Description
Italian Lemon Spread Delight is a luscious and tangy lemon curd made with fresh lemon juice, egg yolks, sugar, butter, and a hint of vanilla. This versatile spread offers a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, making it ideal as a topping for toast, pastries, or as a filling for desserts. Quick to prepare and rich in flavor, it’s a delightful addition to your breakfast or dessert repertoire.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace. Gather a mixing bowl, whisk, and saucepan to have all tools ready for making the lemon spread.
- Juice the lemons. Squeeze enough lemons to yield one cup of fresh lemon juice, ensuring no seeds get into the juice.
- Whisk sugar and egg yolks. In the mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and egg yolks until the mixture becomes pale in color and thick in texture.
- Add lemon juice gradually. Slowly pour in the fresh lemon juice while continuously whisking to combine the ingredients smoothly without curdling.
- Cook the mixture. Transfer the combined mixture to a saucepan set over low heat. Stir constantly and gently until the mixture thickens, which should take about 10 minutes. This slow cooking ensures a creamy, smooth texture without scrambling the eggs.
- Add butter and vanilla. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the softened unsalted butter and pure vanilla extract until fully incorporated and the spread is smooth.
- Cool and store. Allow the lemon spread to cool to room temperature before transferring it into jars for storage. Keep refrigerated and use within a week for best freshness.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor and brightness.
- Constant stirring during cooking prevents the eggs from scrambling and ensures a smooth curd.
- Softened butter should be at room temperature to blend in nicely.
- Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- This spread pairs wonderfully with toast, scones, pancakes, or as a cake filling.
- For a thicker consistency, cook a little longer but watch carefully to avoid curdling.
