What is Keto Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a dessert spread or filling that is made from eggs, sweetener, butter, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice.
Converting to a sugar-free lemon curd recipe was surprisingly easy! It is thick, smooth and lemony, and exactly what I wanted to achieve in a keto lemon recipe.
This low carb lemon curd recipe was originally published on February 18th, 2018. I have since updated with new step-by-step methods, images and recipe revisions.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Low carb – it has only 1g net carbs.
Quick and easy – With just four ingredients and a few simple steps, this will be ready in no time at all!
Basic keto pantry ingredients – The only “special” ingredient is keto compliant sweetener, and this would be one of your basic pantry ingredients. Please read the notes on the sweeteners so you pick the right one to use.
Just like the real thing – Substituting the sugar in a standard recipe for a low carb sweetener does not compromise the taste and texture of the keto lemon curd.
The Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the amount of each ingredient needed to make my easy lemon curd without sugar recipe.
Butter – I usually buy unsalted butter as I find it’s more versatile in recipes. To make a dairy free lemon curd you can substitute coconut oil. I promise it doesn’t taste like coconut in the curd.
Lemon Juice and Zest – Zest your lemon carefully to avoid any of the pith from being included. The pith is the white part of the skin and has a bitterness that can spoil the flavour of your recipe. If you don’t have a zester, there are other ways that don’t include having to buy a new kitchen utensil.
Sweetener – While I usually say use your sweetener of choice Xylitol or Allulose are the only two recommended sweeteners for this recipe. The reason being is that the others do recrystallise once refrigerated. Rather than using monk fruit sweetener or erythritol-based sweeteners try to use either of these sweeteners to avoid “crunchy” lemon curd.
Egg Yolks – I prefer to buy fresh, free-range eggs whenever possible. These tend to have the best colour to the yolks and the best flavour too.
How to Make It
Step 1. Add the butter, lemon zest, juice, and sweetener to a saucepan over medium low heat. Stir together while melting to dissolve the sweetener completely.
Step 2. Whisk in egg yolks and continue to stir over medium heat until the mix thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Leave to cool at room temperature then store in a jar in the refrigerator.
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Thermomix Lemon Curd
Making lemon curd in the Thermomix is incredibly easy.
Insert the whisk attachment. Add all the ingredients to the mixer; cook 11 min/80°C/speed 3. It will turn out perfect every time.
If you do not follow a keto diet then you can absolutely just use regular sugar. It still works just the same and you can use the curd in all your favourite desserts. We have a great keto Thermomix recipe for a lemon curd cake that is similar to the very popular Edna’s Lemon Curd Teacake but it is both sugar-free and gluten-free.
Related Recipes To Try
Once you’ve made the sugar free keto lemon curd, I am sure you will want more keto dessert recipes to try. Here are just a few of my favourites.
- Sugar Free Keto Pavlova – Top the pavlova with the lemon curd as well as double cream for a decadent but keto friendly dessert.
- Keto Lemon Cheesecake Matchsticks – The lemon curd adds a delicious twist to a much-loved treat!
- Keto Lemon Meringue Pie Easy – This dessert is always a show stopper, with its luscious topping of fluffy meringue over a delicious keto lemon curd pie.
- Lemon Curd Cake – This sugar-free and gluten-free keto lemon cake makes a tasty and healthy dessert. (Pictured below).
- Layered Lemon Delight Keto Cheesecake – a family-favourite sugar-free keto lemon cheesecake!
FAQs & Hot Tips
The reason for this recommendation is that other keto-friendly sweeteners do recrystallise once refrigerated. If you are making the curd to use on the day, then use any sweetener of your choice as long as it is a 1:1 ratio of sweetener to sugar.
The keto lemon curd can be stored for up to 1 week in the fridge in a clean, preferably sterilised, airtight container.
Yes, it can. Place the lemon curd in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Defrost in the fridge.
Lemons are keto-friendly. With approximately 3g net carbs per lemon. Lemons can be enjoyed on the ketogenic diet.
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Easy Keto Lemon Curd
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 100 g (3 ½ oz) butter
- ½ cup (½ cup) xylitol or allulose (see notes)
- 1 (1) lemon zested
- ½ cup (½ cup) lemon juice
- 6 (6) egg yolks see notes
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat
- Add sweetener, lemon juice and zest and stir through until sweetener dissolves.
- Whisk in egg yolks and continue to stir over medium heat until the mix thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
THERMAL METHOD
- Place butter into mixer; melt 3 min/ 90℃/speed 1.
- Add sweetener, lemon juice and zest; mix 3 min/speed 3.
- Insert whisk attachment. Add egg yolks to mixture; cook 11 min/80℃/speed 3.
Video
Notes
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
Megan Ellam is an Australian keto recipes blogger and author of amazing keto cookbooks such as Slow Cook Keto, Keto Loco, The Healthy Family Keto Cookbook and Every Day Keto.
Megan has been following a ketogenic diet since being diagnosed with insulin resistance in early 2017.
71 responses to “Keto Lemon Curd”
This lemon curd was so delicious! I am so happy I can enjoy sweets again with your recipes! Such a huge fan!
Another 5 star recipe! Pure deliciousness on its own or with pav, vanilla cup cakes, lemon curd cake, lemon meringue pie, just to name the few of your awesome deserts. It is breeze to make it in the thermie – and next moment you are in heaven 😀😋👍! Thank you Megan, one of my favourites 😀A fave of mine too Nina x
The absolute best lemon butter! And so very easy to make. You are a marvel Megan!
So glad you love it Tresna. It is a fave of mine too.
This lemon curd is certainly delicious. I got it to coat the back of the spoon but it hasn’t set very firmly. I wasn’t sure if I should keep cooking it to see if it would get thicker in case it curdled. I can try that next time.Was this written after it was chilled Trish?
This is amazing! We make it regularly and it is our favourite lemon curd.So happy you enjoy it Nicky!
This is definitely my most favourite Lemon Curd recipe – it tastes SO good and it doesn’t get ‘grainy’ like some recipes with other sweeteners.Another huge fave!!
Thanks Megan!!
You are very welcome Helen
I absolutely love this lemon curd. It’s so easy to make and I love how zesty it is with just the right amount of lemon in it . It’s perfect in so many recipes especially your lemon curd tea cake.
If you haven’t made it yet then you need to make this recipe.xx
I lovvvvvve this! So easy and I could eat it straight out of the bowl…and do! MmmmMe too katie.
Quick easy recipe. Super tangy. Best lemon curd I have tried.So glad you enjoy it Lucy.
I absolutely adore this recipe. I do add extra zest as I love lemon. So quick, easy & delicious.Me too Sioux
I’m in love with this lemon curd! Super tangy and great to just eat by the spoonful. Love your work Megan!!Thanks Crystal
How much gelatin would you add to turn this into gummies please? How much collagen? Inulin?
Cheers, your website is fantastic, and I can’t wait to get my bread mix:)Gelatin aways depends on bloom and what kind you are using. Just check what one you have uses for 1 cup of liquid.
How much gelatin would you add to turn this into gummies? And how much collagen? Inulin?
Thanks for all your amazing work ❤Deliciously sour. I love it!
Yay!
What is a double batch of this I need it for one of your recipes
Hi there, you can use the slider within the recipe to make x2 the recipe
You can adjust the servings and ingredients with the slider
Wasn’t expecting much… but this was incredibly delicious!!!!Yay!
I like that it has a strong lemon flavour and isn’t too sweet
So tasty, quick & easy!
OMG I have never been successful with lemon curd but I made this. So easy and delicious
Freakin delicious!
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