This post may contain affiliate links, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using these links. We appreciate your support!
This easy apple curd recipe is a sweet, creamy fruit spread perfect for topping off oatmeal, spreading on toast or incorporating into desserts. Learn how to make apple curd with simple ingredients here! Egg-free, gluten-free, with a vegan option.
🍏 What is Apple Curd?
Apple curd is a thick, creamy, sweet fruit spread made with apples, spices and a thickening agent such as eggs or starch. Apple curd is one of the more comforting fruit curds you can make.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Super easy to make.
Creamy and comforting.
Rich, decadent and flavorful.
Numerous uses and ways to enjoy.
Gluten-free, vegetarian, nut-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free, with vegan and dairy-free options.
🍰 What to Do with Apple Curd?
Spread on baked goods like scones, muffins, quick breads and pastries.
Incorporate into pie fillings (apple pie, anyone?), tart fillings or cake fillings.
Apples: I love to use green tart apples like Granny Smith apples, but nearly any variety of apple will do the trick! Honeycrisp apples and Pink Lady apples are other favorites of mine.
Cinnamon: What are apples without a touch of cinnamon? If you really do not like ground cinnamon, however, you can omit it.
Nutmeg: I find a touch of nutmeg in combination with the cinnamon really takes this apple curd recipe to a whole other level. It adds some warmth and some natural sweetness all of its own and is my secret ingredient.
Apple cider vinegar: While lemon juice is the most common acid you’ll find in a fruit curd recipe, I actually find I prefer the use of apple cider vinegar in an apple curd recipe in particular. It just works and work really well. However, if you do not want to use or do not have any, any vinegar or citrus juice will work well for the acid component.
Sugar: I love to use refined sugar-free coconut sugar in this recipe, but regular white sugar or dark brown sugar will work excellently, as will liquid sweeteners like maple syrup or honey. Feel free to experiment and use a favorite sweetener of your own!
Tapioca starch: This is the component that will add some thickening power to this curd recipe. You can easily replace the tapioca starch with corn starch, potato starch, arrowroot powder — essentially any starch you have on hand. You can omit, but the curd will be slightly thinner (but will still work thanks to the natural fruit pectin in apples!).
Vanilla: A good dose of vanilla extract does a great job of taking this homemade apple curd to the next level. It adds warmth and comfort to this apple curd. You can also use vanilla bean powder, or omit it altogether if you do not have any on hand.
Butter: Butter makes this apple curd extra creamy and adds that heavenly butter undertone that is rich, comforting and really greatly complements the other components in this dish. Both unsalted butter and salted butter work, though I’m partial to the salted variety. If you are vegan or dairy-free, you can use plant-based butter or coconut oil. You can omit the butter component, but the curd will be slightly tangier, as the butter softens the sharper notes in this recipe.
Kristen is a writer, photographer, recipe developer, and certified functional nutrition expert. She is also the author of Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook, Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications including Elle, NBC, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, MSN, New York Daily News, Healthline, and many more. Kristen is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.
This is my new favorite apple curd recipe! Turned out really delicious and super tasty! Perfect for any gatherings! Will surely have this again! Thanks a bunch for sharing!
I was planning to use this for desserts but you mentioned using it as a spread and this was heaven on a piece of toast with butter. I’ll have to keep a jar on hand!
Excellent post
I love this apple curd. It is an amazing topping for my overnight oats or SGreek yogurt.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Made this for oatmeal and it was soooo good. Love that bit of acidity!
My kids loved your apple curd! Next time I’m making a bigger batch for sure and freeze it for laters. Great recipe, thank you.
I made this apple curd on Sunday and have been enjoying all week. I don’t think I will be able to eat my oatmeal any other way. Delicious.
I just love that this curd has texture! It felt so substantial and yummy
I love this apple curd recipe. so tasty! thanks for sharing it!
This is so good! Really creamy and full of apple flavor. I put it on a muffin and was in delish heaven!
This is my new favorite apple curd recipe! Turned out really delicious and super tasty! Perfect for any gatherings! Will surely have this again! Thanks a bunch for sharing!
This apple curd is delicious! I use it on top of my overnight oats and it gives it such a comfort feel.
I was planning to use this for desserts but you mentioned using it as a spread and this was heaven on a piece of toast with butter. I’ll have to keep a jar on hand!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Oooh this apple curd sounds fantastic for pairing with oatmeal. I love all those spices and how easily everything comes together.
This apple curd is amazing on oatmeal and we also loved this on waffles! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
We love curds and I was intrigued by your apple curd! Love that it uses coconut sugar instead of white sugar. We used it in our oatmeal, drool!!!
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. It’s full of such great flavor and will definitely go perfect with my morning Oatmeal.
I’ve had apple butter before but this apple curd is amazing. The flavor is so rich and I put it on my oatmeal and it was fantastic!
Oooooo…. I have never heard of apple curd before, but I love apple butter so I know I would love this also. Totally trying this soon. 🙂
I cant wait to try this I am a huge fan of apple and made lemon curd many times this is brilliant!
This apple curd looks delish! I can literally spread it on any thing. Glad that I can easily freeze the leftover for a couple of months.
I got loads of apples in my veg box, so this is a perfect way to use them up.
Really good! Not too sweet and brilliant texture! ONe of our favourite things for breakfast toast! Thank for the recipe!
I love this on toast!