Lemon Curd

Jul 16, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

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Filled doughnut cut open to show lemon curd

A tangy, silky lemon curd for doughnuts, cooked gently until thick. Makes about 1 1/2 cups; fills 10 to 12 doughnuts.

Prep 10 min

Cook 12 min

Chill 2 hr

Total 2 hr 22 min

Yield 12 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

½ cup (120.0 ml)fresh lemon juice
1.0 tbsplemon zest, finely grated
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
4.0 (72.0 g)large egg yolks
⅛ tspfine sea salt
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature

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Instructions

In a medium heatproof bowl or small saucepan, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, salt, and lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth.
Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water (the bowl shouldn't touch the water), or cook the saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly with a silicone spatula until the curd thickens enough to coat the spatula and reaches 170°F, 8 to 12 minutes. Don't let it boil.
Remove from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Stir in the butter, a few pieces at a time, until smooth.
Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until cold and thick, at least 2 hours.
Spoon the filling into a piping bag fitted with a long filling tip. Poke a small hole in the side of each cooled doughnut and pipe in about 2 tablespoons, until the doughnut feels heavy.

Tips

Stir constantly and keep the heat low; the yolks curdle if the curd boils.
Vanilla boost: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract with the other flavorings for a rounder, warmer flavor.
Storage: Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon curd?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. It makes about 1 1/2 cups; fills 10 to 12 doughnuts.

How should I store lemon curd?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.

A tangy, silky lemon curd for doughnuts, cooked gently until thick. Makes about 1 1/2 cups; fills 10 to 12 doughnuts.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

124 Calories / serving

7.4g Fat

13.9g Carbs

1.1g Protein

13.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1488 cal · 89g fat · 167g carbs · 13g protein · 161g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 124 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 23 min·1.3 mi·~2700 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 17 min·0.9 mi·~1700 steps
Moderate cycling 13 min·2.6 mi
Swimming laps 17 min
Jogging 12 min·1.0 mi·~1900 steps
Stair climbing 11 min·~1000 steps
Dancing 20 min
Bodyweight circuit training 13 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 29 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.