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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Lime Curd Recipe

    Published: Apr 2, 2014 · Modified: Mar 26, 2024 by Candi Elm · This post may contain affiliate links

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    This lime curd recipe is truly delightful. It is so good on crackers, cookies, scones, and toast. It adds a sweet tangy and fresh flavor to whatever you eat it with. And I highly recommend trying it with these Key Lime Cupcakes. 

    This delicious lime curd is an easy recipe with only 6 simple ingredients that can be made in about 15 minutes.

    Jump to:
    • What is lime curd?
    • Ingredients
    • How to eat lime curd?
    • How to Store Your Curd
    • Related Recipes:
    • Key Lime Curd Recipe
    • Lime Curd Recipe

    What is lime curd?

    Lime curd is a wonderful summer treat made with key limes, sugar, and egg yolks to create a creamy, zesty, slightly tart, fresh custard-like sauce you can use similar to a jam, though the texture is different than jam.

    Lime curd is a great spread for scones and is perfect for afternoon tea. 

    You can use this Curd as a cupcake or cake filling for a fresh summer dessert, spread it on some fresh scones, like these cream scones, and even add it to toast. It’s also the perfect addition to any vanilla-flavored pastries. 

    Ingredients

    • Sugar – You want to use superfine sugar in this recipe so it easily dissolves. 
    • Cornstarch – A little bit of cornstarch helps to thicken this curd just enough
    • Lime zest – You’ll need approximately two fresh limes to get the amount of zest needed for this recipe. The zest helps to increase the lime flavor in this recipe.    
    • Key lime juice – You’ll need a whole cup of lime juice. Fresh lime juice is great, but you can also use a good bottled lime juice. This bottled Key Lime Juice from Nellie & Joe’s saves a lot of time and is wonderful in this key lime curd recipe. I highly recommend key limes as opposed to Persian limes. Persian limes are a bit more acidic than key limes and will make the curd a bit more tart.   
    • Egg yolks – You need to use only the yolks for this recipe as the whites will alter the texture. If you start with whole eggs, you can use the leftover egg whites to make this key lime cupcake recipe or a delicious buttercream frosting.
    • Cold unsalted butter – It’s important to use cold butter, so wait until it’s time before pulling it out of the refrigerator. Adding the butter cold will help keep the glossy look of the lime curd that you expect. If the butter is warm or at room temperature when added, the recipe won’t have a shiny look.
    • Whisk sugar and cornstarch in a heavy saucepan.
    • Add the egg yolks, zest, and lime juice and whisk until well combined. Add small pieces of butter to the egg mixture and cook over medium-low heat. Be very careful it doesn’t get curdled. You can use a double boiler here, but I like the simplicity of using a saucepan and keeping an eye on it. 
    • Stir constantly for 6 minutes or until the mixture is thick enough to hold a line on the back of a spoon, as shown above.
    • Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

    How to eat lime curd?

    • Add it on top of ice cream, cupcakes, scones, cookies, or toast. 
    • Serve it at a cream tea with scones, clotted cream, and a pot of freshly brewed tea. 
    • Use this lime curd filling in between cake layers on your next white or vanilla cake. 

    How to Store Your Curd

    Store this fresh lime curd in an airtight container, like mason jars or old jam jars, in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.  

    This homemade curd freezes well. I recommend storing it in small serving-size amounts for easy use. Thaw to room temperature before using. 

    Related Recipes:

    • Key Lime Smoothie
    • Instant Pot Key Lime Cheesecake
    • Key lime cupcake on plate
      Key Lime Cupcakes filled with Key Lime Curd
    • Lemon Curd Cupcakes

    If you loved this recipe and made it, please give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! Leave me a comment about your experience with this recipe. You can also pin it to Pinterest or share it on Facebook.

    Key Lime Curd Recipe

    Lime Curd Recipe

    Make this tart and sweet Lime Curd to spread on scones, fill cupcakes, and give as gifts. 
    3.50 from 2 votes
    Print SaveSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 32 oz
    Calories: 79kcal
    Author: Candi Elm

    Ingredients  

    • 1 cup superfine sugar
    • 2 Teaspoon cornstarch
    • 4 Teaspoon lime zest
    • 1 cup Key Lime Juice from Nellie & Joe’s
    • 8 egg yolks
    • 12 Tablespoon butter chilled

    Instructions

    • Whisk sugar and cornstarch in heavy sauce pan.
    • Add the egg yolks, zest and lime juice and whisk until well combined. Add small pieces of butter and cook over medium/low heat. (be very careful it doesn't get curdled).
    • Stir constantly for 6 minutes or until mixture is thick enough to hold a line on the back of a wooden spoon.
    • Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This freezes well. You can cut this in half if you need to.

    Notes

    Another thing you can do with this recipe is to give it as hostess gifts. Get some ball mason jars and some ribbon and make a homemade tag and give it as a hostess gift during the holidays or a birthday. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1teaspoon | Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @candilandblogs or tag #adayincandiland!

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    About Candi Elm

    Candi Elm is the recipe developer and food photographer at A Day In Candiland where she has been sharing Encouragement, Recipes, and Afternoon Tea Ideas since 2012. Candi currently lives in Southern California with her family and enjoying life to the fullest.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      3.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. @furniture_paint says

      April 02, 2014 at 2:31 pm

      I love lime but haven't tried a curd. Putting it in cupcakes sounds wonderful! I might have to give it a try. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Candi says

        April 03, 2014 at 2:37 am

        It's great you can even try the lemon curd and I will be posting a recipe for the cupcakes for both lemon and lime next week.
        My recent post Recipe|Lime Curd

        Reply
    2. Candi says

      April 03, 2014 at 2:38 am

      I hope you try it sometime. You can check out my lemon curd also.
      My recent post Recipe|Lime Curd

      Reply
    3. Trianna says

      April 08, 2014 at 4:51 pm

      I love lime and lemon curd! We use it as a cake filling instead of buttercream. It helps give a perfect balance between the sweet and tangy. One of my faves.
      My recent post Inexpensive College Style

      Reply
    4. mila furman says

      September 24, 2014 at 8:40 am

      I cannot wait to try this as a filling or just a spread on some English Muffins!!!! Thanks for linking up with us at #Foodie Fridays! You have been pinned!
      My recent post Quick and Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice

      Reply

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    I’m Candi, a recipe and all things Tea blogger. I create family-friendly recipes along with sharing encouragement in your daily life.

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