• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lifestyle of a Foodie
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • breakfast
    • desserts
    • Diets
    • Drinks
    • Savory
    • Small Batch
    • Recipe collection
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Home » Uncategorized

Small batch lemon curd recipe

Published on July 23, 2021 - Updated on June 26, 2022 by Chahinez 35 Comments

Spread the love

This small-batch lemon curd recipe is perfect for two people. Ready in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients, this from-scratch recipe couldn’t be easier to make and tastes so much better than any store-bought version. You won’t find a more delicious and easy recipe than this one!

Since you’re here, I know you’ll also enjoy Crumbl lemon glaze cookies, Blueberry lemon loaf cake, Keto summer matcha lemonade with chia seeds,
Lemon strawberry vegan tart
and also The best pink lemon bars.

Jump to recipe
small batch lemon curd recipe

If you have put off making your own lemon curd, as you thought it was tricky and too labor-intensive to make, this is the recipe that will change your mind! Made with fresh lemon juice, it really delivers on the tangy flavor and doesn’t require a double boiler or cornflour either!

This is the best small-batch lemon curd recipe ever!

Store-bought lemon curd doesn’t even deserve to share the same name as homemade. This from-scratch recipe is tangy, creamy, and sweet in equal measures. This is the lemon recipe you never realized you needed!

I always say that this condiment is so versatile, once you make it you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Trust me on that 🙂

Why you need to make this recipe!

  • Ready in only 10 minutes.
  • Uses just 5 simple ingredients.
  • Makes a small batch so nothing goes to waste.
  • Instantly makes any breakfast, snack, or dessert just a little more special. T
  • This lemon curd doesn’t require a double boiler.
  • It is also made without cornflour.

What is lemon curd?

Lemon curd is a rich citrus topping or spread. It’s buttery and sweet with an intense tangy lemon flavor – like a creamy lemon version of jam or custard. This one is made from simple ingredients and comes together quickly on the stove.

Lemon curd ingredients

Ingredients for this homemade lemon curd

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.

  • Egg – You will need to use an egg that is at room temperature. Use both parts of the egg.
  • Sugar – You will white granulated sugar, don’t use brown sugar or it’ll change both the flavor and color of the curd.
  • Lemons – You will need to use good quality fresh lemons for best results. The zest and juice will both be used for that extra zingy and citrusy flavor. The most important tip for flavor is to use fresh lemon juice that’s been freshly squeezed. Don’t be tempted to use bottled lemon juice of any kind as it’ll be far too acidic and will ruin the flavor. Look for lemons that are fragrant with brightly colored yellow skins.
  • Butter – The butter will help thicken the curd and give it a delicious creamy and decadent flavor. Make sure to use unsalted butter and make sure you keep it cold before adding so it thickens the curd quickly to emulsify.
spoonful of lemon curd

How to make small batch lemon curd

This is how you can make small batch lemon curd. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!

  1. Bring the lemon juice and zest to a boil.
  2. Whisk the egg and sugar in a bowl until dissolved while the juice is boiling.
  3. Very slowly pour the lemon juice into the beaten egg mixture while whisking. You want to make sure the egg doesn’t cook or curdle at this point.
  4. Pour back into the saucepan and cook again.
  5. Once thick, remove from the heat.
  6. Add in the butter and continue stirring until combined.
  7. Press through a sieve (you want a super smooth consistency).
  8. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap onto the surface to avoid forming a skin.
  9. Chill in the fridge, where it will continue to thicken as it cools.
Egg and sugar in mixing bowl
Beaten egg and sugar
Overhead shot of sauce pan
Texture of lemon curd in sauce pan
Lemon curd in a bowl with plastic wrap

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

Why is my lemon curd not thickening?

The curd will thicken as it cooks on the stove and will continue to thicken as it cools. Its final consistency will be achieved once it is chilled in the fridge.

How to store homemade lemon curd?

Store your scratch-made lemon curd in an air-tight container in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 1 week. But I doubt it will last that long!

Straight on shot of lemon curd in a jar

Can you freeze lemon curd?

Yes absolutely! Store the curd in an air-tight container in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 2 months.

What is lemon curd used for?

  • Top on mini cheesecakes.
  • Use as a filling in croissants.
  • Stir into yogurt for a luxury touch.
  • Try as a topping on scones, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, or even oatmeal.
  • Use as filling between cake layers, in a tart, in a crepe, or as a filling for macarons and other sandwich cookies.
  • The uses for lemon curd are endless, it is such a versatile condiment that helps to elevate mundane breakfasts and desserts into versions that are flavorful and truly wow!
Small batch lemon curd in a jar

Small batch lemon curd recipe

If you made this small batch lemon curd recipe and enjoyed them, don’t forget to leave a 5-star review by clicking on the 5 stars under the title and description. It would help me a ton 

Small batch lemon curd in a jar

Small batch lemon curd

This small batch lemon curd is smooth, creamy and extra tangy. It is delicious on its own but would go great on cheesecakes, cookies, icecream, pancakes and so much more.
5 from 34 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, French
Servings 8 tablespoon
Calories 68 Calories

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • whisk

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoon butter

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, bring the lemon juice and lemon zest to a boil.
  • While the juice is heating up, whisk the egg, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Very slow pour in the lemon juice into the beaten egg mixture while whisking rapidly to keep the egg from cooking and curdling.
  • Pour the mixture back into the medium sauce pan and cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly. Once the lemon curd is thick, remove from the heat and add in the butter. Continue stirring until everything is combined.
  • You can now press the lemon curd through a sieve to ensure it's super smooth.
  • Transfer the lemon curd to a bowl, then press plastic wrap onto the surface of the lemon curd to keep it from forming a skin on top and chill in the fridge. The curd will thicken as it cools and can be used anytime after that.

Notes

This recipe makes about ½ cup of lemon curd. 

How to store homemade lemon curd?

Store your scratch-made lemon curd in an air-tight container in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 1 week. But I doubt it will last that long!

Can you freeze lemon curd?

Yes absolutely! Store the curd in an air-tight container in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 68CaloriesCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 34mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 122IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy lemon curd recipe, lemon curd, small batch lemon curd
Tried this recipe?Follow us and tag us on Instagram! @chahinez_tbt

Thank you for making it all the way down here 🙂

If you enjoyed this recipe don’t forget to let us know in the comments below! In the meantime, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!

how to make no bake keto cheesecake

Shop this recipe

This post may contain affiliate posts, meaning that at no cost to you I will get a small percentage of every purchase you make!

If you enjoyed this small batch lemon curd recipe make sure to pin it for later!

Easy lemon curd recipe
Small batch lemon dessert
Small batch lemon curd recipe
« Crumbl Biscoff white chip cookies copycat recipe
CRUMBL lemon poppy seed cookies with lemon curd filling »

Filed Under: desserts, Fruit Dessert, More desserts, Uncategorized Tagged With: lemon curd, small batch curd, small batch lemon curd

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alice

    January 19, 2023 at 9:08 am

    As a child, I was obsessed with lemon curd! I am happy to say this is just as tasty as the one I would buy growing up. This recipe was super easy to follow and very quick. I used it for your lemon cheesecake cookies and I am so satisfied with how it turned out 🙂

    Reply
  2. Teresa

    December 02, 2022 at 1:58 pm

    5 stars
    YUM!!! 10-Stars!!!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    I like to cook “big” and increased recipe 6Xs, turned out beautifully ❤
    Thank you very much for sharing your talent – I’ve loved every recipe I’ve tried ❤

    Reply
  3. Holly C

    June 23, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    5 stars
    First time making lemon curd. Recipe was easy to follow and I think it turned out great! It hasn’t cooled down yet, but I am excited!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      September 15, 2022 at 11:44 am

      That’s great! I hope it came out as you expected Holly!

      Reply
    • Anne

      November 07, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! No longer will I have to spend time and effort making lemon curd on the stove or in my crockpot. This was so quick and easy – creamy and delicious that it will be made often and given as gifts to friends who love lemon curd also. Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • Chahinez

        November 08, 2022 at 11:26 am

        You’re welcome Anne!!!

  4. Cecilie

    June 16, 2022 at 9:57 am

    5 stars
    Best lemon curd EVER! I am NEVER buying lemon curd again! so easy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      September 17, 2022 at 7:27 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Nancy

    May 29, 2022 at 8:17 am

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious! Perfect use for my extra lemons.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      September 11, 2022 at 6:24 am

      I’m happy you found a use for them!

      Reply
  6. Meghan

    May 21, 2022 at 8:06 pm

    5 stars
    Sooo dang good!! 10/10 Hubby approved!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      August 31, 2022 at 1:24 am

      So glad to hear this Meghan!

      Reply
  7. Sarah

    May 08, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today, was the perfect balance of tart and sweet, I was worried about scrambling the egg but it turned out beautifully!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      May 14, 2022 at 10:37 pm

      So glad to hear that!! Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  8. Lemon, lemon, lemon!

    April 25, 2022 at 11:30 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is the one I make most often from the blog. I am so glad we have a lemon tree so I can enjoy this often—so often!!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 25, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      This makes me so happy!! I’m so glad that this is a recipe that you can make over and over and over again!! Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Rhoda

    April 17, 2022 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this recipe to top off my lemon cheesecake. I am very impressed with myself in the success of it. I think the secret is in boiling the lemon juice & zest. It intensified the flavor to my liking. I will use this trick with other lemon recipe’s. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 21, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      It really does intensify that lemon flavor! So glad it elevated your cheesecake Rhonda!

      Reply
  10. Annette

    April 05, 2022 at 6:27 pm

    I made this recipe this morning and it came out delicious! This recipe is.a keeper.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 07, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  11. Annette

    April 05, 2022 at 6:05 pm

    I made this lemon curd in about 10 minutes. It was very easy to make and it came out delicious!!! A great recipe I will keep!!!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 07, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      Enjoy it Annette!

      Reply
  12. Cherrie

    February 24, 2022 at 9:07 am

    5 stars
    Used this recipe to put on to of icing for center layer of a Lemon Velvet Cake. As it was my first time making, made a 4″ cake to taste test. I am not fan of using a lot lemon, however, this curd recipe was delicious. Gave the cake to my niece, who shared it with co-workers and received overwhelming responses of praise for the texture, taste and moistness of the cake. Will use this recipe again, received a request for a lemon cake with curd center without icing. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 07, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      I love that!!! Recipes that turn non-lemon lovers into lemon lovers are the best!

      Reply
  13. Mommo

    February 11, 2022 at 7:50 am

    5 stars
    Just made lemon curd, super easy and wonderfully delicious.

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      April 07, 2022 at 5:09 pm

      YAY! So happy it turned out well for you!

      Reply
  14. Donna Thornberry

    January 17, 2022 at 5:33 pm

    OMGosh, I have never made lemon curd before, but I am a huge fan of lemon! This recipe is a keeper, so delicious and yes easy enough to do! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      January 22, 2022 at 8:55 am

      I am so happy to hear that this was a huge hit!!! Enjoy these Donna!
      Chahinez

      Reply
  15. Tricia

    January 15, 2022 at 9:07 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was so easy and good! Used it for filling thumbprint cookies. It was perfectly tart exactly what I wanted!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      January 22, 2022 at 9:00 am

      That’s such a great idea! Glad you enjoyed them.
      Chahinez

      Reply
  16. Tanya

    January 12, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! Don’t hesitate, readers, go make this so you can start enjoying it!

    Reply
  17. Jessica Ireland

    August 01, 2021 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    as a lemon lover, I can say this is incredible. The perfect amount of lemony and sweet

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      August 02, 2021 at 8:15 pm

      Thank you so much for the review, Jessica! So happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
      Chahinez

      Reply
  18. Hallie B

    July 31, 2021 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    This lemon curd was perfect in the lemon poppyseed cookies I recently made. It was quick and easy and so so yummy!!

    Reply
    • Chahinez

      August 02, 2021 at 8:16 pm

      Thank you so much for trying it! I’m glad you loved it 🙂
      Chahinez

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About me

Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

Read More

Categories

Footer

Most popular posts

Crumbl copycat cookies

In the past few months, Crumbl cookies have gotten so popular! Tiktok went crazy for them the second I shared my first chilled sugar cookie recipe on there. Since then I have put my baking expertise to test by going through their whole menu and bringing you the best Crumbl copycats found online! The hundreds of reviews on the Crumbl cookie recipes that have been posted throughout the past few months can be proof of that! In this article I have 39 Crumbl cookie copycat recipes to satisfy all your cravings, so get ready!

Social Slider

  • Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
    by chahinez_tbt 6 months ago
    Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
  • If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled
    by chahinez_tbt 6 months ago
    If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled
  • Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing
    by chahinez_tbt 6 months ago
    Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing

Copyright © 2023 Lifestyle of a Foodie on the Foodie Pro Theme