This classic lemon curd is smooth, creamy, and rich with bright lemon flavor. Made with just four ingredients, it comes together in minutes and is perfect for spooning onto desserts and special breakfasts.
Add 2 inches of water to the bottom of a double boiler. Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low.
In the top pot of the double boiler (before you put it on the heat) add egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice and whisk until it's smooth.
5 egg yolks, 1 cup white sugar, 4 lemons
Put the pot on top of the pot with the simmering water and whisk slowly but constantly for 8-10 minutes, until the lemon curd thickens. Remove from the pot from the heat and whisk in the butter - the heat from the lemon curd will melt the butter.
½ cup butter
Pour the lemon curd into a clean glass jar and place a piece of parchment paper directly on the surface of the curd - this will prevent a skin from forming. Once the curd is cool, you can remove it. Refrigerate the lemon curd for up to 10 days.