Easy Lemon Curd Recipe - On the stove or microwave!

This easy lemon curd recipe uses eggs to thicken it. The end result is a luscious, thick and smooth curd.

Homemade citrus curd is the perfect addition to cakes, pies, tarts, pancakes, yoghurt and ice cream. This easy lemon curd can be made in the microwave or on the stove.

Jump to:

• 🍋 The best lemon Curd
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 📖 Step by step - Stove top
• 🥣 Microwave lemon curd
• ✅ Variations
• ❓ Lemon curd FAQ
• 📋 Related recipes
• 📖 Full recipe
• Full Recipe

🍋 The best lemon Curd

My ideal lemon curd is tart and not too sweet. It needs to scream lemon. I also like it thick enough to spread lavishly over whatever I am jazzing up. Toast, pancakes, waffles, cakes, pie...

It's wonderful over dolloped ice cream or swirled in yoghurt too.

🍽 Equipment

This curd can be made over a double boiler on the stove or in a microwave.

Stovetop - This uses a double boiling method. You will need a bain-marie (hot water bath) setup. You can create this with a heat-proof bowl balanced over a saucepan of boiling water.

Microwave - For the microwave lemon curd method you will need a microwave and a microwave-proof bowl.

🧾 Ingredients

The ingredients are simple in this homemade lemon curd recipe, there are only 5!

• Eggs - 3 large egg yolks and 1 large whole egg. These are the thickner in the curd. The remaining eggwhites that aren't used in the curd can be frozen for future use (like in a pavalova.)
• Sugar - granulated white sugar brings the sweetness
• Lemon - an obvious ingredient in easy lemon curd. Use regular lemons for the tartest lemon curd, or use Meyer lemons for a less tart version.
• Butter - This brings the richness. Use salted or unsalted butter.
• Salt - This helps to balance all the flavours. If you're using salted butter you can skip this.

📖 Step by step - Stove top

Set up the water bath by filling a saucepan with about 4cm (2 inches) of water and bringing it to a simmer. Mix all the ingredients except the butter into a heatproof bowl and set this over the simmering water. 

Whisk it together over the simmering water for around 12-15 minutes until it starts to thicken a bit. Don't rush this step. When a metal spoon is dipped in, it should easily coat the back of the spoon.

Take it off the heat and whisk in the cold butter. Pour the finished curd through a sieve into clean jars. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, store it in the fridge.

If you accidentally took it off the heat too soon, and it doesn't thicken even when in the fridge, it can be reheated over a water bath and cooked a bit longer.

🥣 Microwave lemon curd

This recipe can be an easy microwave lemon curd too. Microwaving the curd is much faster than on the stovetop however there is more of a risk of little bits of egg scrambling. This is because a microwave can heat things inconsistently. To remove any pieces of cooked egg, ensure the curd is passed through a sieve before storing.

In a microwave-proof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, whole egg, and sugar until well combined. Whisk in the lemon juice and lemon zest.

Place the bowl in the microwave and cook in 40-second increments, stirring each time for around 3-4 minutes in total. This time may increase or decrease depending on your microwave strength.

Check that the curd is thick enough by dipping in a metal spoon. The curd should easily coat the back of the spoon.

Stir the cold cubed butter through the hot curd and stir until smooth. Pour the finished curd through a sieve into clean jars. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, store it in the fridge.

✅ Variations

If you have an abundance of other citruses, such as limes, clementines, oranges, or grapefruit, you can use this recipe for those too!

Oranges, clementines, and other sweet citrus are best when made alongside some tart lemon juice as well to balance the sweetness.

❓ Lemon curd FAQ

📋 Related recipes

Looking for other delicious lemon recipes? Try this lemon yogurt cake with rosemary or this lemon layer cake with coconut.

Or, try these other breakfast recipes that also use fruit and jars! This vanilla quince jelly recipe is great on homemade bread. While this yogurt panna cotta recipe is a great way to start the day!

Have you made this? Tag me and let me know! @home_grown_happinessnz

📖 Full recipe