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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.
A dd 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
What is apple curd?
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!
How do you thicken fruit curd?
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!
How do I store this fruit curd?
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.
How should I serve apple curd?
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.
