Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd, made with whole eggs, uses a method which yields a very smooth and creamy Curd, without lumps.
Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd
Years ago, I discovered a neat trick to making Lemon Curd using whole eggs that did not leave lumps. It was so easy and I started calling it Fool Proof Lemon Curd Recipe! I like to use Meyer Lemons, but any lemons will be great.
You can also make Lime Curd from any kind of lime. Key Lime Curd is fantastically delicious. Curd is delicious on yogurt, scones, muffins.
Try a dollop on top of one of my cheesecakes, Meyer Lemon Cheesecake, New York Style Vanilla Bean, Cheesecake, Blackberry Cheesecake, New York Cheesecake, or for a less caloric cheesecake, try one of my Ricotta Cheesecakes, Authentic Italian Ricotta Cheesecake, Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake.
Cast of Ingredients for Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd
Have your ingredients ready before starting as things happen fast.
Weigh out the ingredients
Using a scale to weigh ingredients is the best and most accurate way to measure. I use the Bakers Math Scale. Use a Microplane to zest your lemon.
Use an Electric Hand Mixture to Blend
In a Medium Mixing Bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an Electric Hand Mixer, about 2 minutes.
Add the eggs and yolks one at a time.
The mixture will be smooth and as soon as the lemon juice goes in, it will look curdled, but don’t fret!
Slowly heat the mixture in a Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan. I promise, the curdled appearance will disappear as the butter melts and turn a nice shade of yellow.
You’ll need a Candy Thermometer for this as you want to get to 170°F. Keep cooking, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Watch closely as you do not want the mixture to boil!
Test the Curd with your Spatula
You can tell that your Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd is cooked to perfection, by dipping in a Spatula and running your finger down the center and it parts, like the Red Sea.
Zest goes in last. Remove the curd from the heat; stir in the lemon zest. Remember, if you are using Meyer Lemons for your Curd, do not use the Zest; use another kind of lemon, as the thin skin of the Meyer Lemon is quite bitter. Transfer the curd to a bowl.
Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and put the bowl in the refrigerator to chill. The Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd will continue to thicken as it cools.
Here’s one of my Meyer Lemon trees. Our other one is a Dwarf Meyer Lemon tree. We also have a Eureka Lemon tree, which makes the best lemonade, and gives great zest. If you would like to try this in the Pressure Cooker, check out my Pressure Cooker Easy Lemon Curd recipe.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- OXO Good Grips Cutting Board
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Baker’s Math Scale
- Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan
- Kerr Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jars
- Microplane Stainless Steel Zester
- Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer
- Candy Thermometer
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 85 grams Unsalted Butter 3 oz./6 Tbs., softened at room temperature
- 200 grams White Sugar 1 cup
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 large egg Yolks
- 150 grams Fresh Lemon Juice 2/3 cup
- 1-2 tsp. Lemon Zest grated
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly add the eggs and yolks.
- Beat for 1 minute.
- Mix in the lemon juice.
- The mixture will look curdled, but it will smooth out as it cooks.
- In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. (The curdled appearance disappears as the butter in the mixture melts.)
- Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
- The curd is cooked when it reaches 170°F, but you can see that it's cooked when your finger leaves a clear path on the back of a spoon. Don't let the mixture boil.
- Remove the curd from the heat; stir in the lemon zest.
- Transfer the curd to a bowl.
- Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and chill the curd in the refrigerator
- The curd will thicken further as it cools.
Notes
Use a heavy-based, nonreactive saucepan — Stainless steel, anodized aluminum, and enamel all work well. Some materials, such as plain aluminum or unlined copper, will react with the acid in the lemons, discoloring the curd and giving it a metallic flavor.
Nutrition
PIN this Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd!
Totally Fool Proof Lemon Curd
THE best. All other methods of lemon curd are finicky and split and are too difficult and therefore inferior. Seriously, curd is not hard…if you do it this way!
How long does this last in the fridge???
HI This sounds delicious and I will try it. I was hoping that you could make the pressure cooker easy lemon curd mention above into a live link. It sounds good but I am sometimes too lazy to search things up. A link would be great. Many thanks for all the recipes. Never had one fail yet.
exactly I can’t find the recipe
https://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-easy-lemon-curd/
Just go up to the search icon at the top of this page and search “lemon curd pressure.”
Your recipes & tips are simply the greatest ! I rarely have to look elsewhere! Thank you so much!
Just got notice that my Mealthy Crisplid is on it’s way & I should receive it by Wednesday! Can’t wait to use it! I hope Mealthy takes good care of you with what you do for them!!! You deserve it! So does your guinie pig hubby!!
Hi Laura. Thank you for the very kind comments. What a sweetheart you are to take the time to write this beautiful comment. [Mealthy may not notice] All the best. Jill
Fantastic recipe!!!!! I had some meyers that I had to pick before a freeze and was wondering what to do with them. This is it!
Thank you for having such an easy recipe and it yields a lot more than I figured it would.
I am glad you like the curd! Jill
Hello, I was just wondering if you can use Splenda in place of the sugar for this recipe?
I would probably use Swerve. I’m going to try that and if it works. I’ll post a picture.
Can you can this in the jars to preserve for longer?
Made this for the first time tonight and it turned out fantastic! Can’t wait to try it with my no-boil instant pot yogurt. I do have a question. Do you think it would turn out the same if I used a Trim Healthy Mama/stevia based sweetner? Trying to cut out refined sugar from my diet.
Hi Rachel. I have not made this with a sugar substitute, however, I have heard that it does work. Jill
Just made this a quarter recipe as i had a bit of butter and a lemon knocking about. Turned out a treat.
Might try a different citrus, orange maybe??
That works well too. Less sugar would be needed for orange. Jill
I tried your recipe for lemon curd last night because I was gifted about 8 pounds of lemons which I had juiced, and removed the peels to dry. I wanted to try curd another time but last time it was yummy but runny. Drat!
I followed your clear instructions and it worked perfectly. Thank you, thank you!
‘Michele Zimmerman
Crnkyaccountant
Hi Michele. I am glad you enjoyed the curd. Jill
Can you use other citrus for this recipe (ie. grapefruit)?
Hi Melanie~
Grapefruit would be wonderful for this recipe. I would reduce the sugar a bit, as grapefruit is not as sour as lemon.
Jill
This turns out WONDERFUL !
You just forgot to mention whether I should use:
a dbl. boiler or pour the curd mixture into the heavy bottomed pot or to put the bowl over boiling water “like a dbl. boiler” ?
So, since I don’t have a dbl. boiler & I’ve made 4 batches this this. To save myself dishes, I’ll just cream my sugar & butter in the heavy pot THEN finish out the recipe.
I end up eating it out of the jar by the spoonful’s ! I LOVE IT !!!