Description
Easy Orange Curd is a smooth, zesty, and creamy citrus spread made with fresh orange juice, sugar, eggs, and butter. It’s a delightful twist on traditional lemon curd—perfect for spreading on scones, toast, pancakes, or using as a filling in cakes, tarts, or pastries.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 3–4 oranges)
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the orange juice, zest, sugar, eggs, and salt until smooth.
- Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon (about 10–12 minutes). Do not boil.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in the butter pieces, one at a time, until fully melted and incorporated.
- Strain the curd through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any cooked egg bits or zest (optional for ultra-smooth texture).
- Let the orange curd cool slightly, then transfer to a jar or airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to thicken fully.
Notes
- Use fresh oranges for the best flavor—navel or Valencia oranges work well.
- The curd can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 3 months.
- If you prefer a tangier curd, add a splash of lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Spread / Filling
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 60 kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg