Grapefruit Curd: Homemade Citrus Curd Recipe (2024)

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Grapefruit curd is delicious, easy to make, and a wonderful way to use up citrus. Learn how to make and use this homemade grapefruit curd recipe and use it for tarts, pavlova, cakes, and other desserts!

Grapefruit Curd: Homemade Citrus Curd Recipe (1)

Citrus Curd to Brighten Winter Days

It’s winter time, and you know what that means. It’s citrus season!

We are lucky enough to have friends and family in the southern part of the country who send us homegrown citrus during the winter, which is always an exciting package to get!

Bright, fresh citrus can really make a dreary winter day more bearable.

Recently we got a bunch of super juicy grapefruits, and while I’m perfectly happy eating a half of one every day with my breakfast, I wanted to do something a little different with them this time.

After looking up a bunch of different recipes, I settled on grapefruit curd!

If you didn’t know already, a fruit curd is a spread that you would use in a similar way as jelly or jam. It is most often made with citrus as the fruit component, and also contains sugar, egg yolks and butter.

It is creamy and delicious, sweet yet tart. I absolutely love it! The best part is that it’s fairly simple to make.

You can also make this recipe with any type of citrus juice, it doesn’t have to be grapefruit. Lemon curd is probably the most common version.

Related: 12 Ways to Preserve Citrus: Drying, Canning, Fementing and more!

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Grapefruit Curd Recipe

Here I’ll show you how to make grapefruit curd, which is made just like lemon curd, but with grapefruit instead.

This recipe is adapted from 101 Cookbook’s Ginger Grapefruit Curd Recipe. I left the ginger out of this one, but feel free to add it if you’d like!

The day you’re going to make this curd, try to remember to pull the butter and eggs out of the fridge to let sit at room temp for a few hours. It’s not essential, but it will make everything blend a little better.

Zest and Juice the Grapefruit

The first step is to zest the grapefruit. A Microplane makes the job so much easier. I don’t know what I ever did without mine!

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Then juice the grapefruits, enough to make 1 cup of juice. Mine were really juicy so I only needed to use two.

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Make the Grapefruit Curd

Simmer the grapefruit juice down to ½ cup.

If you don’t have time for this step it is ok to skip it and and just start with 1/2 cup of juice from the beginning, but I think doing it makes for a much more flavorful curd.

Cream together the butter and sugar in a metal bowl. You will be making a double boiler with this bowl, so use one that will fit on top of a saucepan.

Add in the egg yolks and eggs, one at a time, stirring to combine each one. A whisk helps.

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Stir in the grapefruit zest and pinch of salt, and slowly add in the grapefruit juice and lemon juice, stirring as you go.

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Heat the Grapefruit Curd in a Double Boiler

Put a couple of inches of water into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Place your metal bowl on top of the saucepan for a makeshift double boiler.

Stir the curd constantly, as you don’t want the eggs to scramble.

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After about ten minutes, the curd should start to thicken up. Once it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, it’s done. It will thicken even more as it cools.

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Jar the Grapefruit Curd

Pour into a pint jar, or two half pints, and refrigerate. It will keep for about two weeks in the fridge.

Now you have lovely grapefruit curd!

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This is such a treat to have. It makes a great gift, as well!

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This grapefruit curd has such an amazing grapefruit flavor!

If you are a big fan of grapefruit you will love this, I promise.

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I’ve been eating it on sourdough toast every morning… sometimes even twice a day. It’s that good!

It’s also delicious slathered on a scone or biscuit. The perfect treat!

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This is a great way to use up any excess citrus you might have. Lime would be wonderful, as would Meyer lemon or orange.

Citrus curd is so simple to make and so tasty!

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It doesn’t take much time to make, and it will make you feel a little more fancy when you eat it.

Time to have a tea party with scones and grapefruit curd!

More Citrus Recipes

Love citrus fruit? Then you’ll love these zesty recipes!

  • Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
  • Rosemary Champagne co*cktail with Blood Orange

Grapefruit Curd: Homemade Citrus Curd Recipe (14)

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4.89 from 9 votes

Grapefruit Curd

Grapefruit curd is delicious, easy to make, and a wonderful way to use up citrus. Learn how to make and use this homemade grapefruit curd recipe and use it for tarts, pavlova, cakes, and other desserts!

Course Condiment

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 94kcal

Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 2 Tbsp fresh grapefruit zest
  • 5 Tbsp softened butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 egg yolks at room temperature
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • pinch salt
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Zest the grapefruit using a microplane, then juice the grapefruits until you have one cup of juice.

  • Simmer the grapefruit juice over medium heat until reduced by half.

  • Cream the butter and sugar in a metal bowl. Add in the egg yolks and eggs one at a time, whisking after each one.

  • Stir in the zest and pinch of salt, then slowly add in the grapefruit juice and lemon juice, stirring as you go.

  • Fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Place the metal bowl on top of the saucepan for a makeshift double boiler. Stir the curd constantly so it doesn't curdle.

  • Continue to heat the curd and stir frequently for about ten minutes. It should thicken as it cooks.

  • Once it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, it's done. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Pour into a pint jar and refrigerate.It will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • You may substitute lemons, limes, or oranges for the grapefruit.
  • The day you’re going to make this curd, try to remember to pull the butter and eggs out of the fridge to let sit at room temp for a few hours.
  • This recipe is adapted from 101 Cookbook’s Ginger Grapefruit Curd Recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 94kcal

Grapefruit Curd: Homemade Citrus Curd Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is citrus fruit normally the fruit juice used in curd? ›

A strong acid, like lemon juice, will lower the pH and 'denature' the proteins, causing them to unfurl and relink, creating a gel. This is why curds made with less acidic citrus juices, like grapefruit and orange, have a much softer set.

What can I do with excess grapefruit? ›

Enjoy its bright complexity raw in salads, smoothies, and sorbet, or try broiling or baking grapefruit with fish or meat. Don't overlook the potential of grapefruit in desserts, and do not miss its punch in co*cktails and spritzes.

Is there citrus in curd? ›

The answer is that it depends on the formulation of the product. Most natural cottage cheeses, (curds and whey is called 'cottage cheese' in the US) does not contain any citrus.

Why is my homemade lemon curd runny? ›

If your lemon curd hasn't thickened, it may not have been heated enough. It can take up to 30 minutes of constant stirring to cook lemon curd, especially if it's a large batch. Remember that curd will thicken more once cooled. If your cooled curd is not thick enough, you can reheat it to thicken.

Does grapefruit juice curdle milk? ›

The acidity of the citrus will cause curdling of the milk in the stomach and make it harder to digest. Most juice will cause milk to separate and agglutinate, making it hard to absorb and digest.

Which fruit is best with curd? ›

Take fruits like banana, strawberry, mango, chikku and other such fruits in a blender and add a cupful of thick curd. Add sugar and ice if desired.

Why should you not eat grapefruit everyday? ›

It particularly affects certain anti-cholesterol statin drugs, as well as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and even allergies. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can cause too much or too little of a drug to stay in the body.

When should you not eat grapefruit? ›

Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems (interact) with: Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine).

Does grapefruit cleanse the kidneys? ›

Consuming grapefruit may reduce your risk of developing kidney stones, which result from a buildup of waste materials in the kidneys. These waste materials are products of metabolism that are typically filtered through the kidneys and removed from the body in urine.

Does lemon react with curd? ›

the answer is yes! you should never consume lemon water after having curd or milk. it will cause a great pain in stomach. it can also causes acidity which will cause future problems to your body.

How long does citrus curd last in the fridge? ›

Store the curd: Lemon curd will keep in your refrigerator for up to a month according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 1 year. To thaw, transfer your curd from the freezer to the fridge 24 hours before you need it.

What makes a curd a curd? ›

The basic ingredients are beaten egg yolks, sugar, fruit juice, and zest, which are gently cooked together until thick and then allowed to cool, forming a soft, smooth, flavourful spread. Curd has a thicker texture similar to custard. 'Lemon Curd' is originally English in origin dating back to the early 1800's.

How do you know when curd is done? ›

Pro tips for making this recipe

You'll know the curd is ready when it noticeably thickens in consistency and coats the back of a wooden spoon.

Why does my lemon curd taste eggy? ›

If you just place all the ingredients in a saucepan without beating the butter and sugar with the eggs first, the curd tends to taste eggy.

Why is my lemon curd bitter? ›

Prep The Lemons Correctly

Don't use a cheese grater to extract the lemon zest, as it will cause the pith to get discarded from the lemon. The pith has a bitter and unpleasant taste, which could cause a negative change in flavour in your lemon curd.

Why is lemon juice in yogurt? ›

The protein molecules, mainly casein, repel each other so they naturally distribute evenly through the liquid. When the pH is lowered (adding lemon juice) the protein molecules stop repelling each other. This allows them to stick together or coagulate into the clumps known as curds.

Why is lemon juice concentrate added to yogurt? ›

We find lemon juice concentrate balances the sweetness from the fruit, as well as the tartness of the yogurt.

Why is citric acid added to fruit juice? ›

Citric acid is frequently used as a food additive to provide acidity and sour taste to foods and beverages. Citrate salts of various metals are used to deliver minerals in biologically-available forms; examples include dietary supplements and medications.

Which citrus fruit is often used for making juice? ›

Lemons: Lemons are tart citrus fruits that are high in vitamin C and potassium. They can be used in many different types of recipes, such as dressings, sauces, and drinks, or can be squeezed over foods for added flavour.

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