53 Lemon Desserts to Brighten Your Day
Citrus may be at its peak in winter, but lemon desserts can brighten any season, including the rainiest days of spring. And while lemon bars might come to mind as the optimal way to use up a haul of fragrant lemons—especially after you’ve preserved some of the fruit for savory cooking—you have tons of other options for capturing the bright flavor of this kitchen staple. Below you’ll find easy lemon cakes (both upside down and right side up), tangy, silky cheesecakes, lofty lemon meringue pies, creamy ice pops, buttery cookies, and more. Scroll down to find all of our favorite lemon dessert recipes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/53Lemon Curd
This classic lemon curd recipe calls for nothing other than lemons, eggs, sugar and butter. The curd keeps in the fridge for a week, so you can dollop it on scones, in yogurt, or between layers of meringue.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks3/53Easy Fruit Tart With Pecan Cookie Crust
This gorgeous dessert has a nutty tart shell inspired by pecan sandies and a lemon curd–spiked whipped cream filling. The fresh fruit topping can be as simple or complex as you like; simply sprinkle berries on top for an easy finishing touch or arrange strawberry or mango slices in a rose-like pattern to create a stunning presentation.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi7/53Torta Della Nonna al Limone
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh, Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/53Lemon Meringue Pie
A sharp lemon filling, sweet-and-salty meringue, and shatteringly crisp crust combine to make a balanced update to this classic.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott11/53Lemon-Pistachio Loaf
This vegan cake has a delicate crumb—it's perfect for an Easter brunch or an any-afternoon snack.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell12/53Lemon Curd Tart With Olive Oil
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Linden Elstran, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/53Lemon Icebox Pie
This old-fashioned lemon ice box pie recipe is based on the one served at Clancy's, a neighborhood restaurant in New Orleans. The pie filling is made with sweetened condensed milk, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest, and it sports a classic graham cracker crust with melted butter.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens16/53Herb-Infused Lemon-Strawberry Loaf
Fresh herbs—like rosemary, thyme, or fresh bay leaves—help this cake recipe stand out from the pack. They give the dessert a floral flavor that beautifully complements the strawberry and lemon.
Photo by Alex Lau25/53Semolina–Lemon Syrup Cakes
These slightly chewy almond-enriched lemon cakes win weeknight desserts, afternoon snacks, and weekend picnics.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova28/53Frozen Boozy Arnold Palmer
Transform the classic iced tea–lemonade combo into a refreshing frozen cocktail-slash-dessert for summer backyard parties, barbecues, or just a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell32/53Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Everyone loves lemon bars, and now your gluten-free friends can enjoy them, too. These easy bar cookies are best after a day of chilling—so you'll want to plan accordingly.
Photo by Alex Lau38/53Campari Affogato With Lemon Sorbet
Store-bought sorbet feels special when you pair it with bittersweet Campari in this citrusy spin on the classic vanilla-and-espresso dessert.
Mary McCartney41/53Linda's Lemon Drizzle Cake
Back away from the cake mix—this easy lemon loaf isn't fussy at all. The lemon syrup poured over the freshly baked cake seeps down into the sponge for extra flavor and moisture. A scoop of lemon ice cream would be a nice addition, but it's definitely not required; there's plenty of lemon flavor here.
42/53Lemon Buttermilk Cake
A bundt cake always feels festive—this classic buttermilk and lemon combo also feels fresh. No bundt pan on hand? You can also make this into cupcakes.
Photo by Dayna Smith48/53Lemon Blossom Cupcakes
These lemon cupcakes are perfect for a baby shower, an outdoor brunch, or selling at a bake sale.
Lara Ferroni51/53Lemon Pudding with Strawberries and Meringue Cigars
A seriously tart lemon curd—quickly cooked on top of the stove—is folded into sweetened whipped cream, which both tempers the tang and lightens the dessert with a suave silkiness. Crisp, airy wisps of meringue, lightly sprinkled with chopped pistachios and easily shaped and baked into cigars, are delightful on their own, but they're surprisingly efficient alternatives to spoons for delivering the pudding to your mouth. If you haven't found your Easter dessert yet, this is the one.
Photo by Rebecca Bent53/53Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemony Frosting
Spicy gingerbread gets brightened up by a vegan lemon–cream cheese frosting in this recipe from cookbook authors Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. Taste these, and you'll be assured that the best lemon desserts don't require dairy or eggs.
