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    Homepage » Recipes

    Lemon Curd & Fresh Cream Napoleons

    Posted: Mar 29, 2018 · Updated: Dec 14, 2021 ·This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    lemon curd napoleons
    puff pastry recipe idea for spring or summer using lemon curd and whipped cream

    Lemon Curd Napoleons are an easy and simple dessert. Filled with deliciously tangy lemon curd and freshly whipped cream, they are a treat the whole family will enjoy.

    A lemon cream napoleon sitting on a dainty, white dessert plate with embossed edges, and a pair of lemons on a napkin nearby
    Table of Contents show
    1 Lemon Curd Napoleons: An Easy & Simple Lemon Dessert
    2 Lemon Curd Napoleons

    Lemon Curd Napoleons: An Easy & Simple Lemon Dessert

    Do you ever get a hankering for something and it just won't let up? For the past week I've literally been dreaming about lemon curd. That sweet, tart, sticky deliciousness just wouldn't leave my mind. So I whipped up a batch one afternoon and then needed to figure out how to use it.

    Being too lazy to go to a store, I rummaged through my freezer and fridge and came up with some frozen puff pastry and whipped cream. And so, these lemon curd & fresh cream napoleons were born! This dessert is a great way to use up excess lemons. It's full of vibrant, zesty flavor and it's perfect for a spring or summertime party or event.

    If you have extra lemons and want to make a sweet treat, these lemon curd napoleons with puff pastry and freshly whipped cream are simple to make

    One of my favorite pastries from at home in Ireland is what we call a cream (or custard) slice. They are essentially a napoleon - layers of flaky puff pastry, fresh cream and either jam or custard with a basic icing on top. So delicious!

    Since lemon curd was the ingredient I needed to work with, I omitted the jam or custard in favor of a layer of lemon goodness. Paired with the fresh cream, it is the perfect spring dessert!

    layers of puff pastry filled with cream and lemon curd

    The icing on top is simply made my mixing confectioner's sugar with a few drops of milk. It couldn't be easier! And while I'm usually a huge advocate for making your own pastry and crusts, puff pastry is the exception since it's a HUGE process to make. Store bought is so much easier :-) One package of frozen pastry made 4 of these lemon curd Napoleons, but you could make them smaller to stretch the pastry further.

    I've still got some lemon curd left over so I'll be sharing another simple spring dessert with you next week - Lemon Curd Tartlets. Yum!

    More Lemon Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Raspberry Lemon Sorbet
    • How to Make Homemade Lemon Curd
    • No-Bake Lemon Mousse Cheesecake
    • Lemon Raspberry No Bake Cheesecake

    Looking for more? Follow me on social media for lots more home decor, DIY & recipe content!

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    If you have extra lemons and want to make a sweet treat, these lemon curd napoleons with puff pastry and freshly whipped cream are simple to make

    Lemon Curd Napoleons

    Jenna Shaughnessy
    A delicious summer pastry filled with homemade lemon curd and freshly whipped cream
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Refrigerate 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 27 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3
    Calories 1705 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For The Lemon Curd

    • 6 egg yolks
    • 1 ¼ cups sugar
    • 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter cold, cut into pieces
    • ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest finely grated

    For The Napoleons

    • ½ cup whipped cream
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 package frozen puff pastry
    • ½ cup confectioner's sugar for the glaze
    • 1 -4 teaspoons milk for the glaze

    Instructions
     

    To Make The Lemon Curd

    • Combine yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar in a small saucepan. Whisk to combine. 
    • Cook over low to medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure to stir sides and bottom of pan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat back of wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
    • Remove saucepan from heat. Add butter, one piece at a time, stirring with the wooden spoon until consistency is thick and smooth.
    • Transfer mixture to a bowl. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd to avoid a skin from forming; wrap tightly. 
    • Refrigerate until firm and chilled, at least 1 hour.

    To Assemble the Napoleons

    • Bake the puff pastry according to the package instructions. Be sure to prick the sheet of pastry with a fork so that it doesn't puff up too much. They will bake for approximately 10 - 12 minutes.
    • Add sugar to the whipped cream and whisk until peaks begin to form. 
    • Once pastry has been removed from oven and allowed to cool, cut into equal size rectangles. 
    • Each napoleon will require 3 rectangles. Place the bottom one down, and spread with some of the lemon curd. Place another layer of pastry on top, then spread with the cream. Finally, put the last layer on top.
    • Mix the confectioner's sugar with a few drops of milk until you reach a glaze consistency. You want it to be easily spreadable but not so runny that it runs off the top of the pastry. Glaze each napoleon and allow to chill in the fridge until the glaze has hardened.

    Notes

    Using a heavy bottom pan and constantly stirring will help avoid the lemon curd curdling and creating scrambled eggs! Do not be tempted to raise the heat above a medium temperature. Slow and steady is the way to go!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1705kcalCarbohydrates: 192gProtein: 13gFat: 111gSaturated Fat: 46gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 48gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 416mgPotassium: 198mgFiber: 3gSugar: 95gVitamin A: 1516IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 4mg
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    Comments

    1. Stine Mari

      April 05, 2018 at 5:35 am

      These sound amazing! Yay to your 'laziness'. I am more lazy the other way around, I'd rather go to the store because I can't be bothered with thawing and I have always forgotten what's hiding at the bottom of my freezer... And I totally agree, puff pastry is the only exception when it's okay to buy and not bake yourself. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

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