Microwave lemon curd- small batch recipe that uses just 1 egg.
I’ve confessed this to you before, but I’ll say it again: I’ll take a lemon dessert over a chocolate dessert any day. I know it’s weird; I know something is probably wrong with me. But, it’s just the way I am.
The fun thing about loving lemon so much and being a recipe developer/ cookbook author/ baker is that when I make a chocolate dessert for two to share with you, it’s gonna be GOOD. Mind-blowing, even. I promise.
My small-batch brownies for two are killer, my chocolate gooey butter cookies will make you weak in the knees, and my mini chocolate cake for two will be on semi-weekly rotation at your house after just one bite.
What I’m trying to say is, when I make something with chocolate, it’s freaking fantastic, because honestly, I’d rather be eating this microwave lemon curd. If a chocolate dessert can tempt me away from the lemon curd, it’s a winner.
This lemon curd is everything I’ve been searching for in a lemon curd for years. It’s silky, sweet and tangy all at once. And best of all, it only takes 5 minutes to make!
I’m very picky about lemon curd, because most of it is overly egg-y tasting, do you know what I mean by that? Any kind of canned/ packaged/ pre-made lemon curd always tastes like eggs to me. If I wanted lemony scrambled eggs, I’d make that. But I don’t, and you probably don’t either.
We want a smooth, creamy luscious sauce that is sweet with a lemon pucker at the end. It should be bright and tangy yet silky and creamy.
So, if you want really good lemon curd, you have to make it yourself. You know this. But, most lemon curd recipes make a few cups, which is fine if you’re feeding a crowd, but what if you’re just feeding a Tuesday night craving?
Enter my microwave lemon curd that’s made in just 5 minutes with just 1 egg. It uses the entire egg, so no leftovers!
The key to an amazing lemon curd is fresh lemon zest. Lots of lemon zest!
Here’s the exact the microplane grater that I used in the video, because freshly grated lemon zest is the key to great lemon curd. I don’t think that any store-bought/ canned/ packaged lemon curd has fresh lemon zest in it (which is exactly what’s wrong with all of those products).
Grate the zest of your lemon, juice it, add an egg and some sugar, and then microwave it. It’s almost like a miracle. A miracle in the microwave.
I have a newer model microwave that took 2 1/2 minutes on HIGH to make this lemon curd, but I also shared in the video the best way to know when your lemon curd is done–your microwave might take more or less time to set. Check the comments below from others who have made the recipe to see how long it took in their microwave!
Yes, it will thicken as it cools.
Best ways to eat microwave lemon curd:
- Spread on homemade graham crackers.
- Drizzled over my mini angel food cake in a loaf pan
- Poured over small-batch cheesecake in a loaf pan
I love this microwave lemon curd over my lemon cheesecake bars (pictured above) the most! Have you made those yet?
There’s hardly a Spring dessert that isn’t made better with this easy, fast microwave lemon curd. Enjoy this recipe!
Microwave Lemon Curd
Microwave lemon curd made in just 5 minutes with 1 egg.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon (~1 teaspoon)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients very well.
- Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stop, stir, and then microwave another minute.
- Stir the lemon curd after 2 minutes, and then place it back in the microwave for a final 30 seconds.
- After 2 minutes and 30 seconds, begin testing the lemon curd by quickly dipping a spoon into it, and running your finger through it. If the line holds, the lemon curd is done. If the curd runs and fills the line you just made, try another 30 seconds in the microwave and test again. The curd will thicken considerably as it cools.
- Strain the curd through a fine-mesh strainer into a jar with a lid or small bowl (cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd if you're using this method).
- Place in the fridge, and use within 7 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 168Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 57mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g
Sounds delicious ????, and looks really easy to do. I too love lemony dessert , same as chocolately one ???? though hahaha. Just started following you recently on insta and im liking your pics, more importantly your recipes
Aww, thanks so much, Naziha! Welcome :)
I don’t have a microwave, is there a way to make this on the stove?
Yes! Just mix it all together and heat it over low heat until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Let me know how it goes :)
I can’t wait to try this. I am with you on the lemon over chocolate camp too, 3 out of 4 in our house would choose lemon over chocolate. I love that this doesn’t make a ton, uses only 1 egg and I don’t have to babysit it on the stovetop. I didn’t see the link for a video, am I missing it? Thank for not making me feel weird about loving lemon more that chocolate, while still being in your 30’s.
I’m team lemon curd as well, I’ll take hat over chocolate any day! Lemon lovers unite!
I love how easy this is to make! Lemon curd always sounded intimidating to me (though I LOVE lemon desserts too!) We’ll have to give this a try for a tangy summer dessert!
Should the butter be cold? Melted? Room temp?
melted, sorry, I’ll clarify. The video states melted, but the recipe does not. Fixing now! Good catch, thank you!
Can I use limes also for lime curd.
Yes, Robin :) Enjoy!
OMG. This is genius! and dangerous. . . I love lemon.
As a lemon curd lover intimidated by lemon curd recipes, this sounds like a DREAM. Except I don’t have a microwave. Is there any way this can work on the stovetop?
Yes, Risa! Just make it on the stove the same way, except turn the heat to LOW and stir constantly :)
Do you have any suggestions on a substitute for the one egg!? This looks sooo yummy!
I don’t Kat, I’m so sorry! It really needs the egg. Have you tried any of those egg substitute powders? I saw some at Sprouts the other day, but haven’t tested them.
I had two egg yolks leftover from a recipe that I wanted to use. This was a perfect template, I just reduced the other ingredients a bit to adjust for less egg and it turned out perfect! Thanks!
I’m so glad to hear this, Sarah! Thanks so much :)
Love lemon anything! But one of my favorite pairings is lemon ice with fresh strawberries. So why not use this lemon curd as a dip for fresh strawberries? No brainier! Thank you for developing these fabulous small-batch recipes!
Perfect timing! I was wanting to make lemon curd today but only had two lemons and my recipe calls for three! This is even better, since it’s only for me and one cup of lemon curd will disappear in a day or two! Thanks everso!!????❣️
Add me to the lover of lemon camp too. Will take lemon over chocolate every day of the week. I am going to make this today. It’s rainy and kinda cool, this will be the perfect pick me up. I have pinned it too. Your recipes are amazing & delicious too. Thanks for sharing :)
Mine came out good, but there were some lumps from the egg whites. What can I do to avoid lumps next time? Thank you for this recipe! The flavor is great! I love that it was easy and plenty for me and my bf to enjoy.
Hi Monique! I’m sorry you had lumps! I think the mixture got too hot, so next time, shorten the time microwaved at each interval by 5-8 seconds. If you still get little lumps, go ahead and strain it when it’s done :)
Oh fabulous, love the small batch!! Making it today! Can you freeze lemon curd? I have a grandson that loves this stuff and I want to send some home with him.
I haven’t tried freezing it, but because it has eggs, I’m not sure it would work. It might defrost into a weird texture, I’m sorry! Eggs are hard to freeze–it ruins their protein structure!
I just HAD to get back on this! Made the lemon curd … it’s lovely! Sprinkled some graham cracker crumbs in a bowl, spooned on some of your Cheesecake Dip, added some Lemon Curd on top and then a scoop of whipped cream. *SIGH* I have tasted Heaven!! Thanks everso!!!!????❣️These recipes will be on CONSTANT rotation (2nd time already THIS WEEK for the Cheesecake Dip!!)
Can you tell me what wattage your micro is? I have a chart that can convert the time to match my micro’s wattage. I love your “small batches”–I can make sweets and not feel guilty if there is no one around to share a regular size recipe. It is also helping me to convert some of my favorite recipes into “small batches.”
1100 wats, Diane :)
Do you think this could be easily doubled? I’m making a lemon birthday cake at a friends request and I need 10 oz of curd per layer so I thought I could double the recipe for each layer and have a little leftover for personal use!
This is fantastic and just perfect for my needs. Thank you, Christina!
I made this today! With your homemade graham crackers (I cut mine into squirrel shapes). The graham cookies will take a bit to perfect the thickness but the lemon curd? That sweet, sweet, smooth, tangy, velvety yum, that will be a new staple on my comfort food list. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Excellent recipe. As are all of Christina’s recipes I have tried so far.
But don’t be like me and try to only use one bowl for the melting of the butter and the cooking. Definitely mix your egg and sugar well before adding the butter and lemon juice. I ended up with little bits of solid egg white that needed to be fished out. An extra bowl to say is well worth it.
Melt your butter separately. You’ll be glad you did.
Haha, Zilla! That is exactly something I would do–use 1 bowl! Thanks for sharing :)
Just found you – U rock – I love all the recipes – the loaf pan is a genius idea – Thank you for all great ideas for the 2 of us –
It sound tasty. With your recipe, it seems not too hard to do lemon curd. I will try doing it this week. You’re great
I love lemon curd. I made your recipe today. The flavor is amazing but it was grainy. Should it be left at room temperature to cool? I refrigerated it immediately. I will keep trying though this was so much easier than the double boiler method.
Hi, I’m currently making this on the stovetop as putting it in the microwave on high literally made it boil! Should I try microwaving on low next time?
Hi Amanda, thanks for writing! Can i ask why you’re making it on the stovetop and the microwave? Why both? Either make it in the microwave as the recipe states, or on low on the stove as an alternative. I haven’t tried making it on the stove, I’m just suggesting it as a possible method for those that don’t have a microwave.
Hi again, I didn’t actually intend to use both methods, I meant that I tried making it in the microwave as stated and it kept trying to boil over the edge of my bowl— so I took it out, poured it into a small pan and cooked it on low on the stovetop instead since I really didn’t want to have to clean a huge mess out of the microwave ???? It turned out delicious but I’m not sure why it didn’t work well in the microwave. You said to microwave it on high but maybe that setting can vary widely across microwaves?
P.s all your recipes are brilliantly good, I’m a longtime reader but first-time commenter :)
Hi again :)
Ohhhh, I see! Ok, when I made it (you can see my bowl is pretty deep), I didn’t notice it furiously boiling at all. I’m wondering if your microwave is hotter than mine? If you’re up for it again, try it stovetop only?
Thanks for clarifying :) I hope it works next time! Fingers crossed :)
Hi, thanks!! My bowl wasn’t very big so I feel like that’s what’s going on ???? !! Definitely making this again (and again and again…) but in a bigger bowl this time. Have a lovely rest of the week! Xx
Amanda
Just finished making this and it is delish! Perfect if you need a quick lemon curd fix and don’t want to spend the time stirring over a stove. Thanks, Christina!
Hi Christina…Have been following your posts on IG for sometime now and have tried some of your recipes..you make making fancy desserts sound so easy and most of them are a breeze to make, including this liquid gold! I’m completely nuts about lemon (would live my life without chocolate but the guests would always go hungry then) and lemon curd is on the top of my list. Somehow getting a commercially made jar of lemon curd is not alluring enough and the hassles of making it with the double boiler method is just too much effort. The microwave method is such a brilliant idea…And I think that because the setting of my microwave is much higher, I got a cup full of sunshine in less than 2 minutes :) Now onto that lemon cheesecake to do justice to lemon curd.
Can you use Splenda for the sugar?
I haven’t tried it, Carol! Is it a 1:1 substitution typically?
I was foolishly skeptical that this could be done in the microwave.. it worked beautifully and tastes delicious! I did end up needing to microwave an additional 30 seconds. I love that this recipe uses the whole egg. This might be a new staple in my fridge – thank you for sharing :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is amazing and so very simple. I adore lemon curd, as does my 6-year old (who pleads for it all the time), and sometimes I want it fast and store-bought never cuts it. And now that the weather is so warm and the kitchen is hot) I can make it without turning on the stove! This tastes fabulous and with the first batch turned into an icebox cake, the second batch is in the fridge for eating on its own. Team lemon all the way.
Thank you for this most amazing and simple recipe for lemon curd.
Takes sway the headache of stovetop cooking.
I also follow a lot of your other recipes. Love them all.
Thank you for this amazing and simole recipe.
So dreaded making it on the stovetop.
I also baje a lot of your sized down cakes. All turn out excellent .
Love your site
Hi!
I just loved It!
Can I use this lemon curd to do the key lime pie? I want to make the key lime pie, but I just don’t be a big fan of things made with condensed milk because here in Brazil we eat condensed milk to much, everytime, and I can’t see that anymore lol
I was wondering if the measurement of that lemon curd recipe that it’s enough for a pie, and if I need to do the microwave process before add to the pie and bake it, or if I could put the lemon curd “crude” in the pie and bake it after.
Thanks!
Ohhhh that’s a great idea, Danielle! I haven’t tried it, but it should work. Lemon curd doesn’t set as firmly as key lime pie, though. Let me know how it goes :)
I made this according to the recipe. It actually boiled over in my microwave during the 2nd one-minute interval so had quite a mess, salvaged some, strained it because lots of little eggy pieces were in it, and it tasted good. Thankfully I was just using it on a 6-inch lemon cheesecake so I didn’t need much anyway. If I did it again I’d try 1 minute first and then 30 second intervals because perhaps my microwave has more power than recipe’s.
Oh no, Cece! I’m wondering if you used a smaller measuring cup than I did? Or maybe your microwave runs hot? Is it a newer model? Mine is new.
Hi! It’s under the only egg yolk recips, but the recipe states 1 egg? Do I use a whole egg or just egg yolk only? Thank you!
1 whole egg, sorry for the confusion!
Thanks for this really good recipe. For my 1200 watt microwave I took 5 seconds off each timing and it worked perfectly. (And I love lemon zest, so didn’t strain it. It’s a real hit!)
I have used this recipe twice. First time, lots of egg white clumps which did strain out.
Today I made again, followed your instructions to the letter. Like another reader, mixture boiled before 1 minute. I took it out of microwave and strained out big white clumps. Continued with recipe, it was ready as described. I think that this recipe would be more successful if curd stirred ever 10 seconds in first 1 minute.
This was so easy and delicious, only next time I need to double it because I could eat this amount with a spoon! :) Thanks!
The lemon flaavor is amazing and is easy to make. Just be sure to use an oversized bowl. I just used a large bowl and it bubbled over and made a huge mess so I lost some of the curd. I will definitly make this again!
Made this to go on the cheesecake for 2!
OMG, I think this is the best I’ve ever tasted. Absolutely delicious, creamy, lemony, smooth, mmmmm! A keeper recioe for sure.
Hi! With the whole COVID situation I’ve started baking like crazy and was so happy to see a way for me to make things that are just big enough for my husband and I. Making your lemon cake this evening, just picked up a 6inch cake pan and it’s so cute! Only problem I’ve had was microwaving the curd as instructed and ending up with a few scrambled egg bits. Luckily was able to still salvage most of it but thought that may happen. My microwave gets super hot so switched over to medium power and that saved it. I would recommend mentioning what wattage you microwave is so readers can keep it in mind when deciding what power level to use. Thanks for your blog! Can’t wait for this cake to finish cooling so I can start finishing it. :-)
I made this on the stove because I didn’t have a deep enough bowl for the microwave, it is amazing! I didn’t need to strain it and I will definitely make this again.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
I used this method in an 800W microwave to make lime curd as I had some fresh limes. Followed the tip to combine the sugar and egg first before juice, zest, salt and melted butter. Worked beautifully! Straining it was necessary to remove bits of egg white, zest and stray seeds. I’ll never cook curd over the stove again!
I have a Meyer lemon tree and am looking for ways to use them. I found you on Pinterest and tried your Microwave Lemon Curd recipe this evening and LOVED it! The recipe is very simple, easy and quick to make. I stirred it in 30 second intervals. I loved it, my daughter loved it, I even woke my husband up to try it! LOL, I really did wake him up and he loved it too! This recipe is a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing.