Lemon Curd…perfect summertime treat!

It sure has been hot lately, hasn’t it? And this heat has had me craving food that’s cool and refreshing. Last week I kept thinking of all the lemons in my fridge. Have I ever mentioned how much I love lemons? For as long as I can remember I’ve loved lemon filled doughnuts, lemon meringue pie, lemon tarts, well….pretty much lemon anything. Lemons are SO refreshing, tart, juicy and just so lemony. Don’t you love lemons?

Anyway, I began dreaming of a tangy lemon curd, lemon cheesecake, lemon mousse, and my mind was mulling over the many possibilities. I was after a frozen dessert that would incorporate lemon curd and homemade whipped cream or cream cheese. But I’m getting ahead of myself, that’s a post for another time. Either way, the first step in this treat is lemon curd, and since it had been so long since I’d made it, I’d forgotten how easy it is. So today I have a quick, easy, step-by-step recipe to show you how to make lemon curd.

And you’ll only need 4 ingredients. It’s a recipe I adapted from my Joy of Cooking cookbook, which if you don’t remember is my trusted companion and my most used wedding gift. It’s my go-to manual for all things cooking, and a culinary must-have!

First you’ll need 3 large eggs, 1 large lemon (juice and zest) and 1/3 cup sugar. Zest and juice your lemon, and add all ingredients to a medium saucepan. Don’t make the same mistake I made the first time I ever zested a lemon. I grabbed the lemon and grated all the zest (yellow rind) and white (pithe) not knowing that the white will make it bitter. You don’t want that. 😉

One day I’d like one of these cool microplanes, but instead I use the small holes on the side of my box grater to zest the lemon. Another trick I learned is that in order really bring out the lemon flavor take a portion of the sugar for the recipe and incorporate the zest into it (rub them together). It really does make a difference in bringing that lemon out to it’s full flavor potential. Mmmm…..lemon!

Whisk everything together really well, and then add 3/4 of a stick butter, diced small so it melts relatively quickly. Turn your burner onto medium heat, and start whisking as the butter melts.

Within a few minutes of cooking time your mixture will thicken up like this. Just make sure you keep whisking or stirring with a wooden spoon and being sure to scrape the bottom. If needed, lower temperature a bit. Whatever you do, don’t leave it unattended. It cooks up quickly. Now doesn’t that look good? Wasn’t it easy?

You can use this lemon curd as pie filling or add in whipped cream for a lemon mousse or just eat it right off the spoon. But watch out…..it’s addicting!!


4.6 from 5 reviews
Lemon Curd...perfect summertime treat!
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert, Easy, Summer Treat
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 3-4
 
This 4 ingredient recipe is easy and addicting! The perfect treat for a hot summer afternoon.
Ingredients
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ¾ stick butter, diced small
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest and sugar. Blend well.
  2. Add the diced butter.
  3. Stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Lower heat as you are cooking and keep stirring as lemon curd is thickening up.
  4. Chill. Will keep up to a week in the fridge (if it lasts that long!)
Notes
*The original recipe calls for straining it. The bits of zest are small and I prefer to leave them in. Plus this saves what could be a messy and time consuming step. It also adds ½ tsp of vanilla which I omitted because I prefer ALL lemon!! Original recipe called for ½ cup lemon juice, and I just used the juice from the whole lemon. It was SO tart and tangy and good!!

 

This recipe is linked up with Let’s Do Brunch, Wednesday Window, Show and Tell, Works for Me Wednesday, What’s on the Menu Wednesday, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Recipe Swap, Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, It’s a Keeper Thursday, Pennywise Platter Thursday, Creative Juice & Simple Lives Thursday, Food Trip Friday, Finer Things Friday, Friday Favorites, Friday Potluck, Fight Back Friday, Fresh Food Friday, Mouthwatering Monday, Mangia Monday, Just Another Meatless Monday, Homemaker Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Monday Mania, Made by You Monday, Delectable Tuesday, Tasty Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tasty Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Hearth and Soul Hop & Summer 2011~ Recipes for Labor Day Weekend at Family Fresh Cooking.


Remember to share this recipe with your friends. It certainly makes my day when you recommend by Facebook with that handy button below. Thanks!!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Bookmark the permalink.

41 Responses to Lemon Curd…perfect summertime treat!

  1. Lemon curd has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl. My mom still makes it fairly often but I haven’t made in a quite a while. And I just happen to have some lemons on hand. Hmmm….guess what I’m making this afternoon?
    Lana @ Never Enough Thyme recently posted..Tomato-Zucchini Tian

  2. Looks delicious! I have always wanted to make lemon curd, and I think your post has about convinced me to do it sooner than later! : )
    Pam @ From Apples To Zucchini recently posted..Pit Crew Candy Cookie Bars

  3. Mmmmm! Looks so good! I make this often … it really is a wonderful summer treat.
    Kate@Diethood recently posted..Comment on Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze by Diane {Created by Diane}

  4. Alison Lewis says:

    Great post. I really should learn how to make this! I have honestly never try to

  5. Shelby says:

    I love lemon curd – that sharp citrus tanginess just so irresistable!
    Shelby recently posted..Red and White Cauliflower Bake

  6. I like lemon curd but not always come out smooth. I will love to try your recipe. I think it will be great filling for cream puffs.
    Akemi Spendlove recently posted..Departure

  7. Parsley Sage says:

    Oooh! Great recipe! This would be lovely between two lemony macaron cookies 🙂 Thanks for sharing, buzzed!
    Parsley Sage recently posted..Like a Chickpea with Its Head Cut Off

  8. Diane Frost says:

    I love lemon curd too! this used to be my favourite English specialty and I have posted a similar recipe on my blog at Travelsaroundmykitchen.blogspot.com but I use my thermomix to do it and it is so quick and easy I should do some every day- if only I could! Great photo too. Diane

  9. This is truly one of my all time favorite sweet treats. I could eat it for breakfast on my toast every day.
    Georgia Pellegrini recently posted..“Paul Michael’s Workshop”

  10. Charles Hude says:

    I am going to make your lemon curd, it looks wonderful. Very good pic.
    Is your blog a WordPress blog.

    Charles
    Charles Hude recently posted..Cajun Chicken Cheesy Casserole

  11. mjskit says:

    A few weeks ago I was served lemon curd with an English muffin and it was wonderful! So I’m so glad I found this recipe! I’m definitely going to make this. Not only does it look delicious, it looks easy too. Thanks!

  12. Mmmm…this lemon curd looks incredible! I need to make this soon! 🙂

  13. Jo@jocooks says:

    This looks delicious. I’ve been wanting to make some now for a while, thanks for the recipe.
    Jo@jocooks recently posted..Homemade Vanilla Pudding

  14. denise says:

    I have never made this but it is something I’ve wanted to try.

    Stop by and link up at What’s Cooking Wednesday!
    denise recently posted..One Minute Peanut Butter Cake

  15. Gretchen says:

    This looks delicious and seems like the perfect way to end a grilled dinner! Yum!
    Gretchen recently posted..Natural Sore Throat Remedies

  16. Looks divine. I wonder if I could get the same results with ghee and a little bit of arrowroot to thicken, as I can’t do the casein in butter just yet. 🙂 Or maybe a wee bit of gelatin to thicken as ghee is a bit more watery than butter…

    🙂

    If you have a moment today, please share this with my readers @Creative Juice Thursday Hope to see you there!

  17. mona says:

    lemon curd is one of my favorite foods.. 🙂 this is such a nice blog about how to cook it…thanks…
    mona recently posted..Tomato Gravy

  18. Joanna says:

    Oh yum! It looks perfect!
    Joanna recently posted..39 Weeks Pregnant

  19. Abby says:

    This does look easy! Very refreshing looking.
    Abby recently posted..Bacon Deviled Eggs

  20. ButterYum says:

    I make lemon curd all the time… love the stuff, and it’s so easy to make. Makes great ice cream too. Here’s my blog post about it if you’re interested.

    http://butteryum.blogspot.com/2010/03/lemon-curd-ice-cream.html

    🙂
    ButterYum
    ButterYum recently posted..Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

  21. This looks wonderful! Thanks so much for linking up to Friday Potluck… and for sharing the tidbit about the white part of lemon (I didn’t know!)

    You’ll love your microplane as soon as you get one 🙂 Life changing.
    Erin @ EKat’s Kitchen recently posted..Sweet ‘n Tangy Kiwi Dressing & Alaska Salad — Friday Potluck Recipe Hop #47

  22. Miz Helen says:

    Hi Denise,
    This is a beautiful Lemon Curd. It looks so smooth and tangy, I would really enjoy this curd in a nice dessert. Hope you have a great week end and thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
    Come back soon,
    Miz Helen
    Miz Helen recently posted..The Berry Patch

  23. Cheerful says:

    wow, this sounds so great…and with few ingredients, really perfect. thanks for sharing your recipe! visiting late from FTF, hope you can visit me back! thanks and have a great week. 🙂
    Cheerful recently posted..Breakfast in Bangkok…

  24. Alea Milham says:

    I never realized how easy it was to make lemon curd – never will I buy it again. I love lemon curd on scones. It is such a lovely treat. Thank you for sharing this recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
    Alea Milham recently posted..Hearth and Soul Hop with Premeditated Leftovers 8/23

  25. Traci says:

    Yum!

    Love, Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations

    http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com

    Stop by anytime!

  26. angie says:

    sounds delicious
    angie recently posted..Just A Short Note of Thankfulness

  27. I love lemon curd. This is a great recipe! I linked to you from Mouthwatering Mondays. Thanks!
    Teri@thefreshmancook recently posted..Salad Bite Wraps

  28. This is an excellent tutorial! Lemon curd is definitely something we love here in England – it’s served a lot at high teas, and in desserts. Thank you for sharing your recipe with Let’s Do Brunch!

    • Denise says:

      Ah that explains it. I have british roots in my family….no wonder my love of hot tea, lemon curd, scones, clotted cream & fish ‘n chips. I’m definitely drawn to all things british!

  29. Pingback: Hearth and Soul Hop with Premeditated Leftovers 8/30 | Premeditated Leftovers

  30. Wow. I must have that cookbook. Anything with that few ingredients that looks so fantastic I have to make. Thanks for sharing!

  31. Sarah says:

    I was just looking for a lemon curd recipe – I can’t wait to try this! It looks fantastic 😉

  32. marla says:

    This most certainly is the perfect summer time treat 🙂
    I would love if you added this and any other links to my “Happy Post” today. http://su.pr/1bZ8fp

  33. Fuji Mama says:

    Mmmmm, I think I’ll like your version better. The more the lemon the merrier right? I’m a lemon fiend. 🙂
    Fuji Mama recently posted..Spicy Mushroom Miso Ramen

  34. Pingback: Lemon Mousse & Fall in South Florida | Creative Kitchen

  35. Alisa Sullivan says:

    Oh yum! visiting late from FTF, hope you can visit me back! Thanks!
    Alisa Sullivan recently posted..Gout Tips

  36. Ronda Keith says:

    I really should learn how to make this! I will love to try your recipe. So I’m so glad I found this recipe! Here’s my blog post about it if you’re interested.
    Ronda Keith recently posted..Arthritis Tips

  37. Pingback: Most Popular 11 Recipes of 2011 ~ Reader Favorites | Creative Kitchen

  38. Pingback: Sweet treats I'm craving....desserts perfect for Easter weekend! | Creative Kitchen

  39. Maria Genesio says:

    Hmmm, looks delicious. We could use as a filling for donuts? Someone has already proved with donuts?

Leave a Reply to Gretchen Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

CommentLuv badge