Apple Curd Recipe
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Learn how to make this sweet and rich spread with fresh apples and no dairy! Ready in just 30 minutes, homemade apple curd tastes delicious on oatmeal, toast, pancakes, and more. You will want to slather this sweet curd on just about everything!
While the fall and winter months are technically apple season, our family is eating apples all year round! I often will have extra apples in our fridge, and while applesauce is always a go-to recipe, sometimes I like to change things up and make something more versatile and a little more decadent!
That’s where this easy apple curd comes in! It’s simple yet bursting with apple flavor. It’s similar to apple butter but silky and rich. It’s a great way enjoy all my excess apples!
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I spread it onto everything I can because frankly, it’s just that good! Vegan apple curd tastes great on pancakes, muffins, toast, scones, waffles, biscuits, oatmeal, and yogurt. Or use it as an apple curd filling in a vanilla layer cake – the possibilities are endless!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Dairy-Free, Vegan, & Gluten-Free!
- Perfect way to use all those extra apples
- Kid-friendly & healthy too!
- Tastes like apple pie in a jar
- Makes a delicious cake filling!
- So easy & quick to make
- Use whatever apples you have on hand
- No egg yolks or dairy needed
🥘 Ingredients
This easy recipe requires just seven simple ingredients!
- Apples: Feel free to use any type of apple with curd! I like to use a variety of sweet and tart apples. Just remember the curd will taste sweeter if you use sweet apples like fuji, gala, or ambrosia apples. I used honey crisp and pink lady apples.
- Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice accentuates the natural sweetness of the apples. A good lemon will feel heavy for its size with a bright yellow color. Feel free to add some lemon zest too!
- Water: Water softens the apples, so they don’t burn as they cook. For an extra sweet fruit curd, use apple juice instead (keep in mind, this will increase the sugar content in the recipe).
- Ground Cinnamon: Apples and cinnamon are a match made in heaven!
- Maple Syrup: Sugar, dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey are great options! I like the flavor and nutrient boost from pure maple syrup.
- Cornflour: Cornflour is another term for cornstarch. This secret ingredient acts as a thickener and omits the need for beaten eggs! Just be sure to combine it with water before adding it to the apple flavored curd. This creates a slurry and reduces the risk of lumps.
- Vegan Butter: If you’re not vegan, regular unsalted butter works too. There’s no need to melt it. Cold butter melts easily once it’s added to the warm curd.
📖 Variations
- Apple And Cinnamon Curd: If you can’t get enough cinnamon flavor, double the amount of cinnamon.
- Apple Lemon Curd: For a more pronounced lemon flavor, increase the lemon juice to 1/4 cup and the maple syrup to 3 tablespoons. Pure lemon curd is always made with fresh lemon juice, because it tastes much better than the bottle!
- Try Different Apples: Use granny smith apples! Increase the maple syrup to 1/4 cup since granny smith apples are so tart!
- Toffee Apple Curd Recipe: Increase the maple syrup to 1/4 cup, vegan butter to 2 tablespoons, and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Spices: Warm spices are the perfect addition for a spiced apple curd! Pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice are good options.
- Make Dessert: Blind bake puff pastry cups in the center rack of the oven, then top with pure apple curd and enjoy!
🔪 Instructions
Here’s how to make this easy apple curd recipe! You don’t need a double broiler, special equipment, or lots of time!
Prep Apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples. An apple peeler comes in handy here because it does all three at once! Combine Apples: Add the chopped apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water to a large pot.
Simmer Apples: Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce to low heat, cover with a lid, and cook until the apples soften – about 15 minutes. Be sure to stir occasionally so the apple mixture doesn’t burn.
Blend: Remove the pot from the heat and carefully transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Strain Apple Puree: Pour the apple mixture into a sieve. Use a spoon to press the apple purée through the sieve. Feel free to skip this step for a chunkier curd.
Return To Pot: Return the apple puree to the pot and heat over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk the cornflour with two tablespoons of cold water. This will prevent it from forming lumps once it’s added to the curd.
Add Cornflour (or cornstarch): Once the puree comes to a boil, add the cornflour mixture and whisk until smooth. Reduce the heat and cook until thickened.
Add Butter: Remove the pot from the heat and allow the apple curd mixture to cool a little bit before stirring in the vegan butter.
Store: Let it cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
❓ Recipe FAQs
This dish is a rich, fruit curd made from cooked apples, lemon juice, sugar, butter, and eggs. In this vegan version, I use corn starch to thicken the fruit puree instead of eggs, and vegan butter to add richness!
Typically eggs are used to thicken fruit curd, but a cornstarch slurry can be used as well. The natural fruit pectin in the apples thickens the mixture too!
Store this vegan curd in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I like to use a mason jar with a lid. For longer storage, transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost the curd in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
This side dish can be served as a spread for toast, english muffins, spooned over ice cream, pancakes, oatmeal, cake, puff pastry, or waffles, served in a tart shell, and spread on quick-breads!
💭 Expert Tips
- Any type of apple works for this vegan recipe! Sweet, red apples produce a sweet curd, while tart apples produce a tangy one.
- If you like it extra sweet, add more maple syrup to taste!
- If you don’t mind some leftover chunks, an immersion blender can puree the mixture too.
- The sweetness of this healthy apple curd is a great addition to a charcuterie board! Serve it in a small bowl alongside a variety of cheeses. You can also use it to fill thumbprint cookies or mini hand pies.
- Since this curd has vegan butter in it, it’s not suitable for home canning.
🍎 More Delicious Apple Recipes!
- Instant Pot Apple Sauce With Cinnamon
- Healthy Vegan Apple Pancakes (Gluten Free!)
- Healthy Gluten Free Apple Cake
- Healthy Apple Muffins Recipe with Cinnamon
📋 Recipe Card
Easy Apple Curd Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 apples
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1½ tbsp corn starch or cornflour
- 2 tsp vegan butter
Equipment
Instructions
- Peel, core and dice the apples.
- Add the apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water to a pot.
- Stir and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat over with a lid and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring throughout this time, until the apples are soft.
- Remove from the heat and blend in a high speed blender until smooth.
- Pass the apple puree through a sieve to make a smooth curd, alternatively skip this step for a slightly more textured curd.
- Return the apple puree to the pot and heat over a medium heat.
- In a small bowl mix the cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water.
- When the puree has started to boil, add the cornflour and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat and cook for a further 2 minutes until thickened, continue to whisk to prevent any lumps.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before stirring through the vegan butter.
- Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Use your favorite type of apple, red apples will provide a slightly sweeter curd whereas a green apple will provide a slightly sour taste.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste by adding more maple syrup if desired.
- Step 5 can be skipped if you’re wanting a slightly textured curd.
- Apple curd can be served with pancakes, spread on toast or even mixed through your morning bowl of oatmeal or porridge.
A great way to use all those extra apples. Making a batch soon!
Definitely! You will love this recipe Vidya!
I love the consistency of this curd. It is exactly how I like mine – turned out great!
Thanks so much Mahy! So glad you liked it!
This is so easy to eat with a spoon. Also great on top of ice cream.
Totally!!
What a great idea! This apple curd has so many uses too. Perfect for porridge!
Thanks so much Amanda! It really is delicious stirred into porridge!