English Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

This English Lemon Curd Recipe is one of my all-time favorites. Spread it on a freshly baked scone or even a yummy piece of toast with butter. And, I have the best Magnolia Table Scones recipe that will go nicely with a dollop of lemon curd.

English Lemon Curd Recipe (1)

Lemon Curd Recipe

I love this recipe. My good friend Mindy gave me this recipe, and she found it in an English cookbook that her mom gave her years ago. This authentic and wonderful cookbook, published in the mid-’60s. The recipe is easy, and you only need five ingredients which makes it one of my favorites.

Did I mention that it only takes about 30 minutes to make? I know that Trader Joe’s sells a delicious lemon curd, but I love this recipe more. It has a smooth buttery consistency that melts in your mouth. Also, I always have many lemons on hand, so I always love to make my own curd.

I just made this recipe again, and I made a big revision. So, now you’ll get a fabulous lemon curd. Before my latest change, the eggs would scramble, so now you shouldn’t get this at all. You’ll want to cook it over low heat and in the last bit you’ll turn it up to a medium-low temperature.

If you do get bits of scrambled eggs, strain your curd or pick them out after it is done. It really is a personal preference. But if you cook it for the 30 minutes, you should end up with a smooth creamy curd!

English Lemon Curd Recipe (2)

Meyer Lemons

So, I used my fresh Meyer Lemons from my garden. Do you know anything about Meyer Lemons?

What is the difference between a Meyer lemon and a lemon?

Meyer Lemons are a hybrid of a lemon crossed with a mandarin orange. The acidity is less than lemon, but they still have the taste of a lemon.

Do Meyer lemons look different than lemons?

So, they are rounder than a lemon. Also, they are definitely more orange in color than a lemon. I used my Meyer lemons in all these photos to see that they are more on the orange side for color.

Can you substitute Meyer lemons for lemons when baking?

Yes! The Meyer lemons are less tangy, so in my book, that is a bonus. Also, since they are half orange, you can use them when a recipe calls for oranges.

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Lemon Curd Ingredients

I love making these little posters! As you can see, this recipe has very few ingredients, and the results are homemade yummy goodness!

Fresh Lemons

I used my Meyer lemons, but regular lemons are fine too.

Eggs

You’ll need to bring the eggs to room temperature. You can leave them out to get the right temp or place them in a bowl of warm water. Keep the water running on them for a couple of minutes. Room temperature eggs mix better with the other ingredients thus preventing scrambled eggs in the curd.

Butter

I used salted butter, but either kind will work. I love the little hint of salt, which brings out the butter flavor. Bring the butter to room temperature. You can help this along by cubing the sticks of butter.

Lemon Zest

Add as much zest as you wish. The more zest, the more lemon flavor your curd!

Sugar

I used regular granulated sugar. I have made it with organic sugar as well, and the texture comes out the same despite the sugar’s coarser grains.

English Lemon Curd Recipe (4)

English Lemon Curd Recipe (5)

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Lemon Curd

This buttery Lemon Curd has the perfect blend of sweetness and citrus. It is an easy recipe to make, and the taste is so delicious that you won't stop eating it. Enjoy the curd on scones, toast or just on a spoon! They make the perfect gift.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time12 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: British Baking, Dessert, LemonCurd, Scones

Author: Happy Happy Nester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • zest of 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Get all your ingredients ready.

  • Thoroughly whisk eggs in a bowl.

  • Add whisked eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a medium-size saucepan. Whisk ingredients thoroughly. Next, add the cubes of butter to the egg mixture. Note that the butter will melt in the next couple of minutes of cooking.

  • Turn on the burner to the lowest heat setting. Next, place water in the bottom of a double boiler.

  • Place the saucepan on the double boiler and constantly stir with a rubber spatula. The heat should be at the lowest setting. Make sure not to boil the curd, or it will split, and you'll have scrambled egg bits in it.

    Stir with a spatula for 20 minutes.

  • After 20 minutes, increase the heat to a low-medium flame. Stir constantly. The curd goes from a liquid yellow color to an opaque creamy color in the last 5 minutes. Also, it will thicken up quite nicely.

  • Once it thickens, take off the stovetop and immediately transfer the cooked curd to a bowl. Make sure to keep stirring for a couple of minutes as it cools. If you get bits of scrambled egg, strain the curd or pluck out the bits of egg. The scrambled egg won't doesn't affect the flavor but just an aesthetic choice.

  • This recipe makes 2 cups of lemon curd. Pour into a clean jar and place in the fridge once cooled. The lemon curd should last for about 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Tried this recipe?Mention @happyhappynester or tag #happyhappynester!

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I like to get the ingredients ready before I start since it can be a little hectic once things get started on the stove.

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Here is how I grated the lemon peel. Did you know that I have a blog post about my favorite kitchen tools? The right tools make your experience in the kitchen go so much better.

English Lemon Curd Recipe (8)

I used Meyer Lemons for this batch of Lemon Curd, but the regular lemons are perfect too! We happen to have a ton of lemons on our trees, and I thought that I would make a fresh batch of curd and use up some of our Meyer lemons. I still have a ton more lemons on the trees, so maybe more lemon recipes will start popping up over on the blog.

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English Lemon Curd Recipe (10)

This photo has the Magnolia Table Orange Scones, so make sure to check out that recipe too. And my friend Leslie has a wonderful citrusStained Lemon Tart that you might enjoy.

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Well, my family is ready to dig into this beautiful jar of fresh English Lemon Curd. I hope you have a chance to make it this spring. I find that I crave lemon recipes in the spring and summertime.

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Oh boy, now I need to pour a glass of my sparkling lemon ice tea! I’m so easily distracted.

English Lemon Curd Recipe (13)

Or maybe we should have a piece of Lemon Sour Cream Pie instead? Yes, I have lemon recipes on my mind these days!

Cheers,

English Lemon Curd Recipe (14)

English Lemon Curd Recipe (15)

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Janine Waite

I named my blog Happy Happy Nester because I love everything related to the home. I’ve always enjoyed decorating my surroundings. Get cozy and stay for a bit, thanks for visiting!

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English Lemon Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when lemon curd is done? ›

Dip a spoon into the curd then run your finger over the back of it. If it leaves a clean line in the curd, it's cooked enough and ready to cool. Curd will thicken up more once cooled completely. Spoon into a container, cover and refrigerate.

Why is my lemon curd not thick enough? ›

Trouble shooting: Most Lemon Curds are runny because they don't get cooked long enough, to 170 degrees F, to thicken the egg yolks – so cook on! If your curd isn't thickened after 10 minutes, or up to 15 if using a double boiler, then increase the temperature of the stove slightly – and don't stop whisking!

What is English curd? ›

/kɝːd/ uk. /kɜːd/ (also curds [ plural ]) Add to word list Add to word list. the solid substance that forms when milk turns sour.

Why is my lemon curd so runny? ›

Lemon curd is usually too thin if it hasn't been heated for long enough. First check whether your lemon curd really is too thin by allowing it too cool completely, as it will thicken as it cools. If it really is too thin then the easiest solution is to get it back onto the heat to cook it for a little longer.

Can you overcook lemon curd? ›

Yes, overcooking will make the curd lumpy instead of smooth. If your lemon curd turns out slightly lumpy, first try to put it through a blender, then strain it through a fine mesh strainer. Unfortunately, if this doesn't fix the texture, you may need to discard the curd and start over.

How long does curd need to set? ›

While in a warm climate, the curd will take around 4 to 7 hours, while it will take a bit longer in winters. In a cool climate it can easily take around 8 to 10 hours. Make sure the temperature of the milk before setting the curd is warm enough during winters, otherwise the curd won't set properly.

How do you fix lemon curd that didn't set? ›

You could try:
  1. Reheating it. Continuously whisk until the mixture reaches 170. ...
  2. Bloom one package (2.5 tsp or 7g) in 1/4 cup ( 60g ) of water for 5 minutes. Dissolve the bloomed gelatin in the microwave for 3-5 seconds. ...
  3. Mix 2 tablespoon of cornstarch in a 2 tablespoons of water and mix into lemon curd.
Mar 11, 2022

Does homemade lemon curd thicken as it cools? ›

You will find that the lemon curd continues to thicken as it cools. Cover the lemon curd immediately with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming and it can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week.

Why is my curd not setting? ›

Dahi does not set well if you use less starter for hom*ogenized milk. On the other hand, non hom*ogenized milk needs less starter as they tend to set well and faster. Adding more will make your curd sour. So adjust the amount of starter accordingly.

Why does my lemon curd taste metallic? ›

A metallic aftertaste is usually the consequence of the lemon curd coming into contact with a metal (especially while it's hot). This could be a metal whisk, a metal bowl, a metal (or metal-coated) saucepan, or a metal sieve.

What is another name for lemon curd? ›

Lemon curd's texture is smooth and silky, similar to a very smooth, creamy custard, and thick enough to be spread on scones and other foods. In Britain, lemon curd is also known as "lemon cheese," and other fruit curds are known as "[name of fruit] cheese."

What is curd called in USA? ›

Curd or dahi is called yogurt in the United States. Yogurt is a commercialized product that is made from milk that has been heat-treated to kill live bacteria. Dahi is a traditional yogurt that is made from cow's milk, buffalo milk, or goat milk.

Why did my lemon curd scramble? ›

But WHY did the Lemon Curd scramble? I learned that day, based on the scientific fact that eggs do not curdle when cooked in the presence of starch, and because Lemon Curd has no starch (such as flour or cornstarch), it will curdle when the eggs get too hot.

Why is my lemon curd bitter? ›

Prep The Lemons Correctly

Don't use a cheese grater to extract the lemon zest, as it will cause the pith to get discarded from the lemon. The pith has a bitter and unpleasant taste, which could cause a negative change in flavour in your lemon curd.

Why does my lemon curd taste eggy? ›

If you just place all the ingredients in a saucepan without beating the butter and sugar with the eggs first, the curd tends to taste eggy.

How do you know when curd tart is set? ›

Set the tart in the oven for 20-22 minutes, until it's matte colored all over, the sides don't move when jiggled but there's a slight jiggle in the center of the tart. Chill first at room temperature, then set in the fridge to chill for 4-8 hours, or up to 2 days. Serve cold and store leftovers in the fridge.

Why is my lemon curd not bright yellow? ›

The color of the lemon curd is depending on the egg yolks that you use, and if the yolks color is more orange than yellow, then your lemon curd will turn dark yellow- orange color and not bright yellow.

Why is my lemon curd so yellow? ›

First, although the lemon juice provides hints of yellow, the deep golden color comes from the yolks. So, when you use a recipe that only uses whole eggs, your lemon curd will appear much lighter, because of the large amount of whites.

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