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Want a quick and easy lemon curd recipe? I’ve got you covered! Use fresh lemons to create this simple microwave lemon curd that is delicious on toast, yogurt, or on a spoon! See the step-by-step video at the bottom of this post!

Easy Microwave Lemon Curd Recipe

We’re in full-swing lemon season! And no, it’s not the middle of summer. In the U.S., citrus season arrives in the winter, and this year happened to be abundant for my family’s lemon tree. The lemons were the size of my hand, no joke.

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In fact, the lemons were so large, that a single one produced over a cup of juice. While that’s a great problem to have, what am I supposed to do with all of these lemons? (You can also try my zesty lemon glazed scones for a lemony treat!)

I’d already made two lemon meringue pies (Gimme Some Oven’s recipe is my favorite). The bright pop of lemon against a soft and delicate meringue makes my taste buds sing! Alas, there’s only so much pie a girl can eat (and still fit in her pants later in the week).  

I was able to use the lemons here and there in other recipes but decided that a homemade lemon curd would be perfect for using up lemons. It would also give us a citrus pop on our toast in the mornings and easy go-to dessert options.

What is Lemon Curd?

If you’ve never had homemade lemon curd before, it’s a thick, spreadable jam-like treat made with lemon juice, butter, eggs, and sugar. Usually curd involves stirring over a stove until your mixture thickens.

But I wanted something faster and easier, and thankfully I found an idea from King Arthur Flour… cooking lemon curd in the microwave! It always seems like I have several things going on at once, so if I don’t have to watch a pot, it’s a win.

Most lemon curd ingredients are the same: lemons, sugar, eggs. However, for this homemade lemon curd recipe I wanted to back away from the granulated sugar and add in some zest, since the oils in the zest have such bright flavor.

I decided to replace some of the sugar with honey, and it gave the lemon curd a lovely warm note. Lemon curd is perfect spread on toast, as a topping for a scone, or spooned into puff pastry shells and topped with whipped cream for a quick, impressive dessert. Here’s what you’ll need:

Homemade Lemon Curd Ingredients

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar (I like a natural sugar like this one.)
• 1/4 cup honey (I used wildflower)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted (unsalted)
• 2 eggs (beaten)

Easy Microwave Lemon Curd Recipe

1. Use a large bowl, bigger than what you think you need (I used an 8-cup bowl). (The curd may bubble in the microwave, and you don’t want it to bubble over.) Juice lemons and collect zest using a good microplane grater. In bowl, combine lemon juice, zest, sugar, honey, and butter. Mix well.

2. Add beaten eggs and mix well. 

3. Place bowl in microwave. On high heat, cook for one minute. Take lemon curd out and stir. Continue microwaving in one-minute intervals, stirring in between.

4. After 7-10 minutes, curd will begin to thicken. As your spoon comes out of the curd, it will coat the back of the spoon. Your curd will not look spreadable at this point, but that’s okay.

5. Allow curd to cool in bowl for several minutes at room temperature, then place in refrigerator to finish thickening up. 
6. Transfer cooled and thickened lemon curd to sealable containers. I was able to fill two half-pint mason jars.  

Homemade Lemon Curd Tips

• If your eggs weren’t beaten well enough, you may see small bits of cooked egg white when you stop to stir. Simply remove the white chunks and continue cooking curd.
• You can store the curd in the refrigerator for several weeks, or transfer to the freezer until you’re ready to use it.
• Make pretty lemon curd labels to attach to jars and be sure to include storage tips. 
• Try using oranges to make orange curd, but pull back on the sugar since oranges are naturally sweeter than lemons. 

How to Use Homemade Lemon Curd

Easy lemon curd makes a lovely gift for a friend or neighbor, and it an also make an impressive dessert in a pinch.

Grab a frozen (or homemade) loaf poundcake and slice in half lengthwise. On the bottom cake piece, spread a thick layer of lemon curd, then top with freshly whipped cream. Place top layer of cake, then repeat curd and cream layers. Refrigerate until ready to serve and garnish with lemon zest or fresh mint. Boom! Dessert is done.

This lemon curd is also a perfect homemade Christmas gift for friends and neighbors since citrus fruit is in season during the winter. Check out more handmade Christmas gifts here!

I’d love to know your favorite way to use lemon in the kitchen! Thanks for stopping by and happy gardening!