40+ Lemon Desserts to Make ASAP

Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

These bright and fresh cookies get their tangy zest from the lemon in the frosting as well as the candied ginger on top.

Lemon Meringue Ice-Cream Pie Recipe

Homemade Lemon Curd delivers a burst of bright citrus flavor to this simple-to-fix lemon meringue pie, and--sweeter still--it can be made up to 2 weeks ahead!

Meyer Lemon Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake Recipe

As the sliced lemons bake under the cake and absorb butter and brown sugar, they take on a marmalade-like quality. Meyer lemons really shine in this dessert with their sweet, almost orange-like flavor.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Roulade Recipe

This lovely rolled take on the classic lemon-poppy seed combo is an ideal sweet finish to any springtime meal. Airier than a typical lemon poppyseed cakes, which tend to be quite dense, this roulade with a light and creamy lemon filling. This is a good recipe for first time roulade makers, as we found that this sponge cake rolls very easily with no cracking. And once chilled, the roulade cuts cleanly with no problem. If you want to go beyond a light dusting of powdered sugar to finish, you could also top this dessert off with a simple lemon glaze and toasted, sliced almonds.  

Lemon-Black Sesame Baked Doughnuts Recipe

If you need a break from rainbow-smattered sweets and unicorn-coated everything, these deliciously dark doughnuts are exactly what you’re looking for. A bright lemony glaze balances the warm toasty flavors delivered by black sesame seeds for a balanced, not-too-sweet doughnut. Being an oven-baked doughnut, this recipe is perfect for the first-time doughnut maker or anyone who’s not trying to spend their Saturday morning cleaning up a deep-fry station in their kitchen. We used black food dye to intensify the darkness of these doughnuts, but feel free to leave it out if you’d prefer. Beyond being an incredibly tasty way to boycott rainbow foods, these black sesame doughnuts are the perfect treat to whip out for Halloween. 

Lemon Meringue Tart Recipe

Of all the sweets Dolester Miles makes, this lemon dessert is her favorite. The marriage of a classic French tart and a Southern icebox pie, it showcases sweet and tangy lemon curd atop a cookie-like crust, all piled high with Swiss meringue.

The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake Recipe

This bright and festive cake would be a stunning addition to any dessert table.

Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars Recipe

Consider yourself warned: A crunch may look like a bar cookie, but you’ll need a fork to eat it. Similar to a crisp with baked fruit and a crumbly topping, a crunch sandwiches a layer of jammy fruit between two buttery layers. While other fruit desserts are on the syrupy side, this fruit is cooked down into a flavor-packed, thick preserve. The bottom layer should be firm enough not to crumble when a piece is cut from the pan, so adding toasted pecans to the mix improves the taste as well as the texture. The top layer can duplicate the bottom, or it can be a simple streusel topping made with flour, sugar, and butter.

Lemon and Vanilla Angel Food Cake Recipe

This delicate, cloudlike cake from Kristen Murray, pastry chef and owner of Maurice restaurant in Portland, is an adaptation of one from her great-aunt Crys, using rice flour for regular flour so the cake is gluten-free, with a little crunch. For best results, beat egg whites to very soft peaks so they (and the cake) can expand further in the oven.

Extreme Lemon and Chocolate Roulade Recipe

Lemon and chocolate are a lovely and lively pair in this roulade. If you prefer milder lemon flavor, you can omit the rind from the filling. Or, if you are a bold lemon lover (like me), don't strain the rind out of the filling--enjoy the tartness and texture it provides.

Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with Lavender Glaze Recipe

Tangy Lemon Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Classic lemon squares can contain 36g sugar per piece. We put a puckery cheesecake spin on ours--cutting sugar to just 6g per bar--which allows the bright citrus to shine.

Meyer Lemon Sponge Pudding Recipe

Lemon-Olive Oil Cake with Whipped Mascarpone Recipe

Lemon-Buttermilk Icebox Pie Recipe

A generous topping of blueberries lends a further tangy aspect to this already bright and flavorful icebox pie.

Gingersnap-Meyer Lemon Meringue Tart Recipe

With a gingersnap crust and lemon curd filling, every bit of this tart is bursting with flavor! If Meyer lemons are unavailable, substitute equal amounts of regular lemon juice and orange juice. Garnish with Meyer lemon slices. 

Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie Recipe

Pine Nut–Meyer Lemon Snowballs Recipe

Ok, so lemon verbena isn't a fruit--but it does add fruity flavor to this lovely dessert. Its floral aroma and taste soften the tang of the buttermilk

Pink Lemonade Rolls Recipe

This playful take on the classic orange roll makes for a perfect treat for Mother’s Day, a bridal brunch, baby showers, or the next time you wanna bring a little extra cheer to you weekend breakfast spread. A tender, buttery dough encases a sticky lemon filling and is then glazed with a bright pink lemonade glaze. This sweet-tart glaze, which we make using powdered pink lemonade mix, is also a great way to spruce up a bundt cake, pound cake, muffins, or scones. We opted for Country Time brand lemonade mix, which you can find on the beverage aisle of your favorite supermarket. 

Lemon Lush Recipe

Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

Deep Eddy Blueberry Lemon Drop Pop Recipe

These adult ice pops are the perfect refreshing summer treat. We made ours using Deep Eddy vodka as we find it to be exceptionally vibrant in flavor, but feel free to use your own favorite brand of flavored vodka. Raspberries would also be a delicious fruit to highlight in these bright and boozy pops. 

Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones Recipe

Aimee Olexy's lemony, cream-based scones are light, moist and laced with pieces of chewy candied ginger.

Quick and Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

We changed the mixing method of our favorite lemon curd, then cooked it in the microwave. The results? Buttery rich and smooth as silk, every time.

Candied Meyer Lemons Recipe

Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet Pâtisserie in San Francisco uses these citrus slices as a garnish, both the way they are here (on the softer side, halfway between candied and poached) and one step further (dried overnight on a rack, then turned in sugar for a sparkly look). Sometimes he adds cut-up lemongrass to the syrup.

Meyer Lemon Panna Cotta Recipe

Meyer lemon--a lemon/orange ­hybrid--is sweeter than conventional lemon. If you don't have access to Meyer lemons, you can use a regular lemon and enjoy a dessert that's a bit more tart.

Lemon Cupcakes with Lavender Frosting Recipe

No time to make the frosting? Simply top the cupcakes with sweetened whipped cream. Find dried lavender buds or tea in spice stores, high-end markets, or amazon.com. Use food coloring to dye the frosting pale purple, if desired.

Lemon Meltaways Recipe

You'll use just a tad less than two sticks of butter to make these delicate little gems.

Meyer Lemon Curd Tart Recipe

Use the broiler to get that perfect golden meringue.

Lemon Curd Pound Cake Recipe

Wait to prepare the Lemon Curd Glaze until the cake comes out of the oven so it will still be warm when spread over the cake.

Lemon Curd with Berries Recipe

In this custard, citrus juice stands in for milk as the base liquid, thickened by egg yolks. Butter gives the curd a glorious sheen. Garnish with mint leaves for a spot of green color.

Lemon-Lime Pound Cake Recipe

This recipe is based on a classic Southern favorite called 7UP Pound Cake, which was created in the 1950s when the soda company suggested using its soft drink instead of other liquid in pound cake recipes. The result: one of the best, and simplest, cakes you'll ever make.

Butter-Crunch Lemon Bars Recipe

A buttery, crunchy pastry crust forms the base for a tangy lemon filling. You can substitute fresh orange juice and grated orange rind for lemon, if you wish. These are best served chilled.

Lemon-Blueberry Snack Cake Recipe

This cake is a winner. One reviewer says, "The cake is very moist and the lemon flavor really comes through."

Lemon-Coconut Angel Food Cake Recipe

Citrus lovers will enjoy the bright flavors in each bite of Lemon-Coconut Angel Food Cake thanks to the fresh lemon juice and zest in the cake, orange liqueur in the sauce, and candied lemons as the garnish.

Gingery Lemon Curd Sundae Recipe

Satisfy your sweet craving with a Gingery Lemon Curd Sundae. By switchng from traditional ice cream to nonfat frozen Greek yogurt, you save more than enough calories to add toppings on your FroYo, such as prepared lemon curd and gingersnaps.

Limoncello Freeze Recipe

Mush together purchased ice cream, lemon curd (found near the jellies and jams), and limoncello, and you get a delicious lemony version of a Creamsicle—fruit-tangy and creamy-milky at the same time. Meringue cookies add welcome crunch.

Cold Lemon Soufflés with Wine Sauce Recipe

Soufflés have always been an expression of elegant entertaining, but this one is chilled and held in place with a bit of gelatin, which means the hostess doesn’t have to rush the quivering creation to the table before it collapses. A Sterling Collection is a compilation of favorite recipes gleaned from a number of cookbooks produced by the Memphis Junior League chapter. This soufflé also appeared in an anthology of best Junior League recipes in the country, so it’s a keeper for sure.

Lemon Bar Cheesecake Recipe

This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust on this tart dessert recipe without having to bake before adding the filling.

Lemon Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Nobody will know you used boxed cake mix and Cool Whip for these irresistible, buttery cookies. These were a hit in our test kitchen, especially with their soft texture and crisp bottoms.

Nathan's Lemon Cake Recipe

This is a namesake because Nathan Coulon's mom baked it for his birthday every year. We've adapted this lemon cake recipe to trim the fat and calories, and it's still a moist, lemony treat.

Ginger-Lemon Sandwich Cookies  Recipe

Lemon, molasses, and ginger are an unexpected, but unbeatable combination in these simple sandwich cookies. The cookie itself is delicious on its own, but then the tart lemon curd brings out the best in the molasses and warm spices. The higher quality lemon curd you use, the better the sandwiches will be, but you can also make your own. This batch is easy to make and only look fancy, making them a perfect addition to a cookie swap.