Easy Lemon Curd Recipe – How to make a quick and simple homemade 4 ingredient lemon curd dessert. Plus the best uses for what to do with a small batch of the easiest curd. With the video.
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Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
This easy lemon curd recipe makes a smooth, silky homemade lemon curd using just four simple ingredients.
Made with whole eggs, fresh lemons, sugar and butter, it’s quick to prepare, packed with fresh citrus flavour and perfect for spreading on scones, filling cakes, stirring into yoghurt or enjoying by the spoonful.
Unlike many traditional lemon curd recipes, this version uses whole eggs instead of just egg yolks, making it quicker, easier and reducing food waste.
A bag of lemons has been just 79 cents lately so this curd is also wonderfully budget friendly.
Best of all, the easy recipe needs only 4 simple ingredients including whole eggs, so you don’t have to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites as you often have to do in fruit curd recipes.
You can add as much sugar to the simple recipe as you’d like, just depends on how sweet you like your sweet treats and the ideal tart lemon flavor of your perfect lemon curd.
The best way to make a dairy-free lemon curd is by swapping the butter for a dairy free alternative or even coconut oil. You can feel free to swap the lemons in the easy recipe for limes to make a lime curd, if that’s what your taste buds are craving.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Curd
- Only 4 everyday ingredients
- Uses whole eggs—no separating yolks
- Bright fresh lemon flavour
- Ready in around 15 minutes
- Perfect for cakes, pastries and desserts
- Great way to use extra lemons
- Naturally gluten free
How To Make Lemon Curd At Home
To make the lemon lovers curd, you simply beat the eggs and sugar together a little bit, stir through the butter, lemon juice and lemon zest and then cook it over low heat.
It may seem like nothing is happening at first as the heat is so low. Do not be tempted to raise the heat as you risk scrambling your eggs!
Just be patient and slowly your liquid will thicken to become a luscious lemon curd, as you’ll see in the video tutorial down below.
An easy way to test that the curd is ready is to run your finger along the back of a wooden spoon that’s coated with the curd. It should make a solid line that holds it’s place to let you know the curd has perfectly thickened and is ready to move to a glass jar or container of choice to enjoy in a multitude of ways.
Tips for Perfect Lemon Curd
- Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavour.
- Whisk continuously while cooking to prevent lumps.
- Cook over gentle heat to avoid scrambled eggs.
- Strain after cooking if you’d like an ultra-smooth texture.
- Chill completely before serving for the thickest consistency.
Uses For The Easy Recipe
There are so many lovely ways to enjoy the homemade curd, my favorite way is to simply enjoy the curd by the indulgent spoon full!
But, you could also enjoy the great recipe in any of the following ways:
- Mixed through yogurt
- Mix through whipped cream or cream cheese
- As a meringue/pavlova topping
- Spoon over cheesecake
- Fill macarons
- Layer with trifle
- As a lemon tart, lemon bars or lemon meringue pie filling
- As a fruit salad topping
- As a pancake/waffle topping
- As an ice cream topping
- The perfect filling for a cake such as an angel food cake
- To sandwich cookies
- Spread on scones
- Swirl through overnight oats
Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
- 3 Eggs
- 1/3-1/2 Cup Sugar
- 2 Fresh Lemons
- 50g/1.76oz Unsalted Butter
- Crack the eggs into a small saucepan.
- Add in the sugar.
- Whisk to combine the eggs and sugar together, until smooth.
- Using a microplane grater, add the lemon zest and squeeze the fresh lemon juice over a sieve or fine mesh strainer to catch any pips, then whisk through.
- Chop the butter into small cubes and add into the lemon mixture.
- Place the small pan over medium heat.
- Whisk continuously while the curd cooks, until the butter has melted and the curd has thickened.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- You can check that the curd is done by placing a spoon into the curd, removing it and running your finger along the back of a spoon. The curd should hold it’s place when thickened.
- Once the curd has cooled, move to a jar or serving dish, store in the fridge in an airtight container and enjoy within a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make lemon curd with whole eggs?
Yes. This recipe uses whole eggs instead of only egg yolks, making it quicker to prepare while still producing a smooth, creamy lemon curd with a rich flavour.
Why didn’t my lemon curd thicken?
Lemon curd usually thickens after 10 to 15 minutes of gentle cooking. If it remains thin, continue cooking over low heat while whisking constantly. It will also thicken further as it cools.
How long does homemade lemon curd last?
Stored in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade lemon curd will keep for around one week.
Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice gives the brightest flavour and is recommended, but bottled lemon juice can be used if fresh lemons aren’t available.
Do I have to strain lemon curd?
No. If you whisk constantly while cooking, your lemon curd should be smooth. However, straining it after cooking will remove any small pieces of zest or cooked egg for an extra silky texture.
Why did my lemon curd become lumpy?
Lumps usually happen when the heat is too high or the mixture isn’t whisked continuously. Cook gently over low heat while whisking to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
Can I make dairy-free lemon curd?
Yes. Simply replace the butter with a dairy-free butter alternative or coconut oil for a delicious dairy-free version.
Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes. This recipe works well with between one-third and one-half cup of sugar depending on how tart or sweet you prefer your lemon curd.
What can I use lemon curd for?
Homemade lemon curd is delicious spread on toast or scones, spooned over pancakes, stirred into yoghurt, layered into cakes, used as a tart filling, swirled through whipped cream or served with fresh berries.
Is lemon curd gluten free?
Yes. This recipe contains no flour, making it naturally gluten free. Always check that any additional ingredients you use are certified gluten free if needed.
Best Lemon Curd Recipe Video
Here’s the video where you can watch the homemade lemon curd recipe being prepared, step by step. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.
Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
Easy Lemon Curd Recipe with just 4 simple ingredients. This homemade lemon curd uses whole eggs, fresh lemons and butter for a silky smooth spread that's perfect for scones, cakes, pancakes and desserts.
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs
- 1/3-1/2 Cup Sugar
- 2 Fresh Lemons
- 50g/1.76oz Unsalted Butter
Instructions
- Crack the eggs into a small saucepan.
- Add in the sugar.
- Whisk to combine the eggs and sugar together, until smooth.
- Using a microplane grater, add the lemon zest and squeeze the fresh lemon juice over a sieve or fine mesh strainer to catch any pips, then whisk through.
- Chop the butter into small cubes and add into the lemon mixture.
- Place the small pan over medium heat.
- Whisk continuously while the curd cooks, until the butter has melted and the curd has thickened.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- You can check that the curd is done by placing a spoon into the curd, removing it and running your finger along the back of a spoon. The curd should hold it’s place when thickened.
- Once the curd has cooled, move to a jar or serving dish, store in the fridge in an airtight container and enjoy within a week.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 75
Recommended Kitchen Tools
These are the kitchen tools I use when making the easy lemon curd recipe:
- Microplane grater – perfect for finely zesting lemons.
- Fine mesh sieve – removes seeds and creates a silky smooth texture.
- Measuring cups and spoons – for accurate results.
- Small Saucepan – needed to heat the ingredients together safely on the stove top.
- Whisk – to perfectly whip together the ingredients, ensuring a smooth consistency without any lumps.
More Easy Lemon Desserts
Updated in July 2026 with additional recipe tips, FAQs and improved instructions.
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