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Dip, Cake Filling, Pancake Topping – Homemade Strawberry Curd Does It All!

Homemade strawberry curd is my latest favorite creation. Because yum!

Easy Homemade Strawberry Curd - this recipe is great as a cake filling, pancake or crepe topping, or just as a fruit dip. You can even use it over ice cream. Ready in just over 30 minutes, this is a great treat to bring to a party or serve as an appetizer with fruit.

I’m a curd girl. I love lemon curd, and I shared my favorite pineapple curd, but now that it’s strawberry season, I’m working on some fun strawberry recipes, and you know strawberry curd was going to be up there. It’s such a versatile item, and I am using it in a ton of different ways – if only to give myself excuses to “have” to make more of it.

Jar of homemade strawberry curd

I started out making it because I wanted to make a strawberry lemonade cake for a charity cake auction I was donating to, and a strawberry curd filling seemed perfect for me. (Spoiler alert: The woman who won my cake called me to tell me how amazing it was. And yes, I promise to post that recipe soon.)

Use strawberry curd as a filling for strawberry lemonade cake

It isn’t just a cake filling, however. This is been put on pancakes (and crepes), used as an ice cream topping, mixed into homemade lemonade, and used as a fruit dip. Personally, I like it just by itself as a dip, but you can also mix it with some yogurt or marshmallow fluff – the homemade kind, of course – to give it a slightly different flavor and texture before dipping to your heart’s content.

Homemade strawberry curd dipped with strawberries

And though I made this with fresh strawberries because it is strawberry season right now, I’ve also made this with frozen strawberries, and it works just as well that way, so don’t let the season stop you. Who couldn’t use just a little bit of summer in February?

Fresh strawberry on the vine

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Curd

Enjoy a summer treat for picnics with homemade strawberry curd

Fortunately, this is an easy recipe. Start with a pound of fresh, hulled strawberries (or frozen strawberries) and place them in a heavy saucepan. Add two tablespoons of water and the sugar, and turn the heat to medium. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Stir periodically for five to ten minutes, until the strawberries have softened.

Heat ingredients for strawberry curd

Remove the pot from the heat. If you have an immersion blender, use it to blend the softened strawberries. If you do not have an immersion blender, use a mesh strainer and scoop the strawberries into the strainer while holding it over your pot (I’m all about not making more dirty dishes than necessary) and use the same spoon to push the strawberries through the strainer as much as possible, returning the strawberry pulp to the pot once you’ve squeezed out all the juice you can.

Press strawberries through a steel mesh strainer

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until light and fluffy. While whisking the strawberry mixture, slowly pour in the eggs to avoid scrambling them. Whisk until the eggs are thoroughly incorporated.

Add eggs to homemade strawberry curd strawberry curd

Add your cornstarch to a teaspoon of very cold water and use a fork to combine the two into a thick mixture. Pour it into the almost strawberry curd while whisking, then turn the heat back on to medium and continue to stir for ten or so minutes, until your mixture has thickened somewhat.

Add butter and whisk strawberry curd until incorporated

Add the butter and whisk until it is melted and incorporated. Remove from the heat and continue stirring for another two to three minutes. Pour into your clean jars immediately and seal. Store in the fridge for up to a month and use as directed. Allergy tip: This works great with coconut oil in place of the butter to make your strawberry curd both gluten free and dairy free!

Enjoy homemade strawberry curd as a dip

 

Homemade Strawberry Curd

Quick and easy dessert that you can use in so many ways. Strawberry curd makes a great cake filling, used to top pancakes/toast/waffles/crepes, or even over ice cream! Naturally gluten-free is just a bonus. You can use coconut oil in place of butter to make it dairy-free, as well (tested).
4.69 from 32 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 70kcal
Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries fresh hulled or frozen
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Place strawberries in a heavy saucepan with 2 tablespoons water and the sugar. Turn the heat to medium and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Stir periodically for five to ten minutes, until the strawberries have softened.
    1 pound strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar
  • Remove the pot from the heat. Blend strawberries and return to the pot.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until light and fluffy. While whisking the strawberry mixture, slowly pour in the eggs to avoid scrambling them. Whisk until the eggs are thoroughly incorporated.
    2 eggs
  • Add cornstarch to a teaspoon of very cold water and use a fork to combine. Pour the mixture into the pot while whisking, then turn the heat back on to medium and continue to stir for ten or so minutes, until your mixture has thickened somewhat.
    1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Chop butter into pieces and add to the strawberry curd. Whisk until the butter is melted and incorporated. Remove from the heat and continue stirring for another two to three minutes. Pour into clean jars immediately and seal. Store in the fridge for up to a month and use as directed.
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Notes

  • Fresh strawberries are perfect for this curd, but frozen strawberries work just as well, so don't hesitate to use them year-round.
  • For more tips and tricks, be sure to read the full article above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 cup | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g

This site uses an online source to provide nutrition estimates as a courtesy. If you need exact values, please calculate yourself.

Have you ever had strawberry curd? How would you use it?

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  1. […] many wonderful options from the strawberry goat cheese pizza I started making several years ago to strawberry curd to s’mores stuffed strawberries and more. The wee ones’ new favorite though has to be […]

  2. Sandy says:

    I made the strawberry curd as filling for Taiyaki (Japanese fish-shaped cake). The curd was a delicious additional filling than the usual red bean paste or custard. Will try with your lemon, pineapple, or mango curd recipe next time.

  3. Amelia says:

    Once this has been added as a filling between cake layers, should the cake remain refigerated until just before consumption?

    • Michelle says:

      I definitely would! I tend to make my cakes just before serving them, so I don’t tend to run into this issue often, but I would keep the strawberry curd refrigerated if it is part of a cake without question!

  4. […] or are running low on eggs, use 4 whole eggs instead of the 8 egg white. I happened to have made strawberry curd the day before and already had a stockpile of egg whites, so you could choose to go in the reverse. […]

  5. SHELLIE says:

    I love the color of the strawberry curd. It looks like it will be amazing on tea buiscuts.

    • Michelle says:

      Thanks, Shellie! It’s amazing the colors natural foods can bring, and it was SO delicious on so many goodies. I am making biscuits tomorrow, and definitely that’s where the last little bit remaining will go!

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