Lemon Filling (No Eggs)

by Dorothy Reinhold on July 27, 2021


Print This Post Print This Post Lemon filling is dolloped onto a white bowl of blackberries

Lemon Filling is a sweet, tangy, zesty spread for toast, cookies, cake or just to eat with a spoon! Use it as a cake filling, or stir into some whipped cream as a dip or frosting. 

Lemon filling is so, so good, and it just solves the problem of how to make something special and delicious out of a plain cookie or cake or a piece of toast or bowl of oatmeal. If it’s in the fridge, though, and there are clean spoons in the drawer, I’m all for just standing there and spooning it out into my mouth. It’s THAT GOOD!

Closeup of Lemon Filling in a jar with a spoon on ShockinglyDelicious.com

What’s the difference between lemon filling and lemon curd?

Wait, though, isn’t this lemon filling like lemon curd? Yes, they can be used interchangeably and for the same general purposes, but this lemon filling has no egg, so ends up having a much cleaner flavor than lemon curd. Lemon filling is also thickened with cornstarch, and lemon curd is thickened with egg and egg yolks. Curd also usually has much more butter, so overall curd has a richer mouthfeel. And if you are allergic to or avoiding eggs, lemon filling is the way to go.

How to make Lemon Filling

Ingredients for Lemon Filling Recipe on a white marble counter on ShockinglyDelicious.comFirst, assemble your ingredients. For this recipe, we’ll use

  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Turmeric (this is optional, but it will enhance the color a bit without adding any noticeable flavor)
  • Water
  • Lemon zest (I use a microplane to easily remove the zest from the lemon)
  • Lemon juice
  • Butter (it’s better with it, but it can be left out if you need to)
  • Please note, in the picture above, I am showing a regular lemon (the larger one) AND a Meyer lemon (the smaller, rounder one). You may use either, so use what you have.

You’ll stir the ingredients together in a small saucepan, boil for a minute, and then cool.

Silver spoon covered in lemon filling shows lemon zest, against a white marble counter backgroundThe visible lemon zest in this is one of my favorite parts! Also, let me address the dark specks: I store spent vanilla beans in the canister with my granulated sugar always, so there are often specks from the vanilla beans in the sugar. It’s all part of the charm, to me. 

2 jars of lemon filling with a spoon dipping into the front jar, on a white marble counterOnce cool, pour it into small jars and store in the refrigerator.

2 jars of lemon filling on a white marble counter. The jar in the foreground has its lid off and spoon resting in the lidI’m a bit of a jar hoarder, so I always have little jars sitting around waiting to be repurposed.

What to do with Lemon Filling

Lemon Filling spread thickly on Toast on a white plate with silverware behind it–On toast of course, as if it were jam

Lemon Filling on an English muffin on a Sound of Music plate on a white marble counter –On English muffins. Do you like my cute Sound of Music plate? It makes eating breakfast more fun.
–On berries, as I show in the main photo

Lemon Filling on top of a white bowl of oatmeal on a white marble counter on ShockinglyDelicious.com–On oatmeal. It looks a bit chunky in this photo because I took it straight from the fridge and stirred it up.
–On cookies
–On pound cake or angel food cake, or use it as a filling between layers on a layer cake
–Stir some into whipped cream and use as a dip for strawberries, or to frost a cake
–Use it to fill a cupcake or a donut
–Triple the recipe (use 2/3 cup of water for each recipe instead of 3/4 cup so it is just a bit firmer) and use it for the filling for a lemon meringue pie

Ready? Let’s make Lemon Filling! It will only take a couple of minutes. 

Lemon Filling (No Eggs)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Slightly more than 1 cup

Lemon Filling (No Eggs)

Lemon Filling is a sweet, tangy, zesty spread for toast, cookies, cake or just to eat with a spoon! Use it as cake, cupcake or donut filling. Stir some into whipped cream as a dip for strawberries, or to frost a cake.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon or a tiny pinch turmeric (optional; to enhance color)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • Zest from 1 big lemon (zest the lemon before you juice it)
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter (optional; it will be fine without it if you don't want to use)

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, add sugar, cornstarch, salt and turmeric (if using). Add water, stir and heat on medium until it comes to a boil, stirring frequently. As it nears a boil, you will notice it thickening up. Once it boils, continue boiling for 1 minute. This fully activates the cornstarch.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the zest, lemon juice and butter (if using). Using the butter gives it a smoother and more refined taste, but you can leave it out if you don't want to use it.
  3. Allow to cool completely, pour into a clean small jar, label it and store in the refrigerator.
  4. Makes a little more than 1 cup.

Notes

Recipe source: Adapted from a family recipe from the Reinhold archives.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/lemon-filling/

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Lemon Filling on toast on a white plate with words superimposed on top

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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

Amy (Savory Moments) September 5, 2021 at 4:19 am

I love lemon so much and would use this in so many ways.

Reply

Radha September 4, 2021 at 9:38 am

Love the eggless lemon filling! Sounds and looks delicious.

Reply

Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng September 3, 2021 at 1:29 pm

Well I like lemon curd to I know this will be good!

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Jessica Formicola August 1, 2021 at 8:45 am

I could eat this lemon filling by the spoonful! It is the perfect summer treat!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold August 1, 2021 at 10:54 am

Jessica,
You CAN, and I predict you WILL!

Reply

Sandra July 30, 2021 at 6:46 pm

I can’t wait to make it again!! Great way to enjoy those lemons!

Reply

Simply Inspired Meals July 30, 2021 at 12:26 pm

I love all things lemon, looks delicious.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 30, 2021 at 2:11 pm

Simply,
We lemon lovers are in a big club!

Reply

Cathy July 30, 2021 at 9:00 am

Can’t wait to try this version!

Reply

Amanda Livesay July 29, 2021 at 8:58 pm

So simple and so delicious!

Reply

Beth July 29, 2021 at 9:16 am

This sounds so delicious and yummy! I’m allergic to eggs, so this is perfect for me. I can’t wait to give this a try!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 29, 2021 at 5:41 pm

Beth,
Then it is right up your alley!

Reply

Lisa Kerhin July 29, 2021 at 6:59 am

I cannot wait to make this!

Reply

Catalina July 29, 2021 at 6:54 am

Such an easy and fresh dessert! I love the lemon flavor!

Reply

Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert July 29, 2021 at 3:35 am

This Lemon Filling couldn’t look any more perfect!

Reply

Terri Steffes July 29, 2021 at 1:07 am

I am so glad you noted eating it with a spoon because I am pretty certain this what would happen to me.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 29, 2021 at 5:42 pm

Terri,
Come stand next to me and we’ll eat it while standing at the sink gazing out the window!

Reply

Hanelore July 29, 2021 at 1:00 am

I can smell the citrus flavour from over here. I will be adding this topping to everything I bake from now on!

Reply

Rebecca July 28, 2021 at 11:30 pm

This lemon filling is so sweet and so tangy! It wasn’t too much flavor or anything. I tried it on some homemade bread, I can’t wait to try it with ice cream or cookies, or anything else really!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 29, 2021 at 5:42 pm

Rebecca,
So happy you liked it!

Reply

Jolene July 28, 2021 at 7:56 pm

I love anything lemon and the fact that this is eggless is awesome!

Reply

Hezzi-D July 28, 2021 at 5:57 pm

This sounds amazing and I’m always sticking vanilla beans into ssugar!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 29, 2021 at 5:43 pm

Heather,
Yeah, I pretty much have to hunt for the sugar between the vanilla beans.

Reply

Cindy July 28, 2021 at 5:22 pm

I could spread this on everything!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 29, 2021 at 5:43 pm

Cindy,
You can, and I predict you WILL!

Reply

Krystle July 28, 2021 at 5:07 pm

This is just divine and full of lemon flavor. We love it on English muffins best.

Reply

Karen July 28, 2021 at 3:42 pm

So much easier than curd! Love the color!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold July 28, 2021 at 5:12 pm

Karen,
You’re right. It cooks much, much quicker than curd, and you don’t have to make sure it hits a certain temp. When it’s thick, it’s done!

Reply

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