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Microwave Lemon Curd couldn’t be easier, or more delicious. It’s perfect for topping yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake and so much more!
If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you are well aware of the fact that I am a sucker for lemon desserts.
From lemon lime cupcakes and glazed lemon blueberry bread to this microwave lemon curd, I’m all about lemons – all summer long.
If you’re a lemon lover and have never made homemade lemon curd, print this recipe, head to the store, grab yourself a bunch of lemons, and get to making this microwave lemon curd.
While you’re at the store, be sure to also grab some vanilla bean ice cream, a cheesecake AND mini tart shells because you’re going to eating this sweet and tart spread on ALLTHETHINGS.
If you have never made lemon curd before, it’s a very basic process of heating eggs, butter, sugar, lemon juice and zest.
This combination of ingredients creates a thick, tart lemon spread that you’ll want to eat with a spoon. No shame here, I’m totally guilty of eating spoonfuls of the stuff with a little spray of whipped cream.
There are numerous methods for making lemon curd, but my absolute favorite way is in the microwave.
WHY I LIKE TO MAKE MICROWAVE LEMON CURD
Yes, the microwave.
Now before you tell me it’s easier to make lemon curd on the stove, I hear what you’re saying. And while I agree that making it on the stovetop is pretty simple as well, I find that cooking it in the microwave is just easier.
With this microwave method, you don’t have to mess with a double boiler, or really worry about cooking the eggs too much and ending up with little specks of scrambled eggs in your curd.
You may kind of feel like you’re cheating a bit and possibly become lemon curd obsessed since you can whip up a batch in about 5 minutes!
HOW TO MAKE LEMON CURD IN THE MICROWAVE
To make lemon curd in the microwave, start by whisking together all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.
Then cook the curd on full power in 1-minute intervals, stirring after each minute. After about 3-5 minutes (depending on your microwave), the curd will have thickened so it coats the back of a metal spoon.
At this point, I like to run it through a fine metal sieve, just to remove any bits of egg that may have scrambled during cooking.
After the lemon curd cools, pop it into the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. It will continue to thicken as it cools, making that thick, luscious lemon curd that we all love so much.
HOW DO I SERVE LEMON CURD? ON EVERYTHING
Once you taste this easy lemon curd, you’ll be digging through your pantry and fridge just searching for something to slather it on. Whether you spread it on scones, waffles, or mascarpone pancakes, or spoon it over your favorite angel food cake, this lemon curd is sure to become one of your new favorites!
If you need some ideas to use up your microwave lemon curd, I love to use it in baking recipes, too! I’ve added it to No-Baked Layered Lemon Pie, Roasted Berry Napoleons, Mini Lemon Cheesecakes and Lemon Cheesecake in a Jar, just to name a few.
Microwave Lemon Curd
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs yolks and whites
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice about 4-5 lemons
- zest of 3 lemons
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth and thoroughly combined. Whisk in lemon juice, lemon zest and melted butter.
- Cook in the microwave on full power for one minute intervals, stirring after each minute. This process will take about 3-5 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave. You will know the lemon curd is done cooking when it coats the back of a metal spoon.
- Remove from the microwave, push through a fine, mesh sieve and pour into sterile jar or container.
- Once the curd has cooled to room temperature, cover it with a lid and store it in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. The curd will thicken as it cools.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yummy! It turned out so nice. Thank you for giving us your recipe, Jamie :)
So happy to hear you enjoyed the lemon curd, Susan! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
Instead of waiting FOREVER to eat it, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes and then put it in the freezer. DO NOT PUT IT STRAIGHT IN THE FREEZER UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR JAR TO EXPLODE
Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
This also freezes well.
Thanks for the feedback, Tina!
I’d heard of microwave lemon curd before, and my kids wanted to make it – so I am so happy to find this recipe!
I hope you love it as much as we do! So darn easy!
When life gave me lemons (lots of them!) I finally got around to trying to make fresh lemon curd. Your lemon curd. So easy and wow, it’s great. Thankyou so much for a great recipe.
Yay, Frances! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
This didn’t turn out for me, unfortunately. It never thickened up but also overcooked to where when I strained it a few bits of egg whites came out with the zest and pulp. Even after chilling it’s thinner than I’d like and also IMO too tart for most people although personally I like lemon curd tarter than what comes in a jar. I will stick to stove top from now on. It’s not much extra work and it gives you a lot more control over how it cooks than using the microwave, and clearly lemon curd is not fool proof.
I don’t bother with pushing through a fine mesh sieve, as the texture of grated rind isn’t a problem and proper whisking eliminates lumps
Love this recipe. So simple and sooooo good. Love it on ice cream and pancakes especially. When I sieve it I save the zest and freeze it in 1 teasoon piles and use in my zucchini-lemon bread recipe. So good. Thank you for some pretty awesome recipes.
Such a great tip, Shari! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
I need to use the curd almost immediately once it sets. How long will it take to set and is it ok to use it that quickly? You said something about letting it set for 2 weeks.
Hi, Kristen! You can definitely use the lemon curd right away. It can be kept in the fridge for two weeks for anything else you’d like. I hope you enjoy it!
so simple i must try
Let me know how you like it, Mary!