It is very similar but made differently. Lemon Meringue Pie Filling is thickened by using corn starch, while a Lemon curd recipe is thickened naturally via pectin. Lemon Curd as a result is smoother and not so thick and starchy in comparison. You wouldn't put pie filling on your morning toast, the curd tastes much nicer! When we go camping, I make Lemon Meringue Pie Irons over the campfire, using Lemon Curd and Marshmallows.

    This Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter, is bursting with lemon citrus goodness. Easy to make and so tasty! Smooth, creamy, tangy, yet sweet. Perfect breakfast treat on toast, waffles, scones, pancakes and more.

    So during lemon season, don't despair. I've never been let down by this Lemon Curd recipe. A full cup of lemon juice gives it a really sour lemon kick if you like it more sour. Otherwise stick to ⅔ cup of lemon juice for a sweeter taste. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    This Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter, is bursting with lemon citrus goodness. Easy to make and so tasty! Smooth, creamy, tangy, yet sweet. Perfect breakfast treat on toast, waffles, scones, pancakes and more.

    Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

    This Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter, is bursting with lemon citrus goodness. Easy to make and so tasty! Smooth, creamy, tangy, yet sweet. Perfect breakfast treat on toast, waffles, scones, pancakes and more.
    5 from 21 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Course: Condiment, Sauce
    Cuisine: English
    Keyword: lemon butter, lemon curd recipe
    Author: Peter's Food Adventures

    Ingredients

    • 5 egg yolks
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 4 oz /125g butter cubed
    • 4 unwaxed lemons juiced approx ⅔ cup of lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons zest from lemons
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    Instructions

    • Whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar. Place in a saucepan on medium-low heat.
    • Add the cubed butter and slowly heat until it melts, constantly stirring. Stir in the lemon zest.
    • Add the lemon juice in a slow stream, constantly stirring using a whisk or spoon. Cook stirring constantly for about 12-15 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and allow to cool. Lemon curd will thicken as it cools. Strain the lemon curd to remove lemon zest pieces (optional)
    • Once cools, pour into sterilized jars and keep in refrigerator until ready to use.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com

    • Easy Lemon Curd
    • Lemon Curd

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda

      November 12, 2019 at 4:17 am

      Looking for Peter's low tide lemon sauce. Is that you -would love a jar or recipe

      Reply
      • Peter's Food Adventures

        November 12, 2019 at 5:25 am

        Sorry, unfortunately that’s not me. Good luck finding it! 😊

        Reply
    2. atkokosplace

      August 13, 2015 at 3:45 pm

      This sounds wonderful. I bet it would be good between cake!

      Reply
      • PetersFoodAdventures

        August 13, 2015 at 3:52 pm

        Great idea! Hmm.. Between a sponge cake, covered with cream and lemon zest and zested white chocolate...... mmmmm Now you got my creative juices going!!! 🙂

        Reply
        • atkokosplace

          August 13, 2015 at 10:35 pm

          I know right?! 🙂

          Reply
    3. Natasha Fredrickson

      August 05, 2015 at 1:37 am

      I have two huge lemon trees so we have the same predicament! I've never made curd before, will definitely try this!

      Reply
      • PetersFoodAdventures

        August 05, 2015 at 8:52 am

        I'll keep and eye out for your lemon recipes! I have a few more in the works. With this one, remember I made it a little sour, so you can reduce the lemon juice for a sweeter curd, which is more popular I think. 🙂

        Reply
        • Natasha Fredrickson

          August 05, 2015 at 8:56 am

          Thanks for the tip! I look forward to more recipes as my neighbors are tired of me always giving them lemons lol

          Reply
          • PetersFoodAdventures

            August 05, 2015 at 8:59 am

            Haha, I feel the same way too! lol

            Reply
    5 from 21 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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