Enjoy this lucious, berry-licious Paleo and Keto Strawberry Curd at the height of berry season! You’ll love it to add nourishing fats to breakfast, such as on pancakes, waffles, or crepes, or to make healthier keto desserts, tarts, mousse, and more!

Got questions about keto sweeteners?
I answer them in my FREE Guide to Alternative Sweetners! Download yours today!

Fruit curds are so much fun!

They really are…

I used to think that only citrus fruits — like lemon and lime — could be made into curd. And then, last Fall, I experimented with making cranberry curd. (BIG success, by the way — I turned it into this stunning Keto Cranberry Curd Tart!)

So, as soon as berries started popping up at my local health food store, I knew I had to give strawberry curd a shot!

The method I used is very similar to making cranberry curd… but then I ran into some problems! I simmered down strawberries with a bit of water, smashing them to release their juices. Then, I strained the “juice” from the “pulp”.

So far, so good.

But, when it was time to add the egg yolks — the classic curd ingredient — the color went from bright red to a sort of dull pink-brown. 🙁

I was so sad!

I also tasted the curd… and discovered that it wasn’t very strawberry-ish at all. 🙁

More sad!

Then I remembered! I had some freeze-dried strawberry powder in the pantry.

By adding the freeze-dried strawberry powder, I fixed the color problem (it was pink again!) and really pumped up the strawberry flavor — pretty important for a strawberry curd, don’t you think? 😉

Uses For Strawberry Curd:

I thought you’d never ask…

Think of curd like jam and spread it on your toast or bagel or on crepes. It’s amazeballs on pancakes or waffles.

Fold it into some heavy cream for a quick strawberry mousse.

Stir it into your plain yogurt for an addition of flavor and healthy fats.

If you like to make tarts, simply make a tart crust and bake it. Then fill it with strawberry curd for a no-bake tart/pie!

The same uses also apply to my amazing Fresh Keto Lemon Curd!

Is the strawberry powder absolutely necessary?

You know, I usually give a lot of leeway with my recipes. I frequently provide sweetener or fat or milk alternatives. I almost always tell you that an optional ingredient is just that — optional, even if I highly recommend it.

In this instance, however, I’m gonna say yes, the freeze-dried strawberries are absolutely necessary.

Fresh strawberries have such a delicate flavor. Unfortunately, that delicate flavor is almost lost when it’s blended with water, fat, and egg yolks.

By adding a boost of concentrated strawberry, you regain both the color and flavor of strawberry — and your end result is a luscious and light, berry-licious Paleo and Keto Strawberry Curd!

I’m Not Dairy-Free. What Fat Can I Use?

You lucky duck!

In the recipe, I call for sustainably sourced palm shortening. It’s the best dairy-free fat for making curds. 

Other dairy-free fats, like lard or tallow, have too strong of a flavor on their own and leave a funky aftertaste. (Trust me, I tried the first batch with lard, and my daughter immediately picked up on the lard flavor.)

Coconut oil is out, too, because it hardens too much when refrigerated. Which makes the curd hard.

True curd should be spreadable straight from the fridge. Hence, why I chose palm shortening.

But, if you’re not dairy-free, you can use butter or ghee in an equal amount! Yay!

By the way, true curd is made with butter anyway. 🙂

I’m Not Keto. What Whole Sweetener Can I Use?

See? Here’s where I give you that flexibility you know me so well for. 😉

For this recipe to be keto, you’ll have to use a keto-friendly sweetener, like my personal blend Dietz Sweet (erythritol + stevia) or Lakanto White (erythritol + monkfruit).

Just like traditional curd is made with butter, traditional curd is also made with sugar. So, if you’re comfortable with it, go ahead and use organic evaporated cane juice. 

Please don’t use a darker sweetener, such as maple sugar, jaggery, or coconut sugar, or you’ll lose that pink color.

If you’re totally opposed to evaporated cane juice, try using some raw honey. You may need to simmer the mixture longer to get it to thicken, but strawberries and honey are a great combo!

How To Make Paleo & Keto Strawberry Curd

Ok, now that we’ve got all the particulars out of the way, let’s make some Paleo and Keto Strawberry Curd!

Start with fresh or frozen strawberries and water in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat.

Use a wooden spoon or utensil of your choice to smash the berries as they soften. Simmer them for about 10 minutes.

Once they’re good and smashed, place a medium-size fine mesh sieve into a bowl (like cereal bowl size). Pour the strawberry mash into the sieve. Use a spoon to stir and press the juices out, leaving the strawberry “pulp” behind in the sieve.

You can eat the pulp or compost it, your choice.

Return the strawberry juice to the saucepan simmer it for another 10 minutes to reduce it.

While it simmers, separate 5 egg yolks. Store the whites in a separate container and use them for another dish.

After the strawberry juice has reduced, add palm shortening and sweetener. Whisk until the sweetener is dissolved.

Add egg yolks one at a time, whisking constantly so they don’t scramble. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens to coat the back of a spoon.

Finally, remove from the heat and whisk in salt, freeze-dried strawberries, and vanilla extract.

Transfer to a bowl or jar for storage. You can refrigerate it right away or eat it or put it in a pre-baked tart or pie crust.

Here’s the recipe for this berry-licious Paleo and Keto Strawberry Curd!

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Paleo & Keto Strawberry Curd (dairy-free & non-keto options!)

Enjoy this lucious, berry-licious Paleo and Keto Strawberry Curd at the height of berry season! You'll love it to add nourishing fats to breakfast, such as on pancakes, waffles, or crepes, or to make healthier keto desserts, tarts, mousse, and more!

Servings 2 cups

Ingredients

• 2-1/2cupshulled fresh strawberriesor frozen
• 1/4cupwater
• 6tablespoonspalm shortening
• 1/3cupLakantoor Dietz Sweet
• 5egg yolks
• pinchsalt
• 1/4cupfreeze-dried powdered strawberries
• 1teaspoonvanilla extract

Instructions

1. Start with fresh or frozen strawberries and water in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat.Use a wooden spoon or utensil of your choice to smash the berries as they soften.

2. Simmer about 10 minutes.

3. Once they're good and smashed, place a medium-size fine mesh sieve into a bowl (like cereal bowl size). Pour the strawberry mash into the sieve. 
4. Use a spoon to stir and press the juices out, leaving the strawberry "pulp" behind in the sieve.
5. Return the strawberry juice to the saucepan simmer it for another 10 minutes to reduce it.

6. While it simmers, separate 5 egg yolks.

7. After the strawberry juice has reduced, add palm shortening and sweetener. Whisk until the sweetener is dissolved.

8. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens to coat the back of a spoon.

9. Add egg yolks one at a time, whisking constantly so they don't scramble. 
10. Finally, remove from the heat and whisk in salt, freeze-dried strawberries, and vanilla extract.

11. Transfer to a bowl or jar for storage. You can refrigerate it right away or eat it or put it in a pre-baked tart or pie crust.

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More Nourishing Keto Summer Dessert Recipes You’ll Love…

• Fresh Paleo & Keto Lemon Curd
• Keto Swedish Cream (egg-free, nourishing, 6 ingredients)
• 3-Ingredient Healthy, Low-Carb Peach Slushie
• Keto Avocado Lemon Ice Cream with MCT Oil
• Instant Pot Strawberry Rhubarb Custard (stevia-sweetened)
• Keto Probiotic Berry Cheesecake Popsicles
• Old-Fashioned Keto Root Beer Float
• 3-Ingredient Keto Raspberry Lemon Popsicles
• Instant Pot Orange Creamsicle Dessert Cups
• Keto Probiotic Black-Bottom Raspberry No-Bake Cheesecake

Are you so excited for berry season?? Have you ever made strawberry curd?