A few weeks ago, we had a brunch with some friends and lemon curd was on the table.
Lemon curd is so delicious, but it’s so not vegan-friendly. So I set off to make my own inspired version.
This 1-pot, 5-ingredient vegan lemon curd is like the real deal, and it’s delicious enough to eat right from the jar with a spoon – the sign of any good dessert.
It’s also naturally sweetened and requires just 30 minutes hands-on prep time before going into the refrigerator to set and thicken.
The key to any good lemon curd is a ton of lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.
The creative part came with the base ingredients. And for that I went with coconut cream for rich, creamy texture, and arrowroot starch to thicken. To sweeten naturally, I went with a little maple syrup. Oh man, so good.
I imagine this would work well with lime juice and zest, too!
This curd is the real deal. It is slightly more white in color because there are no eggs, but the lemon flavor is 100% there.
I hope you love this curd! It’s:
Rich
Creamy
Thick
Lemony
Tart
Perfectly sweet
& Seriously delicious
I was so pleasantly surprised at the way this curd turned out! The coconut flavor is minimal (to none), the lemon really shines through, and it’s not too sweet.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to enjoy this straight out of the jar, pudding style. But it also makes a delicious topping for waffles, pancakes and baked goods, like these Lemon Muffins!
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We love seeing what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
Vegan Lemon Curd
EASY vegan lemon curd with just 5 ingredients and 1 pot required! Creamy, perfectly tart, naturally sweetened! Enjoy straight from the jar, or add to waffles, pancakes, and baked goods! Print SAVE SAVED
from votes Prep Time 5 hours 30 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 5 hours 40 minutes Servings 36 (1-Tbsp servings)Course Dessert, SpreadCuisine Gluten-Free, VeganFreezer Friendly NoDoes it keep? 7-10 Days
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Ingredients
US Customary – Metric1 14-ounce can coconut cream*2 Tbsp lemon zest1/2 cup lemon juice2 Tbsp arrowroot starch1-2 Tbsp maple syrup (plus more to taste)
Instructions
Place coconut cream and lemon zest in a small saucepan and whisk to combine.Add lemon juice and arrowroot starch to a small mixing bowl and whisk to thoroughly dissolve. Then add to coconut cream mixture and stir.Lastly, add maple syrup (starting with lesser amount // 1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and whisk again until well combined.Place saucepan over medium heat and bring to a low bubble – not boil – whisking often. Once it starts bubbling and getting thick, reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until a visible ribbon forms when spooning a bit of the curd across the top. It should be thick and kind of jiggly in texture. During this process switch to a rubber spatula for stirring to ensure the curd isn’t sticking to the bottom or sides of the pan.Remove from heat and taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon zest for acidity/brightness, or maple syrup for sweetness.Let rest for 15 minutes, then whisk once more and transfer to a glass bowl or jar (I prefer these) and cover with plastic wrap, making sure the plastic wrap touches the curd – otherwise a film may form.Refrigerate for 5-6 hours, or overnight, or until completely chilled and set. Will keep in the refrigerator 7-10 days, though best within the first 4-5 days.This is so delicious you can eat it straight, but it makes an especially delicious topping for muffins, pancakes, waffles and other baked goods.
Notes
*Our current preferred brand is Savoy Coconut Cream. While we used to recommend Trader Joe’s coconut cream, the formula has changed and we find it is no longer reliable. You can also try subbing full-fat coconut milk, but it will likely not be as thick and creamy. Try adding more arrowroot starch to help thicken.
*For all other substitution questions, check out our Recipe FAQ page.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Nutrition (1 of 36 servings)
Serving: 1 one-Tbsp servings Calories: 30 Carbohydrates: 1.4 g Protein: 0.3 g Fat: 2.8 g Saturated Fat: 2.5 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 2 mg Sugar: 0.8 g