Easy homemade lemon curd from scratch, is a quick and simple curd recipe. It is prepared with only 4 simple ingredients and within 10 minutes. Perfect lemon curd with creamy, sweet, smooth, and tangy lemon spread, good for versatile uses. Check how to make lemon curd easy better than the store.

For any occasion, if you prefer making your favorite desserts like lemon raspberry tarts, lemon curd mousse, or lemon slice, this lemon curd becomes the key ingredient. It's the best filling.
This homemade lemon curd is much more delicious and better than the purchased one. These recipe ingredients are simple and easily available in the market. It can last for a longer time. Lemon curd at the supermarket shop is also much more costly.
Perfect lemon curd prepared without artificial colors and flavors. Lemon curd uses are very versatile. DON'T MISS THIS RECIPE!!!
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What Is Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a rich spread mostly prepared with fresh lemons, eggs, sugar, and butter. The eggs in this recipe helps to thicken the mixture like a custard-like dessert. It's a simple and easy recipe prepared with few ingredients from scratch at home. It is a very popular baker's choice.
With its tangy and sweet flavor profile, homemade lemon curd uses are mostly in cakes and tarts to pancakes and waffles dishes.
Lemon Curd Uses
Homemade lemon curd is mostly used in various recipes for a bright and tangy taste. Mostly used to eat with lemon curd and for different dishes, from dessert to breakfast cereal in the morning. The spreadable texture can also be used as a surprise garnish. Here check what to do with lemon curd:
- Spread on toast, waffles, bagels, or English muffins.
- Filling for cakes, cupcakes, or tarts.
- Mixed with yogurt, porridge, or oatmeal.
- Layered into parfaits or trifles.
- Drizzled over pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Mixed into cheesecake or frosting.
- Paired with fresh fruit or berries.
- Topping on ice cream or sorbet.
- Filling for thumbprint biscuits, macarons, or warm gingerbread.
- Spread on top of shortbread or butter cookies.
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Tips To Make Perfect Lemon Curd
- For richer and thicker curds use more egg yolks.
- For best flavor, it is better to use fresh lemons.
- To avoid scorching or burning, use a thick-bottomed skillet.
- Whisk constantly on low heat while cooking lemon curd to prevent curdling or egg scramble.
- Use fine-mesh strainer to remove any bits or pieces of cooked egg.
- Don’t overcook. The curd will become too thick and lumpy if overcooked.
- Let it cool completely, before transferring lemon curd to the airtight container.
- To avoid skin formation, place a piece of plastic wrap on a heatproof bowl or jar, immediately after straining the homemade lemon curd.
Lemon Curd Ingredients
Perfect homemade lemon curd is made with 5 simple ingredients. And they are easily available in the market.
- Whole Eggs – I prefer using whole eggs, to avoid the waste of egg whites. This also gives a good taste.
- Lemon Juice – in the lemon curd recipe fresh juice is used for better results. For best flavor, it is better to use fresh lemons.
- Lemon Zest – better to zest the lemon before juicing. It is easy to use the zest remover if you have
- Sugar – granulated sugar is better rather any flavored one, to better taste.
- Unsalted Butter – sliced or cubed pieces for fast melting.
How To Make Homemade Lemon Curd Easy
- In Medium-sized saucepan: For lemon curd, take the saucepan, and whisk together eggs and sugar. Whisk them well till combined. Pour lemon juice with the zest into the pan. Whisk the mixture very well till well combined.
- On medium-low heat, place the saucepan. Whisk continuously with a wire whisk and cook so that the mixture heats evenly and does not clump. Cook till the mixture thickens to a consistency like pudding for about 8- 10 minutes or coat the back of a spoon.
- Add Butter: Add one butter cube at a time, whisk well until it gets fully melted and mixed, before adding the next.
- Strain lemon curd into a heat-proof container or jar using your fine mesh strainer. Keep whisking on the strainer to help the lemon curd mixture pass through easily. It will remove the solids like eggs or zest bits. Press plastic wrap against the surface of the curd to avoid skin forming.
- Cool the Curd: Let the lemon curd cool for 20 – 30 minutes and come to room temperature. As it cools the curd thickening will continue.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the easy homemade lemon curd to serving jars. Refrigerate for 2 hours at least before or until set.
Easy Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe prepared with 5 simple ingredients in 10 minutes. best and perfect lemon curd recipe. it's a quick and simple recipe
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LEMON CURD F.A.Qs
How Long Does Homemade Lemon Curd Last
If preparing in advance before use, keep the homemade lemon curd in a sterilized container, for future use.
- Store in the Fridge for nearly 2 weeks in an airtight container.
- Store in Freezer if prepared very much in advance, then homemade lemon curd can be stored in the freezer for nearly 6 months. It the best to thaw the lemon curd in the fridge overnight before using.
How To Thicken Lemon Curd
To get a thicker lemon curd extra egg yolk or two egg yolks can be added. Using two yolks in place of one whole egg will make the lemon curd thicker, in this recipe.
The eggs and the natural pectic in the fresh lemon juice thickens the lemon curd.
How To Fix Runny Lemon Curd
For too-thin and runny lemon curd, constantly keep cooking until the curd mixture sticks to the back of the spoon. Keep stirring and cooking for a longer time on low heat. After cooking, the curd will thicken more as it keeps cooling.
If even after cooling the lemon curd does not thicken, then it's better to reheat the curd. Stir constantly to thicken it, and test it on the spoon.
And finally, add the egg yolk or butter or 1 teaspoon cornflour mixed with a tablespoon water can be added. After adding keep stirring until the lemon curd thickens.
Does Lemon Curd Thicken As It Cools
YES, the homemade lemon curd thickens as it cools. It also will thicken more if placed in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Lemon Curd
YES, lemon curd can be frozen in the freezer for nearly 6 months. It's best to freeze and preserve in an airtight jar or container by keeping some top space in it for expansion.
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Equipment Needed For Lemon Curd
- Zest Remover – to remove the lemon zest easily for use
- Saucepan – To mix the ingredients properly
- Mesh Sieve Strainer / Strainer – used to strain the lemon curd from solids or zest bits
- Serving Jars – to store the lemon curd.

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe, How To Make Lemon Curd Easy
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs whole
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice from about 3-4 lemons
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup 115 grams or 1 stick or 4 oz unsalted butter, cubed
- pinch of salt
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Instructions
- For lemon curd, take a medium sized saucepan, whisk together eggs, and sugar, till well mixed.
- To the saucepan, also add the lemon juice and zest. Whisk them very well till well combined.
- On medium-low heat, keep the saucepan. Cook the mixture whisking continuously with a wire whisk so that it heats evenly and does not clump.
- Cook for about 8 -10 minutes or till the spoon's back gets coated without running down.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add butter, one cube at a time, whisking until it completely melts and incorporated before adding the next.
- Take a heat-proof jar or container and strain the curd through a fine mesh strainer while whisking over it to pass through. It will filter and drain the solid like eggs and zest bits.
- Press a plastic wrap against the surface of the curd to avoid a skin forming.
- Let the lemon curd cool down for 20 - 30 minutes or come to room temperature. As it cools the curd thickening continues.
- Transfer the easy homemade lemon curd to serving jars. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set.
Notes
- it's better to use fresh lemon juice than the bottled lemon juice
- salted butter can be used instead of unsalted butter, only omit salt
- for thicker lemon curd replace one whole egg with two egg yolks
- to confirm that the lemon curd is ready, the curd should have thick consistency or the spoon's back should get coated without running down
- the lemon curd thickens as it cools and should be stored in the fridge
- for longer storage the curds can be stored in freezer for nearly 6 months
Nice recipe, simple and easy. Thanks.
Nice simple recipe
Nice and simple creamy lemon curd. I want to use it for cake filling
It’s a delicious creamy lemon curd recipe. I loved this, applied on the bread for breakfast.
I prepared this lemon curd for lemon tartlets . It turned out awesome. Thanks