Allow us to introduce you to our best lemon desserts of all time. We love cooking with all types of citrus including oranges, limes, and grapefruit, but there’s something about lemon that holds a sweet spot in our heart. Especially when combined with other fresh fruit flavors, like blueberry or raspberry, lemon brings a brightness and tartness to desserts that makes them dynamic. These bright and delicious lemon dessert ideas will be the hit of any gathering you bring them to, and we’re sure everyone will ask you for the recipe.
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
From the dough to the glaze, these shortbread cookies are loaded with lemon flavor thanks to fresh juice and zest. Use your fingers to rub and combine the lemon zest and sugar coating until fragrant.
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Thyme naturally has a lemony undertone that compliments the fresh lemon in these shortbread cookies perfectly.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Frozen lemonade concentrate is the key to this refreshingly tangy lemon pie. It’s practically effortless too, and doesn’t require an oven to make.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
We’ve taken all of our favorite parts of lemon meringue pie and transformed them into a beautiful layer cake. Instead of a classic frosting, we cover the towering cake in a toasted meringue.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We love a no-bake dessert, especially a refreshing lemon one. Tangy layers of lemon pudding and cream cheese make this Lemon Lush a delightfully zingy treat.
Jessica Furniss
When sour lemons pair with tart blueberries, it creates a crave-worthy dynamic flavor duo that is nearly irresistible. Impress your guests with the addition of candied lemon slices atop the luscious frosting.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Sometimes called no-bake lemon bars, this retro dessert couldn’t be easier to assemble thanks to store-bought shortcuts like jarred lemon curd.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Everything you love about a traditional lemon pie is infused in this layered cheesecake. The toasted swoops of meringue on top are sure to impress anyone you serve it to.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Think of this lemon granita as a grown-up slushy. You can even top them with Champagne, for a fun, slightly buzzy dessert.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee
A sunny and bright spin on a Southern pie staple. Just make sure to use fresh lemon juice (and zest); the bottled stuff won’t do.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
Although this lemon cake is perfect for Easter, mix up the sprinkle decor and it can be your go-to lemon sheet cake year-round.
Poke cakes ensure that the inside of the cake has just as much flavor and moisture as the frosting.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cranberries and lemons come together to create a colorful dessert that’s both tangy and sweet.
Two of our favorite things (lemon + cheesecake) come together in one amazing cake. You’re going to want to grab your springform pan immediately.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
We’ll admit that this is not a casual baking project, but this 8-layer thing of beauty is well worth the effort.
The bright taste of lemon juice gives a touch of spring to this flavorful dessert.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist Christine Keely
There’s nothing like a classic lemon bar is there? As a bonus, this recipe includes two fun ways to top them, so you can put a fresh spin on the sweet treat.
We can’t get enough of this sweet bread. The recipe makes two loaves—you can keep one and share the other, if you’re feeling generous.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
You can use store-bought crust, if desired, to help this seven-ingredient pie come together a little easier.
You’ll find homemade lemon curd sandwiched between the four layers of this lemon cake. The curd will need to chill for 8 hours after it’s made, so make sure to prepare it in advance.
A marbled finish will wow your guests, but is easy to create.
This recipe makes three-and-a-half dozen cookies, so you’ll have plenty to go around at any gathering.
This old-fashioned pie is made with thinly sliced whole lemons—peels and all.
This cool and creamy dessert was made for hot Southern days.
Lining your slow cooker with aluminum foil will make cleanup a breeze.
Prepare the lemon curd for this cheesecake up to two weeks in advance, just store it in the refrigerator.
This multi-flavored cake is truly a labor of love, but the end result is worth it.
Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
You can make this recipe up to one month ahead and freeze.
This big-batch recipe combines the tangy taste of lemon and sweet flavor of raspberry together for the perfect treat.
Lemon and raspberries? Well that’s simply a match made in heaven.
With this classic recipe, your favorite soft drink transforms into an extra-elegant Bundt cake.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
What makes this Lemon Meringue Pie the best ever, you ask? The mile-high meringue, of course.
A crispy crumble topping is the cherry on top of these delectable, packable bars.
What better way to toast to the springtime than with this Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake?
Tender and moist, this cake is a beautiful complement to a cup of coffee.
Transform a box of cake mix into these bright cupcakes that taste totally homemade.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This heavenly spin on tiramisu is ideal for spring.
You can make your own graham cracker crust for this icebox pie or use store-bought to save some time.
In addition to the pictured blueberries, feel free to garnish the top of this layer cake with candied lemon peels as well.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
The South is known for coconut cake, and this tangy twist on the classic is bound to become your new go-to recipe.
Molly Bolton
These crinkle lemon cookies look just as bright and sunny as they taste. Plus, lemon cake mix makes these cookies extra easy to make.