An easy microwave lemon curd recipe made in under 5 minutes!
It's tangy, creamy, buttery, and sweet, and far nicer than shop-bought lemon curd!
Homemade lemon curd (or lemon cheese as my Nana called it) is one of life's great pleasures don't you think? I will happily eat spoonfuls of the stuff straight from the jar!
Making it using the microwave method, you don’t have to invest in a double boiler, or worry about the eggs scrambling. It really is so easy and quick to make!
My family loves it on toast, scones, bagels, muffins, cakes, and especially pancakes!
Why not use some homemade lemon curd in my zesty lemon curd loaf cake?
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What is Lemon Curd?
Lemon curd is a rich tangy spread made from lemons, butter, and sugar. It's buttery and sweet, and can be made on the hob or in the microwave.
✔️ Why should you try it?
- Made in under 5 minutes in the microwave
- Deliciously lemony flavour
- Great on toast, in cakes or drizzled on pancakes
- Homemade lemon curd tastes 100% better than store-bought
🥘 Ingredients
- Lemons - you'll need the juice and zest for that wonderful lemony taste. Try and use unwaxed lemons for the best flavour.
- Eggs - to help thicken the curd. Lemon curd made on the stovetop usually only requires yolks, but this microwave version needs the whole egg.
- Sugar - caster sugar sweetens the curd.
- Butter - unsalted butter is melted and combined with the other ingredients to give the lemon curd that unique creamy buttery flavour.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
- Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large microwaveable bowl until pale.
- Stir in the melted butter (cooled), lemon juice and lemon zest. Whisk to combine thoroughly.
- Microwave in 1-minute bursts, whisking each time. You want the lemon curd to coat the back of a spoon - then you know it's done. It took just 3 minutes for my lemon curd to come together but the exact time it will take you will depend on the wattage of your microwave.
- Decant into sterilised jars and store in the fridge.
💭 Top tips
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice will not taste nice!
- Try and use unwaxed lemons and use a fine Microplane grater to zest them. You don't want any large pieces of zest visible in your curd.
- Ensure your eggs are at room temperature before starting the recipe.
- Make sure your melted butter is cooled down before adding it to the mixture. If it's too hot it will cause the eggs to scramble.
- Whisk the lemon curd between each 1 minute burst in the microwave.
- If you notice any rogue bits of scrambled egg in your lemon curd, just strain it through a fine sieve before pouring it into jars.
- Store the lemon curd in sterilised jars to ensure the best shelf life.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Lemon curd is so versatile!
- Serve it on toast, bagels, teacakes and scones.
- Stir it through Greek yogurt for an easy dessert.
- Drizzle it on pancakes for a weekend breakfast treat.
- Use it in cakes, muffins, trifles and mini tartlets.
- Make lemon curd ice-cream or lemon buttercream.
📖 Variations
Try making orange or lime curd using the same recipe but swapping the lemons for oranges or limes!
🥡 Storage
The homemade lemon curd will keep in airtight sterilised jars in the fridge for up to 14 days.
It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before serving.
❓ FAQs
The lemon curd may seem like it is a bit thin after the first few 1 minute bursts in the microwave, but persevere and it will thicken up. Remember it continues to thicken on cooling too, so factor that in.
The lemon curd should be glossy and syrup-like and coat the back of a wooden spoon.
Once in jars, place pieces of cling film (plastic wrap) on top of the curd to prevent a skin from forming.
Wash your jars (and lids) in hot soapy water, but do not dry them. Leave them to stand upside down on a roasting tray while they're still wet. Pop the tray of clean, wet jars and lids into a preheated oven at 160-180ºC for about 10 mins.
😋Related recipes
Love lemons? Here are some more delicious lemon recipes to try!
Tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating in the comments!
Recipe
Microwave Lemon Curd
Ingredients
- 200 g Caster Sugar
- 3 Eggs large
- 200 ml Lemon Juice about 4 large lemons
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest very finely grated
- 110 g Unsalted Butter melted and cooled
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large microwaveable bowl until pale and fluffy.
- Stir in the melted butter (cooled), lemon juice and lemon zest. Whisk to combine thoroughly.
- Microwave in 1-minute bursts, whisking each time. You want the lemon curd to coat the back of a spoon - then you know it's done. It took just 3 minutes for my lemon curd to come together but the exact time it takes you will depend on the wattage of your microwave.
- Decant into sterilised jars and store in the fridge.
Video
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice will not taste nice!
- Try and use unwaxed lemons and use a fine Microplane grater to zest them. You don't want any large pieces of zest visible in your curd.
- Ensure your eggs are at room temperature before starting the recipe.
- Make sure your melted butter is cooled down before adding it to the mixture. If it's too hot it will cause the eggs to scramble.
- Whisk the lemon curd between each 1 minute burst in the microwave.
- If you notice any rogue bits of scrambled egg in your lemon curd, just strain it through a fine sieve before pouring it into jars.
- Store the lemon curd in sterilised jars to ensure the best shelf life.
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Traci
I love how quick and easy this is! Now there's no excuse to not make lemon curd any time of the day. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Amanda Dixon
I had no idea you could make lemon curd in the microwave, and it still looks so decadent and creamy. Will definitely make this throughout the summer!
Jess
I love anything lemon! The fact that this is made in less than 5 minutes is AMAZING!
Liz
I had no idea this could be made in the microwave! Such a perfect summer dessert!
Beth
I love this recipe! It's so much quicker than making it on the stove. Such a big hit here! I'll definitely keep this recipe on hand!
Lesley
I'm a huge fan of lemon curd, and love that your recipe is make in super fast time - only 5 minutes!
Choclette
Ooh this looks so good. I love homemade fruit curds. Haven't made lemon for years, but now I really want to.
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist
Oh my goodness. I had no idea you could make lemon curd in the microwave, That's genius!
Kate
Oh my, I would NEVER have thought of making curd in the microwave, what a brilliant idea. Can't tell the difference!
Carrie Carvalho
I LOVE lemon curd but never thought to make it myself. Such a straightforward and easy recipe, I'll be making it all the time now!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Love how quick and easy this is!
Jo Keohane
What a great idea! Love this. Will definitely be trying, lemon curd is so popular in our house. Thanks for posting!
SU
Have tried a few Microwave Lemon Curd recipes but this one is the only one that worked! And it tastes delicious. Thank You. Will be making this again very soon.
Beth Sachs
Hi Sue. So glad you liked the recipe!