Homemade Orange Curd Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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Homemade Orange Curd Recipe – Bright and sweet orange curd is easy to make with only 6 simple ingredients, and perfect to enjoy with breakfast or your favorite baked snack treats!

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Why We Love This Easy Curd Recipe

Creamy and bright citrus curd is a delightful condiment to serve for breakfast or with your favorite snack-time goodies. It’s similar in sweetness to a fruit jam or preserves, but made ultra-rich with egg yolks and butter for a more decadent spread.

If you love classic lemon curd, you will absolutely go nuts over this Orange Curd variation. The flavor is slightly sweeter with less of a tart bite, and pairs perfectly with all types of baked treats – from healthy muffins to decadent cookies and more!

Our practically foolproof orange curd recipe requires 6 pantry staples and takes 15 minutes to prepare. It makes a generous 2 cups of orange curd, which is just the right amount to enjoy a bit right away, and also put up in cute little jars.

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6 Ingredients You Need

  • Oranges
  • Lemon
  • Granulated sugar
  • Large eggs + egg yolks
  • Butter
  • Salt
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How to Make the Best Orange Curd

Use a zester to zest all three oranges and the lemon. Make sure to zest just the color and not the bitter white skin underneath. Collect the zest of both the oranges and lemons. You should have at least 1 tablespoon of orange zest and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Use it all!

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Now cut 1-2 of the oranges to squeeze ½ cup of fresh orange juice. Squeeze the lemon and measure out 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Set a small saucepot over medium heat. Add the 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and all the orange and lemon zest.

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Then add sugar, eggs, and additional egg yolks, butter, and salt.

Get the Complete (Printable) Orange Curd Recipe Below. Enjoy!

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Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together as the butter melts. Once the butter has completely melted whisk thoroughly to make sure there are no clumps.

Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring consistently. Once the curd is boiling, lower the heat if needed and continue to simmer and stir for 5 to 6 minutes until the mixture seems thick.

Pro Tip: I like to use a rubber spatula to make sure to scrape all the curd off the bottom, so it doesn’t burn as I stir.

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Remove from heat. Pour the orange curd into two 8-ounce jars or four 4-ounce jars. There will be a little leftover to enjoy right away.

Cover and chill the orange curd until it is set. Then keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

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Suggestions for What to Do With Orange Curd

Fresh and fruity orange curd is delicious to spread on baked treats, like store-bought or homemade cookies. Here are a few of our classic cookie recipes to try:

  • The Best Sugar Cookies
  • Cornmeal Cookies
  • Lemon Cookies (For a true citrus mouth party!)

I love to have a little bowl with biscotti to dip and a cup of coffee for breakfast. And it is fantastic to use in yogurt and granola parfaits! The curd also is great with nearly any sweet breakfast foods, like:

  • Homemade Waffles and Pancakes
  • Orange Cranberry Bread
  • Walnut Cherry Scones
  • Blueberry Muffin Cake
  • Jamaican Johnny Cakes

The citrus curd can even be used as a filling for pies, tarts, eclairs, and donuts; and as a tangy topping for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and cheesecake. You could even make an orange curd cake with this as a tangy orange filling!

Get creative and discover your favorite way to eat homemade orange curd!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best oranges for making curd?

Any type of ripe orange is good to use in this orange curd recipe. Oranges that aren’t ripe enough won’t be as sweet, so be sure to select fruits that are slightly soft when given a gentle squeeze.

Navel oranges are classic, Cara Cara oranges offer a delicate floral note, and blood oranges have a beautifully deep sweet flavor. You really can’t go wrong!

What other citrus fruits can be used to make this curd recipe?

Lime and grapefruit can be used in place of the orange for unique tasty citrus curds! Lime curd will have a very tart and tropical flavor that is less sweet. Grapefruit tends to be a lighter taste that likewise isn’t quite as sweet as orange or lemon.

How can I turn this into a lemon curd?

If you prefer to make a lemon curd, follow my perfect homemade lemon curd recipe instead!

Why is my orange curd not thickening?

The curd needs to be cooked for several minutes while constantly being whisked. If it isn’t thickening right away just keep cooking on medium and whisking until it becomes the consistency you like. And remember that it will continue to thicken once it cools.

How long does homemade fruit curd last?

It will keep well for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Looking For More Delicious Dips and Spreads?

  • Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Recipe
  • Nutella Chocolate Fondue
  • Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
  • Retro Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
  • Cherry Cheesecake Dip with Pie Crust

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Print Recipe

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Easy Orange Curd Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Bright and sweet orange curd is easy to make and perfect to enjoy with breakfast or your favorite baked snack treat!

Servings: 18 servings

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Use a zester to zest all three oranges and the lemon. Make sure to zest just the color and not the bitter white skin underneath. Collect the zest of both the oranges and lemons. You should have at least 1 tablespoon of orange zest and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Use it all.

  • Now cut 1-2 of the oranges to squeeze ½ cup of fresh orange juice. Squeeze the lemon and measure out 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

  • Set a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add the 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, all the orange and lemon zest, sugar, eggs and additional egg yolks, butter, and salt.

  • Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together as the butter melts. Once the butter has completely melted whisk thoroughly to make sure there are no clumps.

  • Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring consistently. Once the curd is boiling, lower the heat if needed and continue to simmer and stir for 5 to 6 minutes until the mixture seems thick. *I like to use a rubber spatula to make sure to scrape all the curd off the bottom, so it doesn’t burn as I stir.

Notes

You can make lime, lemon or grapefruit curd with this recipe as well.

Homemade orange curd will keep well for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tb, Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 80mg, Potassium: 56mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 234IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Condiment, Dessert

Cuisine: American, French

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Homemade Orange Curd Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

Why is my orange curd not setting? ›

You need to keep a low heat and stir constatntly. The time it takes for the curd to thicken can vary accoding to the size of the pan and the heat used. To test if the curd is cooked properly, dip a spoon into the mixture then run your finger through the mixture on the back of the spoon.

What is orange curd made of? ›

Orange curd is a thick and creamy mixture of fresh orange juice, eggs, sugar, and butter. The amount of sugar in citrus curd recipes varies depending on the sweetness of the fruit—lemon and lime curds require more sugar because they are tart and sour.

Is orange curd the same as marmalade? ›

Orange curd is a thick, creamy-looking spread which contains eggs and butter, and it's got a similar texture to custard. Marmalade, on the other hand, is a preserve made with sugar, water and lemons, and its end result is similar to a jelly or a jam.

How do you fix runny orange curd? ›

If when completely cold your Orange Curd (or any other curd) is too runny then it was not cooked enough. You can remedy this by removing it from the jars and gently cooking again. Be sure to re-wash and sterilize the jars before refilling.

What to do with failed curd? ›

The Takeaway. If your yogurt doesn't set up properly the first time, try treating the failed “yogurt” like milk, and starting over. (Reheat it, add new starter, and incubate again.) The texture may suffer some, but it can save you having to throw the whole thing away.

How many hours does it take for curd to set? ›

The time that the milk takes to convert into curd depends on the temperature. In a warm, hot and humid climate, the time taken for the curd to set will be 4 to 7 hours. Whereas in a cool or cold climate, the time taken can be 8 to 12 hours.

Why is my orange curd grainy? ›

Don't let the curd boil.

Boiling curd will cause it to curdle and create a grainy texture. If the orange curd curdles, strain it twice through a fine-mesh strainer, to remove the grainy bits. If that doesn't work, process it in a blender to try and smooth it out.

Is orange with curd good for health? ›

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are highly acidic. Combining them with curd can disturb the stomach's pH balance, potentially leading to digestive discomfort or acidity for some individuals.

Is it OK to eat curd after orange? ›

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons are high in acidity. Combined with curd, which is also acidic, it can lead to an imbalance in pH levels in the stomach. This may result in indigestion, heartburn, or an upset stomach.

Why do you soak oranges for marmalade? ›

Tie the muslin square into a little bag and add it to the bowl. Make sure everything is immersed in the water. Leave to soak overnight or for several hours if possible. This helps to extract pectin from the fruit and soften the peel, which will reduce the amount of cooking.

What is the difference between a curd and a jam? ›

What is the difference between curd and jam? Fruit curds are distinctly different from jams, since curds are made by cooking down fruit juice with sugar rather than the whole fruit. The result is a creamier spread.

Is marmalade healthier than jam? ›

Is marmalade healthier than jam? Both jam and marmalade are marginally healthier than jelly, which is made with fruit juice, so doesn't have any fibre from the fruit pieces. Marmalade and jam have similar nutritional properties making them pretty much the same in terms of healthiness.

Why won't my curd thicken? ›

Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled. If your cooled curd is not thick enough, you can reheat it to thicken. Put it over a low heat, stirring constantly. Ensure it coats the back of a spoon before taking it off the heat.

Why didn't my curd set? ›

CURDS THAT WON'T COME TOGETHER

This is often caused by improper temperatures; either you used UHT (Ultra High Temperature) pasteurized milk or your curds got too hot when you were preparing for the stretching stage, or they didn't get hot enough. The temperature of the curds before stretching should be 160° to 170°F.

Does adding lemon to milk make curd? ›

Yes we can made curd by mixing milk with lemon juice. Mix little by little lemon juice to the milk and stir frequently until the milk turned to curd.

What to do if curd is not set cheese? ›

Milk may contain a shortage of this calcium and this will lead to a soft weak curd. The addition of calcium chloride to the milk may rectify this. If adding additional calcium, make sure that you do this at least one hour before the addition of the rennet or the effect of the additional calcium may be minimised. F.

Why does curd not set? ›

The temperature is too low. If the temp is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the cultures will not ferment properly and the milk will stay runny. The temperature is too high. If the temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the yogurt will ferment too fast and will also render the yogurt runny.

How do you thicken runny curd? ›

More times than not the, curd just needs to be cooked longer in order for the egg proteins to set. If your curd has been cooked to 170 degrees and it still hasn't thickened, then make a slurry by whisking 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

Why is my Dahi not thickening? ›

*Use whole milk for thicker curd. Further simmering the milk for 10 minutes ensures that the curd thickens when it sets. However, don't burn the milk. *Ensure you use fresh, good quality curd culture and bring it to room temperature before adding it to the milk.

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