If you’re looking for a perfect way to use up blackberries at their peak or just have frozen blackberries you want to use up, this blackberry curd is it. Smooth and sweet, but also tart and tangy, it sets beautifully and works well on everything from pancakes to crumpets.

If you love homemade curds as much as I do, be sure to try this reader favourite easy lemon curd and my favourite homemade passionfruit curd

A glass jar filled with blackberry curd, surrounded by blackberries and scones

What is curd?

Fruit curd is a mixture of butter, eggs, sugar and fruit juice or puree. The ingredients are mixed and heated until thick then left to set so it can be used as a sweet spread or filling.

Ingredients for blackberry curd

With just 5 simple ingredients, this luscious and vibrant curd takes less than 1/2 an hour to make and it’s so so simple.

Ingredients for blackberry curd on a marble background
Ingredients for blackberry curd
  • Blackberries (2): You can use fresh or frozen and each will give a different flavour depending on how ripe they are when picked. I almost always use frozen in this recipe so I can make it year round.
  • Eggs (1): You’ll just need 1 whole egg and 2 yolks
  • Butter (3): just a small amount gives it a classic buttery curd flavour.
  • Lemon juice (4): This adds tang and also helps the curd set.
  • Sugar (5): You can sweeten this curd to taste. I find 1/2 a cup the perfect amount to sweeten it but still leave the curd zingy.

How to make it

You’ll love how easy it is to make this berry-licious curd.

6 images showing the steps to making blackberry curd
  1. Start by heating blackberries (this makes them release their juices more easily) then blend them to a puree. Strain the puree (image 1) to separate the seeds and juice (image 2) and discard the seed portion.
  2. Simmer the puree until reduced and very thick (image 3).
  3. Add sugar, lemon juice and eggs and whisk together (image 4). Heat and stir to dissolve the sugar.
  4. Now start adding the butter a few pieces at a time (image 5), stirring and letting them melt before adding more.
  5. When it’s done it will thickly coat the back of a spoon and will hold a line that you draw in it with your finger (image 6).

Tips for making curd

  • Strain out seeds: If you’re using a fruit like blackberries, make sure to strain the seeds out of the puree first.
  • Concentrate the puree: I like to simmer the puree on it’s own for around 10 minutes until very thick. This removes excess water giving the curd a thicker end consistency.
  • Whisk immediately on adding the eggs: The mixture at this point will still be a little warm, so to prevent the eggs from scrambling whisk them straight away.
  • Don’t stop stirring: Once the puree is ready, the curd will only take 7-10 minutes to thicken and you must keep stirring throughout this time so the eggs don’t scramble.
  • Strain the curd: Once it’s all finished, press it through a strainer to make sure any lumps or stray seeds, or bits of cooked egg are removed.

A spoon hovering above a jar of blackberry curd

Uses for blackberry curd

  • In pies and tarts
  • Mixed through a no-bake cheesecake
  • Mixed with some whipped cream and cream cheese to make a dessert dip
  • Mixed through ice cream, to make blackberry swirl ice cream
  • On toast, crumpets, pancakes or scones (like below).
  • Stirred into your morning oatmeal or porridge
  • Or as the sauce on a dessert pizza. Just spread it on your baked pizza dough base, then top with fruits, cream and chocolate shavings.
Half a scone topped with cream and blackberry curd on a wooden board

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A glass jar filled with blackberry curd, surrounded by blackberries
4.7 from 17 ratings
This Homemade Blackberry Curd recipe is silky-smooth and incredibly delicious. Using fresh or frozen blackberries it's so quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen blackberries (approx 330g / 11.6oz) (notes)
  • 1 large whole egg
  • 2 egg yolks (from large eggs)
  • 57 g unsalted butter (¼ cup / ½ stick / 2oz)
  • 100 g caster sugar (½ cup / 3.5oz)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (notes 1)

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Heat the blackberries in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then blend to a puree in a blender.
  • Push the puree through a strainer until you have ¾ cup. Discard any seeds and pulp left behind.
  • In a small / medium heavy-based saucepan, heat the puree over low-medium heat until simmering. Stirring quite regularly, let it simmer and reduce until you have just over ⅓ cup of reduced puree. It will be very thick by this point. (notes 2)
  • In this order so the eggs don't scramble: Add the lemon juice and sugar to the puree in the saucepan and whisk to combine. Now add the egg and egg yolks and immediately whisk until full combined.
  • Switch to a spatula and heat over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar completely.
  • As soon as the sugar has dissolved, start stirring in the butter 2-3 cubes at a time waiting for them to completely melt in before adding the next.
  • After about 5-6 minutes all your butter will be added and the mixture will be thick enough to thickly coat the back of a spoon – run your finger through it and if the line holds, the curd is ready. If not, continue to heat and stir until thicker.
  • Strain into a bowl to remove any stray seeds, lumps or bits of egg that might have scrambled. Cover with plastic wrap and cool in the fridge until cold.

Notes

  1. I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (equal to 4 teaspoons).
  2. Yield: Approximately 1 cup – just shy of.
  3. Step 3 – reducing the puree: This step is important for concentrating the blackberry flavour and the resulting consistency of the curd.
  4. You can swap the butter for a vegetable based spread if you would like to make this curd dairy free.
  5. This curd will keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge, unopened. Once opened use within a week. It will also freeze well.
  6. To sterilise the jars, boil them in a saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes then set aside to drain, dry and cool. The second way is to wash the jars well with soapy water, rinse and then place them in an oven at 120C / 250F for 10 minutes. Let them cool.
  7. Nutrition details are approximate only and based on 1 tablespoon per serve – scroll below the recipe to find the full nutritional information.
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Have you tried this recipe?Don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Blackberry Curd
Amount Per Serving (33 g)
Calories 98 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 8mg0%
Potassium 70mg2%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 262IU5%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 18mg2%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.