Description
This Easy Lemon Curd recipe delivers a luscious, tangy spread made from fresh lemons, eggs, and butter. Perfectly smooth and creamy, it brightens up toast, desserts, and pastries with its vibrant citrus flavor. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a quick and delightful way to add homemade charm to any dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Whisk eggs and sugar: In a medium saucepan, whisk the eggs and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add lemon and salt: Stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Cook mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, for about 8-10 minutes. Continue until the curd thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Incorporate butter: Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cubed unsalted butter until the butter melts completely and the curd is smooth and glossy.
- Strain curd: Pour the lemon curd through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any cooked egg bits or zest, ensuring a silky texture.
- Cool and refrigerate: Allow the lemon curd to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to let it set properly.
Notes
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor and brightness.
- Constant whisking during cooking prevents the eggs from scrambling and helps achieve smooth curd.
- Store lemon curd in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Perfect as a spread for toast, filling for tarts, or topping for desserts like pavlova or cheesecake.
- You can adjust sweetness by varying sugar quantity to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce/Spread
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American/English
