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What is lemon curd?

Low Fat Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a thick, creamy spread that is made by cooking together lemon juice, egg yolks and sugar. Fresh lemon juice and sugar provide the flavor of the curd, while the egg yolks serve to thicken up the mixture as it cooks, just as eggs thicken up a cooked custard. Most curd recipes also call for butter to be added to the finished curd, just to add a little extra richness and an extra-silky mouthfeel. Lemon curd has a bright, sweet-tart lemon flavor. Other citrus fruits are often used to make variations on lemon curd, but you can also use purees from non-citrus fruits, such as raspberries and strawberries, to make other types of curd.

Lemon curd can be used for a variety of different things. The simplest way to use it is to spread it onto a homemade scone, into a crepe or onto a toasted English muffin. Folding some in to a plain batch of buttercream will make a delicious lemon frosting for a cake, and plain lemon curd can also be used as a filling for a cake, or as a sauce on the side. It can also be incorporated into a variety of recipes, including ice cream and tarts.

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5 Comments
  • Linda
    February 21, 2012

    I love lemon or key lime curd best. When I end up with a bunch of yolks I make lemon curd and freeze it. It is great by itself or cutting it with some whipped cream for a great fruit trifle or cake topper. Cutting a little of into whipped cream and using that to frost a homemade or store-bought angel food cake makes a refreshing dessert.

  • Elise
    February 23, 2012

    I love lemon curd. I like to smear it on everything (even bread, haha). Many people here don’t know it, such a shame! And I can’t buy it here, I need to make it (not that is very much work).

  • Patti
    August 22, 2012

    I just received so lemon curd and I am not sure what to use it for. Does anyone know how to use it? It would be appreciation thank you.

  • […] orange scones I bought at the games yesterday from To The Queen’s Taste vendor tent, some lemon curd, fresh strawberries, and Scottish Breakfast tea from Brodies of Scotland that I purchased […]

  • […] moist, which has caused the cake to break away in some places,resulting in uneven slices. I do love lemon curd and it is a nice touch but if I make the cake again I may halve the amount called […]

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