https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/lemon-curd-recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227g) lemon juice, freshly squeezed, from about 4 large lemons
- 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups (248g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
Instructions
- Combine the lemon juice, butter, and sugar in a large saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat on the stove and heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, break the eggs into a medium heat-safe bowl and beat them briefly to mix the yolks and whites together.
- Carefully pour about half of the hot liquid into the bowl with the eggs and whisk to incorporate; this will “temper” the eggs so they won’t curdle when you combine them with the remainder of the hot liquid.
- Pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan and return the pan to medium-low heat.
- Whisking constantly, cook the curd until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon or spatula, 5 to 10 minutes. Use a spoon or spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan occasionally to incorporate any stuck-on curd, stirring it back into the main mixture.
- Remove the curd from the heat and pour it into a heat-safe bowl or measuring cup. If you see any small bits of cooked egg, pass the curd through a fine-mesh strainer to remove them.
- Allow the curd to cool for 15 to 20 minutes, then stir briefly and cover the surface with a piece of plastic wrap.
- Cool the curd at room temperature until barely warm then refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.
- Storage Instructions: Store curd in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks; freeze for longer storage.
Tips from our Bakers
-
To get the most juice out of your fresh lemons, heat each one for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave before cutting in half and juicing.
-
Looking for a shortcut version of this recipe? Try our Easy Microwave Lemon Curd, which thickens quickly and doesn’t require cooking on the stove.