Raspberry Curd

Raspberry curd is a fun, unique alternative to lemon curd - fantastic with afternoon tea! - but it isn’t quite as straightforward as lemon curd.

Raspberries need different handling, and they also have a lower acid level than lemon juice does.

You need enough acid to react with the proteins in the egg yolks, to ensure a nice, thick product. Without that, you end up with a runny curd.

Generally speaking, raspberry curd means either accepting a runnier curd, or supplementing the raspberries with some lemon juice.

Two problems:

1. The bright berry flavor of our raspberry curd is diluted with the flavour from the lemon.

2. The acid that the lemon juice brings is diluted with the raspberry pulp ... so it still doesn't set up quite as thick as lemon curd.

A while back, I was working on something completely unrelated, and had a bit of an epiphany: What if - instead of supplementing fruit curds with lemon juice - I brought in additional acid in the form of citric acid?

... and it worked perfectly, even that first time!

The bright flavors of the raspberries took center stage from the very first batch, with a thick, velvety smooth texture.

I went through LOTS of eggs, immediately following that epiphany, LOL.

Anyway, this is still a super easy recipe to make - much like traditional lemon curd.

Like lemon curd, this raspberry curd recipe also requires some specifics with regards to ingredients, equipment, and technique... so let's get to it!

Uses for Raspberry Curd

Beyond a “just eat it with a spoon, straight from the jar”, there are many, many different uses for raspberry curd!

Here are a few ideas for you:

- Delicious curds are an absolute must for the breakfast table, or as part of an English tea. Spread it on toast, Biscuits, English muffins, scones, pound cake, etc. Spoon it over waffles or pancakes (especially good when topped with berries!)

- As a filling for baked goods. Fill Macarons, Cream Puffs or Profiteroles, pre-baked tart shells, or layered cakes* with raspberry curd. It also makes a great macaron filling.

- Raspberry curd is also a delicious filling for Butterfly Cupcakes, either instead of or in addition to frosting. When “in addition to”, I’ll spoon some curd in the cavity, then pipe frosting over it.

- One of my favorite ways to serve raspberry curd is as a topping for Pavlova. I like to do the layer of whipped cream, then the curd, and finally the fruit topping. You can even mix some into the whipped cream to flavour it. Alternately, it’s great as an offering on a Pavlova Dessert Board.

- Spoon it over vanilla ice cream, Cheesecake, or crepes.

- We like to drizzle it over yogurt that’s been topped with my Porter’s Yogurt and Ice Cream Topping.

- You can also make layered parfaits with curd and yogurt, or curd and cottage cheese.

* When using raspberry curd as a cake filling, it’s best to pipe a ring of frosting around the outer perimeter of the layer being filled, then fill the inside of that border with the curd.

This gives some stability to the filling layer, and will prevent the curd from oozing out.

Tips for Making Raspberry Curd

Raspberry Curd Ingredients

Most of the ingredients are super simple: Raspberries, sugar, eggs, and unsalted butter.

You can use fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries for this. When using fresh berries... the riper, the better - riper berries are sweeter, with a wonderful flavor.

Use basic white granulated sugar for the best taste.

Also, for the best shelf life, use nice fresh eggs.

I use egg yolks, rather than whole eggs. As far as the extra egg whites go, I like to use them for making Swiss Meringue Buttercream, Meringue Cookies or Pavlova.

And - conversely - I use the extra egg yolks from making any of those, to make curd.

One last ingredient, the one that’s key to making a great raspberry curd?

Citric acid.

We initially started buying citric acid for use with our Homebrewed Ciders and Wines (along with Acid Blend), but over the years, we've been using it a lot more in our kitchen.

You can find it used in such things like my replica Beep Drink, as part of the fun rim on my Fuzzy Peach Candy Cocktail, and as part of my Wine Slush Mix - always a favourite for gifting!

Citric acid is the “secret” ingredient to providing enough acid for the curd to set up, without diluting the flavour of the curd.
Finally - as an optional ingredient - I like to use a little food coloring. This curd can turn out pretty pale, sometimes I like giving it a little bit more “oomph” in the colour department!

Note: I didn't add colour this time, as I wanted to differentiate it from a few other curds I was making at the time!

Raspberry Curd Equipment

You don’t need a ton of equipment to make curd, but each piece you do need is important. Here’s the rundown:

Mini Food Processor

I run the berries through my Mini Food Processor before getting started.

Fine Mesh Wire Strainer

Before cooking the raspberry curd, you’ll want to press them through a Fine Mesh Strainer.

Using a fine-mesh strainer gets all the bits of seeds out of the raspberry pulp, allowing for a nice smooth final product.

I tend to stir/scrape the mixture against the fine-mesh sieve, with a silicone spatula.

Heavy Bottomed Pot OR Double Boiler

Personally, I prefer using a heavy bottomed pot and cook this over direct heat, but a double boiler is the traditional way to do this... more on that in a bit!

A Silicone Whisk

Yes, wire whisks are great in general... but they can react with the acid in your raspberry curd, and make it taste metallic.

I like to avoid that whole thing, and just use a silicone whisk. (For that matter, it’s also best to use a non-reactive saucepan, for the same reason!)

When making curd, I use the smallest whisk in my Set of 3 Silicone Whisks.

I just find that the smaller one is best to keep everything moving, prevent clumps, and ensure a .smooth silky feel to the finished curd.

That said, any brand of silicone whisk should do just fine.

A Thermometer

For both proper thickening AND food safety reasons, I like to use a thermometer when making fruit curds.

You can use any thermometer that will accurate read a temperature of 165 F.

Personally, I like to use a Infrared Cooking Thermometer. It's quick, easy, and no-mess!

Cooking Technique

While you’re “supposed” to cook this over a double boiler - and I did in the photos - I’ll be honest... I never do.

I like to cook my raspberry curd over low, direct heat. I whisk it constantly, and it’s ready in just minutes - so much less fussy.

If you’re not cooking it over higher heat and you keep an eye on it / keep whisking, you’re going to end up with a smooth curd, no clumps of egg bits.

I like to use a heavy bottomed pot, for the best heat distribution.

You’ll find that when you start out, there will be a lot of foaming. As you approach the right temperature, that foaming will subside - that’s when you should really start keeping an eye on the temperature, to avoid overcooking it.

Finally, just know that the curd will thicken more as it cools, so don’t be so worried if it’s not as thick as you’d like.

If you followed the recipe, did the spoon trick (more on that later), and your curd reached 165F, it’ll thicken!

How Long Does Raspberry Curd Last?

Depending on who you ask, homemade raspberry curd will last up to a month or two in the fridge. (ALWAYS refrigerate your curd!)

Personally, I find it’s best to use it up within 2 weeks, for the best flavour. Just keep it in an airtight container - I’ll usually use a mason jar.

If the container has a lot of head space after putting the curd in, I like to press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the curd. This helps prevent a skin from forming on it.

Can I Freeze Raspberry Curd?

Yes! It’ll keep for about 6 months in the freezer, and you can freeze it right in a canning jar.

Freeze your curd as fresh as possible - ie, don’t wait til it’s about to go bad.

When you want to use it, let it defrost in the fridge for a day or two before use.

Once the raspberry curd is thawed, you’ll want to use it within a week or two.

How to Make Raspberry Curd

The full recipe follows - in the recipe card at the end of this post - but let's start with a pictorial overview:

In a small food processor, blitz together raspberries and water.

Press raspberry pulp through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the solids (seeds) left behind. Set the fruit puree aside.

In a small pot, whisk together egg yolks, large egg, and sugar until well combined.

Cook over medium-low heat (medium heat if you’re brave!), whisking constantly, until mixture thickens.

It should be able to coat the back of a spoon and retain a clear trail when a finger is dragged across the back of the spoon.

Ideally, you want the mixture to reach 165F - I use a surface thermometer for this.

Once the raspberry mixture is thick / hot enough, transfer to a small bowl - you’ll want a heatproof bowl for this. Add the pieces of room temperature butter, whisking until well incorporated.

Once all of the butter has melted in and been fully incorporated into the curd, tint red with food colouring, if desired (We didn't, hence the pale colour!)

Transfer raspberry curd to your storage container and chill for at least 1 hour before use.

More Fruit Curd Recipes

Looking for more fun fruit curd recipes to dress up your breakfasts, brunches, or desserts? I've got you covered!

Blackcurrant Curd
Blueberry Curd
Cranberry Curd
Grape Curd
Grapefruit Curd
Kiwi Curd
Lemon Curd
Lime Curd
Mango Curd
Orange Curd
Passionfruit Curd

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