{Easy} Lemon Curd
This easy lemon curd is simple to make and so incredibly tasty!
Homemade lemon curd is fresh, sweet, and a little tart. It’s the best spring recipe to top on lemon cake, homemade cream scones, and warm buttermilk biscuits!
Biscuits might be one of the best food things this world has to offer. They’re soft, pillowy, and packed with the essentials: cream and butter.
Obviously, I should have been born in the south, and not here in Cali where kale is king and eating sugar-free is a badge of honor. 🙄
Ugh, the struggle.
Anyway…
Remember when I shared this Cinnamon Dulce de Leche Ice Cream? The one where I mentioned my adventures while working at a summer camp?
The one where children ate mountains of ice cream and drank buckets of Jones soda?
Well, it was during this summer that I discovered this fabulous hole-in-the-wall restaurant down in the tiny hamlet of a town down below the mountains.
Wednesday breakfasts up at camp were a bit of a struggle, so it became a weekly ritual that some of us from my staff would head down the mountain for the $4.95 breakfast special (including coffee!) at the place with the “worlds best biscuit & pan&akes” (spelling errors and all).
I’ll be real–I did not have high hopes for this place and their one award-winning biscuit.
At all.
Looks can be deceiving though, because this place did breakfast right.
And cheaply.
It was a winning combination.
The only thing that could have enhanced the breakfast was a big ‘ol jar of lemon curd to slather the biscuits with. Lemon curd and biscuits go together like honey and biscuits.
You know what else this lemon curd goes well with?
Coconut cake. Lemon coconut cake, to be exact.
See how amazing that cake looks with all that curd? Be excited. You should try it.
This homemade easy lemon curd is the best! So sweet and tangy, plus it’s incredibly simple to learn how to make lemon curd!
This lemony goodness is pretty much all I want. 😍
{Easy} Lemon Curd
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 tsp cornstarch
- 3-4 lemons (juiced and zested (about 1/2 cup lemon juice and about 3 Tbsp zest))
- dash of salt
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, cream sugar, softened butter, and lemon zest. Once combined, add in eggs, one at a time.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and lemon juice together. Add to the butter mixture and stir. Lastly, add in salt and almond extract.**
- Pour mix into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 10-13 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened, coating the back of a spoon (the mixture will continue to thicken as it cools).
- Pour into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
- (The curd will keep for about 2 weeks)
Notes
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Check out my other lemon recipes:
Meet Michelle
I’m a self-taught baker who truly believes it’s impossible to be upset when eating dessert. It’s my life’s goal to bake everyone happy!
If I’m not baking, I’m probably reading a good book with a cup a coffee in hand.
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here!
haha I would have been skeptical too of that place!
I still have not made lemon curd at home … I need to get on this. This looks so so good!
Don’t tempt me! I eat lemon curd like some people eat Nutella – straight with a spoon 🙂 This is gorgeous and looks beyond smooth and creamy!
I love making homemade lemon curd, but I’ve never tried it with almond extract! I definitely need to give that a try next time I made a batch 🙂
The dives really are the best places, I swear! Also, lemon curd = true love for me. It’s my most favorite!
This lemon curd looks fantastic, Michelle! I’ve never made my own before, so I’m loving how easy this is. So perfect to spread on those homemade biscuits!
That cake looks totally amazing with the lemon curd! I’ve never made lemon curd before, but I couldn’t totally handle this.
So is it ok if I just eat this with a spoon straight out of the jar.. bc that is what this picture is making me want to do! YUM!
I LOVE lemon curd. Anything lemon is good in my books. I made some the other day and have yet to share the recipe. I guess I will have to make more so I can stop drooling 🙂
I totally love lemon curd…I could just sit there and eat it off the spoon. Bet it would go great on your coconut cake!
Me too! It may have happened… Thanks, Denise! 🙂
This looks delicious! I often top pancakes/waffles with a combo of coconut butter and lemon curd, and I love that flavor duo together. Sooo excited to see this cake!
That’s a brilliant idea! Totally trying it on pancakes pronto! 🙂
This looks perfect! There are never enough lemon recipes in the world (or coconut!)!
Thanks, Ashley! 🙂 I couldn’t agree more!
Homemade lemon curd is SO much better than store bought, can’t wait to try your version!
Thanks, Sara!
Lemon curd is one of my favorite things on earth! And yes, it’s so perfect on biscuits! Yuuum!
Thanks, Amanda! 🙂
Lemon curd is the bestttttt! I could seriously eat it right out of the jar! Love this recipe!
Right?! Thanks, Mariah! 🙂
Gotta try this! Just wondered – do you pour the curd into the jar after it has cooled, or right after cooking it until thickened? Thanks!
Hi Janet! You could do it either way, but I usually allow it to thicken and cool first and then pour it in the jar. 🙂
This was the second time I’ve made lemon curd, and this was super easy! It looked really curdled when I poured it into the pan, and I almost panicked, but once the butter melted, it looked great. I used it on the lemon coconut cake from Michelle, which is also awesome. Great recipes, thanks a lot!
Michelle, thank you sooooo much fort posting this! I have been looking for a good recipe. Do you ever can this? I would love to can some for Christmas.
Hi Crystal! You know what, I have never tried canning this so I’m not sure how it would work. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out! 🙂
I made the lemon coconut cake with your lemon curd and it was the best cake I have ever add. I am a lemon coconut fan! I was wondering, does the lemon curd freeze well?