We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Best Serving Ideas for Lemon Curd?

Jessica Ellis
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 14,210
References
Share

Lemon curd is a light, tart substance somewhat similar to jam. Popular for its fresh, sweet-tart flavor, lemon curd has many uses and can be added to a variety of recipes. Some of the best ways to serve lemon curd include as a spread for toast or scones, or a sauce for desserts. It can also be an excellent addition to pies, cookies, and jelly rolls.

For an English breakfast or high tea, lemon curd is an essential ingredient. Serve the curd in a small jelly cup or dish, with a delicate spoon alongside. The spread can then be heaped upon scones or crumpets and topped with clotted cream for a traditional treat. As a spread, curd also makes an excellent topping for waffles, pancakes, crepes, toast, and biscuits. A spoonful of the curd can also be mixed into the batter of quick breads, to create an overall lemon flavor.

As a dessert sauce, the delicate flavor of lemon truly gets to shine. Lemon curd can be used as an alternative topping for gingerbread, instead of the more common but heavier cream cheese sauce. In desserts that are simply flavored, such as pound cake, angel food cake, or shortbread cookies, lemon curd helps cut through the sweetness with a pleasantly acidic bite. In order to be used as a sauce, curd can be thinned with a little water, milk, or additional lemon juice.

One of the easiest baking recipes that includes curd is the thumbprint cookie. Using a basic sugar cookie dough, the mixture is rolled into small balls, then placed on cookie sheets. Each ball is then pressed with the thumb, flattening the cookie and leaving an indentation in the top. Curd can then be spooned into the indentation before baking, creating a pretty, glass-like finish when finished. While lemon filling can be used exclusively, it is often fun to use three or four different jams for a multi-colored cookie presentation. Be sure to keep an eye on the cookies while they bake, as over-baking will burn the jam filling.

Possibly the most decadent way to serve lemon curd is as a cake filling. In a Swiss or jelly roll, a thin white sheet cake is painted with lemon filling and whipped cream, then rolled into a spiral. The cake may then be frosted, or simply sprinkled with powdered sugar before serving. In any type of white layer cake, curd makes an excellent filling, but can be enhanced by mixing fresh fruit into the curd for a more nuanced flavor. Spring and summer events are an excellent chance to serve lemon-flavored desserts using curd, as their flavors are bright, light, and refreshing.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Jessica Ellis
By Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis brings a unique perspective to her work as a writer for DelightedCooking. While passionate about drama and film, Jessica enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics, creating content that is both informative and engaging for readers.
Discussion Comments
By Pippinwhite — On Feb 19, 2014

I have a recipe for a lemon cake that calls for a lemon curd filling. It is downright sinful, since the recipe also calls for the cake to be iced with a lemon buttercream frosting. Yum.

Lemon curd is also delightful as a fancy filling for lemon cupcakes, also with lemon buttercream.

The key to a good lemon curd is to use a double boiler and tempering the eggs with a little of the hot lemon mixture before adding the eggs into the hot lemon and sugar mix. I don't like to strain it really, because you lose the bits of lemon zest in the custard, so I just temper the eggs and add them very carefully so I get a nice, smooth curd.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis...
Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-are-the-best-serving-ideas-for-lemon-curd.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.