The BEST 10-Minute Vegan Lemon Curd
This easy vegan lemon curd is perfect. Sweet and citrusy, this thick lemony custard is the perfect sauce, filling, and condiment for your seasonal desserts. Made in just 10 minutes for a sweet treat nobody will believe is vegan.
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Apparently, I’m on a bit of a lemon kick. I see a little bit of sun in the sky and I’m dreaming of citrus trees growing in my backyard, rosé all day, and summer songs blasting out of my open kitchen windows. Of course, this is all in my head. When the sun does come out, it lasts about 10 minutes before it’s hidden behind the clouds again. It’s still mostly rainy, mostly 40, and mostly winter here in Portand, Oregon.
Let’s forget about winter for a moment and celebrate the lemon. Earlier this week I shared my recipe for this Lemon Olive Oil Cake and today I’m coming at you with even more of that sweet and ultra tart lemony flavor. Why today I’ve got a recipe for some sweet vegan lemon curd.
But let’s back up a moment. Some of you might be asking, what is lemon curd?
What is Lemon Curd?
Lemon curd is a thick dessert spread that is traditionally made from lemons, butter, eggs, and sugar. While lemon is the most common flavor, you can make curds with other citrus fruits or berries. Other popular fruit curds are mango, blackberry, and passionfruit.
Lemon curd has a strong citrusy flavor that is balanced with the creaminess of butter and sweetness of sugar for a delightful spread that can be used in oh so many ways. More on that later.
What are the ingredients for lemon curd?
Conventionally lemon curd is made with just a few basic ingredients:
- Lemon
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
In traditional baking, the eggs are considered essential as they provide the custard-like base of the curd. However, as we plant-based eaters all know, there are many ways to replace eggs. Because lemon curd is a custard, it’s important to look at the best egg replacers for custards when veganizing this recipe. In the past, I’ve done this recipe with a cashew base which works well but does introduce an element of fat that is inconsistent with the taste and texture of traditional lemon curd. Looking for something more subtle, I started to get curious about one of my favorite egg replacers – the chickpea flour egg.
Why chickpea flour?
Because of its high protein content, chickpea flour has awesome coagulation power. When few eggs are required for a custard-like base, chickpea flour may be the best option. For example, when making French Toast the chickpea flour is the best for custard-like consistency. Also, when cooked or baked, chickpea flour has virtually no detectable taste or texture, which allows for the simple ingredients in this vegan lemon curd to stand out.
And, I was excited to see that chickpea flour was exactly what I needed to make this vegan lemon curd taste and feel exactly right – buttery, lemony, creamy, and sweet.
Chickpea flour can be found online or in most health stores or bulk sections of well-stocked grocery stores.
How to make vegan lemon curd
Good news! This vegan lemon curd can be made in just one pot in about 10 minutes with just a handful of steps.
- Step one – melt the butter in a small saucepan
- Step two – remove from heat and add chickpea flour. Stir together to form a paste
- Step three – return the butter/chickpea flour to heat and add remaining ingredients. Bring lemon curd to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Boil for 3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the curd begins to thicken.
- Remove from heat, transfer to a glass container to let cool completely.
It’s that simple!
Uses for Lemon Curd
Okay, it sounds delicious but what do I DO with lemon curd? Lemon curd has many uses.
- It can be used as the filler for cake
- A spread for scones, muffins, or quickbread
- Toppings for pancakes or french toast
- Mixed into yogurt
- Topped on your homemade granola
- Or just eat it with a spoon!
Tips and tricks for making the perfect vegan lemon curd:
- Making lemon curd does require consistent attention. Once the ingredients are added, they need to be stirred constantly to ensure a creamy custard. The curd should be boiled for about 3 minutes but this will vary depending on the heat of your stovetop. You’ll know the curd is done when it starts to coat the back of the wooden spoon and pulls away from the bottom of the pot as you stir.
- This lemon curd is very lemony. If you aren’t sure you love the strong citrus flavor, start with 3/4 cup of lemon juice and reduce the amount of chickpea flour by 1 tablespoon.
- Stir constantly to ensure a smooth and thick curd. Once thick, pour the curd immediately into a glass container and let it continue to cool at room temperature. The curd will cool as it thickens. Let it cool at least 2 hours before serving.
- Store uneaten curd in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
That’s it! Everything you need to know to enjoy this buttery, lemony, sweet spread. Let’s take a look at the recipe card below.
- 4 tbsp. vegan butter
- 1/4 cup chickpea flour
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- pinch of sea salt
In a small saucepan, melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Once melted, add chickpea flour and mix together to form a thick paste.
Return to heat and whisk in lemon juice, granulated sugar, and sea salt. Let lemon curd come to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the curd begins to thicken.
Store uneaten curd in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Kate says
Thank you for this! I miss my mum’s lemon curd a lot. I don’t have ready access to vegan butter here in Taiwan. Do you think I could use refined coconut oil in its place?
Sarah says
No, I think butter is the only option. If you can’t find vegan butter, you can try making your own. Here is a recipe I recommend.