By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
255 cal · 15 min
Cold Lemon Curd with Simple Syrup
Recipe GLPRdc0fe342260305
A refreshing two-ingredient summer dessert made with fresh lemon juice and a delicate sugar syrup. This bright, tangy treat is perfect chilled on its own or served over vanilla ice cream. The balance of sweet and sour creates an elegant, palate-cleansing dessert that captures the essence of summer citrus.
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Ingredients
8 whole lemons
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (8 ounces)
1 cup water
1 cup water, chilled
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Cut lemons in half and juice them thoroughly, straining out seeds and pulp. You should have approximately 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of water with the granulated sugar and kosher salt. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves, about 3–4 minutes. Do not boil; the syrup should be clear and warm.
Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sugar syrup cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
Pour the cooled syrup into a bowl or pitcher and stir in the fresh lemon juice until well combined.
Add the 1 cup of chilled water to the lemon-syrup mixture and stir until evenly blended.
Divide the dessert among four serving glasses or bowls and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours, or until ready to serve. Stir gently before serving.
Comments
This is a dessert that needs a hard look at its timing claim. Lemon curd requires tempering egg yolks over heat (not stated in your ingredient list), then chilling to thicken, which realistically takes 45 minutes to an hour once you account for prep and cooling—far longer than 15 minutes. At roughly 50 cents per serving, the cost is honest, and lemons, sugar, and water are always in stock at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, ALDI, and Kroger. The catch: this is a make-ahead dessert that does not suit a weeknight pinch, and without eggs or butter listed, the recipe as written appears incomplete.
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