No-Fail Orange Curd Recipe

Name: No-Fail Orange Curd Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 Egg yolks ((large)); 1 Whole egg ((large)); 2 tbsp Cornstarch; 1/2 tbsp Orange zest; 1/2 tbsp Lemon zest; 1 cup Orange juice; 4 tbsp Lemon juice; 1/2 cup Sugar (fine grain); 2 oz Unsalted butter ( chilled, cubed); 1/4 tsp Salt

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When oranges are in season, you must make homemade orange curd. This simple, easy no-fail recipe for curd filling is the best you will ever taste. Sweet, tangy with a luxurious texture. An orange curd that takes no more than 20 minutes to prepare and can be used as a filling for cakes, pies, and desserts is a must-have recipe.

A jar with orange curd filling — Homemade Curd Filling with Oranges

Orange curd with fresh oranges is a must-have. And, I mean must-have. The sweet oranges in a custard-like filling are out of this world. And, I love to add some lemon in there to give it a little zing. By now you must have tried my lemon curd or at least seen my lemon curd video. It's simple, easy and really luxurious. It's a no-fail method because I cook it low and slow. As a result, you will never have a curdled curd whether you make lemon or orange curd.

Also, did you know the options to make fruit curd using this exact same method are endless? I love using citrus fruits because I really enjoy the tart flavors. And, if you love fruit curd you must substitute the orange juice in this recipe with any other fruit juice, such as tangerine, passion fruit, limes, or grapefruits. I've even made mango and pineapple. Pineapple curd is absolute heaven.

A spoon full of orange curd. — Homemade Orange Curd Recipe, Easy Orange Curd Cake Filling

Ingredients and substitutes

Oranges - Use the measure of orange juice not the number of oranges when making this recipe. So if a recipe says ½ cup juice (3 to 4 oranges) usually the number is a guide - the actual measurement you want to use is ½ cup or 60 ml. This can make a big difference. Avoid the membranes and seeds when juicing the oranges these can impart a bitter flavor to the curd.
Lemon - A little tart taste in contrast to the sweet seasonal oranges works a treat. Unless of course, you have sour oranges than lemons won't do justice. Instead, I suggest you add all orange juice.
Caster Sugar - Caster sugar is usually a fine grain sugar. Use a fine grain sugar that will dissolve easily in the eggs. If you don't find caster sugar just pulse the regular sugar in a food processor and that will help give you a smooth finish. The amount of sugar used here presumes you have beautiful sweet seasonal oranges. If, however, the oranges are not sweet I highly recommend you add a few tablespoon more of sugar. And yet, NO more than ¼ cup or 30 grams though.
Egg yolks - The color of yolks will determine the end color of your orange curd. So if you use light yolks you will have pale yellow color curd. A bright golden yellow or orange is much preferred. I'm using free-range eggs that have a nice orange color today.
Artificial colors - I never use any artificial coloring in my lemon curd, but often I use orange curd in my cakes as filling. So sometimes I do add a dab of orange color just so it will be obvious on the cake. Orange color layers look nicer between two vanilla or chocolate layers.

A mason jar with orange curd. — Homemade Orange Curd Recipe, Easy Orange Curd Cake Filling

Step by step instructions

Measure all ingredients before you start. Cut the butter into cubes - keep chilled.
Place oranges and lemon in the microwave for 10 seconds before you cut and squeeze this will make it easy. Warm the orange juice for about 30 secs.
Use a double boiler or make your own - To make your own add an inch of water to the saucepan with a heatproof bowl on top. The water should not touch the top bowl.
Pro tip - we use a double-boiler to prevent the eggs from getting scrambled with direct heat.
In the top bowl of your double boiler - Add egg and yolks, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and zest. Whisk until light and fluffy - sugar should almost melt.
Add orange juice and lemon juice slowly into the egg mixture. Now place the bowl on the double boiler
Continue to stir on medium heat. The mixture should cook with just the steam from the water in the saucepan below.
Pro tip - if you cook on low it will take forever to thicken. Since we are cooking on a double boiler you can keep the heat medium heat and stir continuously.
After about 8 to 10 minutes - you will notice the foam that was caused by whipping the egg mixture will slowly disappear and the mixture will start to thicken.
Continue to stir until it coats the back of your wooden spoon or spatula. Remove from heat.
Gradually add cubes of butter one at a time. Make sure each piece is well incorporated. The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.
Pro tip - the cool butter stops the cooking and makes it smooth and velvety. Add it slow but not too slow or the last of the butter won't incorporate in cooled curd.
Once all the butter has been incorporated, strain it through a mesh or a strainer to remove the zest. This will also give you a smooth creamy curd.
I like to transfer mine to a mason jar.

Storage

The curd is best stored in a mason or glass jar in the fridge. The presence of eggs in lemon or orange curd makes it a perishable filling. So any item that has homemade lemon or orange curds such as cakes and pie needs to be placed in the fridge.
Avoid keeping fruit curd or citrus fillings in metal containers as it can react with the metal.
Egg yolks can react with the metal such as aluminum and cause it to become green in color.

Can I make this a sugar-free orange curd?

Yes, you can. Just replace the ½ cup sugar with either 1 tablespoon stevia or similar.
If you prefer, you can also substitute sugar with ¼ cup honey, or ⅓ cup agave syrup

How do I use orange curd?

This Orange curd can be eaten just out of the jar or as an ingredient in other recipes.

Spread it on breakfast toast, muffins, scones, trumpets.
Use it as a filling in cakes, cupcakes or macarons
Add it to empty shortcrust pastry shells for mini lemon tarts.
Spread it in a pie pan and top with meringue for an orange meringue pie.
Combine with cream cheese for a cream cheese lemon tart
Use it to make my 3 ingredients no-churn orange curd ice cream.

Orange curd in a spoon on a mason jar — Homemade Curd Filling with Oranges

More recipes with orange

A jar and spoon with curd filling and oranges — Homemade Curd Filling with Oranges

Frequently asked questions

What is a fruit curd?

To me, fruit curd is like a dessert on its own. I can eat it out of a jar with a spoon. It tastes delicious on its own! BUT, you can use it for many things from cake fillings, pie fillings, on breakfast toast, donuts, bagels. I love it as a filling such as in my lemon macaron with lemon buttercream too. Have you tried an orange cake with orange curd yet? Always a hit with people who love the orange flavor. I eat orange curd plain with crackers too!

Fruit filling vs. fruit curd

One must make sure they have all the necessary information to make it right.
A fruit filling is usually the easiest to make. It mostly involves a fruit, some sweetener, and starch, which come beautifully together into a thick gorgeous fruit filling. It looks and tastes beautiful when done right. As I shared with you in my Blueberry (Cake) Filling, cherry cake filling, or simple Strawberry (cake) Filling.
Fruit curd, on the other hand, requires a bit more tact because it involves a citrus fruit like lemon, lime, or orange, a few egg yolks, and emulsification with butter. Unlike a filling, you can't just put it all in a pan and cook it. You need to exercise a bit more caution. Again it's not difficult; it only requires caution.

How long will this orange curd keep?

If sealed and properly stored orange curd and be kept in the fridge for three months, however, once you have opened the jar do not keep the open jar for more than ten days to a maximum of 2 weeks. The curd on the surface will get slightly darker when exposed to air, but it is not a health concern.

Can I freeze orange curd?

Yes, lemon curd freezes well and can be kept for up to 1 year if stored properly. For best results, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or 24 hours before use.