10 Lemon Dessert Recipes

Lemon is the quintessential fruit of summer. It has a sharp tang of sunshine and color that lifts the soul. Here are 10 lemon dessert recipes that everyone will love

Lemon is the quintessential fruit of summer. It has a sharp tang of sunshine and color that lifts the soul.

 When you bake with lemon, it’s best to use fresh whenever you can. And no matter what the internet says, the type of lemon does matter. Meyers lemons are not the same as your run of the mill lemon, and lemon juice just isn’t as good as fresh squeezed.  To celebrate the official turn of the season from a windy and rather stormy spring into what will inevitably be a very hot summer, here are ten lemon dessert recipes that are sure to please even your toughest lemon critic.

Lemon Dessert Recipes

#1 Lemon-Buttermilk Tart: This tart is really more of a creamy pie, and it is literally shouting to be the main dessert at our Fourth of July Barbecue this year! It is creamy, tart, and has a hint of sweetness that makes it really refreshing.

You have to blind bake the crust (if you haven’t seen them do this on The Great British Baking Show-you’re missing out) in order to get the crust to bake completely. Make sure to have a good tin (this fluted one is awesome), some parchment paper, and dried beans for the blind bake. You can use this super cool tool to make sure you don’t burn your crust! You could add some fresh berries and whipped cream to round out this dish and mellow the flavor (or trick your unsuspecting husband into trying something yummy-ha ha!) 

#2 Lemon Crinkle Cookies: These are a great classic cookie. My kids love them because they are covered in powdered sugar (hence the crinkle look) and I love them because of their delicious flavor. It’s pretty much as close as you can get to eating sunshine and a great alternative to the classic chocolate chip cookie. 

                                                              Lemon Cake Dessert Recipes

#3 Pistachio-Lemon Bundt Cake: I can’t see a good bundt recipe without reliving that scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding scene where the cute Greek family doesn’t know what a bundt is and finally responds with “Oh! It’s a cake!”

Bundt cake is my favorite version of cake because it is soft inside and kind of crunchy/crispy on the outside. This cake is moist and has a delightfully nutty taste thanks to the processed pistachios and the lemon gives it a lift.

#4 Duke’s Lemon Drop Sheet Cake: While we are on the topic of cake, sheet cakes are amazing when it comes to feeding a large group. It has a creamy and scrumptious cream cheese frosting and is garnished with some lemon drop candies. You could get a little more festive by adding some raspberry glaze to the mix, but this dessert also stands perfect by itself.

#5 Lemon Crème Brûlée: If you’re in the mood to get a little fancy, this is the dessert for you! Lemon pairs so perfectly with the creaminess of the custard. If you’ve never tried your hand at Crème Brûlée, you’ve got to take the dive and do it! You need a good culinary torch and some white ramekins and you’re in business! 

#6 Lavender and Honey Soaked Lemon Cake: This is a cake that throws back to the days of afternoon tea and lace dresses. The antique flavors of honey, lemon, and lavender will transport you back in time and delight your tastebuds. It uses culinary lavender, but I don’t know why you couldn’t just grow your own. This is a dessert that is not only a feast for the tastebuds, but for the eyes and nose as well.

#7 Lemon Meringue Pie Bites: If you have a hankering for lemon meringue pie, but don’t want to go through all that effort-these are the perfect compromise! Not to mention they are great for parties and barbecues because of their bite size nature. The meringue comes together easy and you can either purchase lemon curd or try out Ina Garten’s. Either way, this is a summer win!

#8 Lemon Curd Mousse: This is a fantastic dessert for a fancy brunch or shower! It’s also a really good excuse to purchase these cute glasses from World Market. The mousse is light and airy and you can put it on top of lemon curd or switch things up and try a different flavor! I love that lemon is so versatile and pairs really well with raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, and lime.

#9 Coconut Lemon Bars with Marshmallow Frosting: Okay, so lemons were made to pair with coconut and marshmallow. The tangy sweetness of the lemons mellows really nice with the coconut and the marshmallow frosting? I may or may not have eaten it right out of the bowl. These are a win.

#10 Lemon Tea Cookies: These are a kid classic. I have really vivid memories of my grandma making these and keeping them in a metal tin that we would sneak out into the backyard. They get rolled in powdered sugar and are a great lemon cookie (dare I say something close to the girl scout version?). Plus it’s a good excuse to invest in this platter, which is definitely splurge worthy.

And there you have it! Ten delicious lemon dessert recipes that will elevate your summer and keep the cloudy days at bay.

If your family can’t get enough of the lemon flavor, try this delicious bread.