Go Back
–+ servings
jar of lemon curd on white cloth
4.34 from 3 votes
Print

Homemade Lemon Curd

A simple no-fail recipe for delicious, buttery, tart lemon curd.

Course Condiment, Dessert
Cuisine American, French
Keyword Easy Lemon Curd, Homemade Lemon Curd, lemon curd
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 2 cups
Calories 103 kcal
Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and yolks and beat another minute. Mix in the lemon juice. the mixture will look curdled, but it will smooth out as it cooks.

  2. In a medium, heavy saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. The curdled appearance will begin to disappear as the butter in the mixture melts. Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. It should take about 15 minutes. It should leave a path on the back of a spoon and will read 170 degrees on a thermometer. Don’t let the mixture boil.

  3. Remove the curd from the heat; stir in the lemon zest. Transfer the curd to a bowl. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and chill the curd in the refrigerator. The curd will thicken further as it cools. Covered tightly, it will keep in the refrigerator for a week and in the freezer for 2 months.

Recipe Notes

  • For lime curd, substitute fresh lime juice and zest for the lemon.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Lemon Curd
Amount Per Serving (2 tbsp)
Calories 103 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 56mg19%
Sodium 10mg0%
Potassium 21mg1%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 193IU4%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 7mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.