Lemon desserts perfectly combine aromatic sweet and tart flavors. These 35 irresistible lemon dessert recipes will bring sunshine to your table!

Lemon desserts have a way of hitting that delightful note on our tastebuds where sweet and tart meet: never too heavy, never overwhelmingly sugary, and never too acidic. Just an infusion of bold and vibrant flavor that’s met with a sweetness that keeps things light and bright!

Adding a note of lemon into your cakes, breads, cookies, and bars makes them truly irresistible. It can be as simple as a bold infusion of lemon juice, a sprinkle of sunshiney zest, or a light glaze drizzled on top. For showstopper cakes and cupcakes, a luscious lemon frosting can take them over the top!

Lemon works beautifully in any dessert you can think of: mousses, puddings, candies, and frozen treats. But don’t overlook adding a little citrus to your morning pancakes or topping off a fresh scone with a dollop of lemon curd!

And please, let’s not forget pie. You all know my incredible weakness for a stellar Lemon Meringue Pie (my signature recipe is listed below). It just can’t be beat!

Pssst… If you love citrus desserts as much as I do, be sure to check out my Citrus Desserts ebook with 16 well-loved and meticulously tested citrus desserts!

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Lemon Pies and Tart Recipes

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1. Classic French Lemon Tart

by Food Nouveau

This elegant classic French lemon tart is deceptively easy to make and has a delightfully rich, mellow lemony flavor that pleases all citrus lovers. Tips to make foolproof shortcrust pastry from scratch included!

2. Creamy Lemon Pie with Easy Almond Crust

by From Scratch Fast

This creamy lemon pie should probably be called magic pie. The filling contains just 4 ingredients (only 3, if you count the lemon zest and juice as one!) and has no eggs or gelatin. Yet, it magically sets up into a sliceable pie with a luscious texture that you’re guaranteed to dream about.

3. Lemon Meringue Pie

by Food Nouveau

This lemon meringue pie recipe creates a truly memorable dessert: the easy, cookie-like hazelnut crust combined with the zesty filling and creamy meringue will delight all fans of this classic dessert. Helpful tips and how-to video included!

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Lemon Cakes & Quick Bread Recipes

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4. Glazed Mini Lemon Poppyseed Tea Cakes

by Simple Bites

These simple and elegant lemon poppyseed tea cakes have a fine, moist crumb and an intense lemon flavor. They’re the perfect not-too-sweet addition to your teatime dessert lineup!

5. Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

by Food Nouveau

These lemon meringue cupcakes are a twist on the popular classic, zesty pie. This dessert is guaranteed to brighten any and all parties, from birthdays to showers!

6. Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream

by If you Give a Blonde a Kitchen

These lemon cupcakes are perfectly light and fluffy. They are filled with a bright lemon flavor that is complemented by a fluffy and sweet lemon buttercream frosting.

7. Easy Lemon Bread

by Recipes from a Pantry by Bintu

This easy lemon bread recipe is bursting with fresh blueberries and bright lemon flavor. Topped with a delicious lemon glaze, this treat promises to become your new favorite quick bread recipe.

8. Lemon and Olive Oil Cake with Toasted Meringue

by Food Nouveau

This tender and aromatic lemon and olive oil cake is the perfect snack, any time of day. Add toasted meringue to create a showstopping dessert!

9. Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake

by Create Kid’s Club

This classic lemon poppyseed cake is super moist and tender, thanks to the use of Greek yogurt and buttermilk. The bright lemon flavor from fresh lemons is sure to wow your guests! This is an effortless cake that will become one of your go-to dessert recipes!

10. Lemon Ricotta Cake

by The Petite Cook

This traditional Italian lemon ricotta cake recipe is soft and spongy, made with simple ingredients. This cake contains no butter or oil, but all the rich deliciousness you’d expect from a delightful Italian lemon cake!

11. Lemon Yogurt Cake

by Marcellina in Cucina

Lemon yogurt cake is a recipe that even a child could make. In fact, for many Italians, this is the first cake they make! Enjoy a slice of this delicious, unfussy for breakfast with a coffee.

12. Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake with Candied Lemons

by Simple Bites

This Meyer lemon bundt cake is a rich pound cake, with a fine, moist crumb and an intense lemon flavor. The ingredient list is long, but the result is outstanding. A total of 4 juicy Meyer lemons are used!

13. Layered Lemon Cake

by Liv for Cake

This layered lemon cake combines luscious lemon cake layers, homemade lemon curd, and a light and fluffy frosting to create an instant classic that you need in your repertoire!

14. Lemon Zucchini Cake with a Lemon Drizzle

by Style Sweet

With layers of lightly spiced zucchini cake slathered with tangy, sweet goat cheese frosting and dripping with lemon glaze, this light and zesty lemony zucchini cake is a summer-time favorite.

15. Lemon Elderflower Cake (Copycat Royal Wedding Cake)

by Liv for Cake

This lemon elderflower cake is a breathtaking copycat version of the royal wedding cake! The lemon cake layers are infused with elderflower, garnished with lemon curd, and slathered with elderflower buttercream. A real stunner!

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Lemon Cookies & Bar Recipes

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16. Easy, Dairy-Free Lemon Bars

by Food Nouveau

The recipe for these easy, dairy-free lemon bars uses clever ingredients to create a better-for-you dessert that still delivers the puckery deliciousness of the original, classic treat.

17. Lemon Shortbread Cookies

by The Bake School

Learn how to make lemon shortbread cookies with this easy recipe! You will use lemon zest to make the dough and lemon juice to make the tangy glaze for a lemony cookie that everybody will love!

18. Italian Lemon Glazed Cookies

by Mangia Bedda

Italian lemon-glazed cookies are a classic treat that is prepared in most Italian households. These cookies have a soft, cake-like texture, and they are delicately flavored with lemon. A must on your holiday or family gathering cookie tray!

19. Lemon Crinkle Cookies

by Cooking for my Soul

These cute lemon crinkle cookies are so pretty and easy to make, they’re perfect for any occasion! They are tender, bright, and so soft!

20. Lemon Mascarpone Macarons

by Food Nouveau

Lemon mascarpone French macarons are the most elegant treat for lemon lovers: the puckery flavor of lemon is perfectly balanced by the rich and creamy mascarpone.

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Lemon Dessert Recipes

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21. Olive Oil and Lemon Panna Cotta

by Family Style Food

This silky-smooth creamy lemon panna cotta is made even more luxurious with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil and an infusion of vanilla bean.

22. Lemon Mousse

by Fresh April Flours

This traditional easy lemon mousse recipe is made with just five simple ingredients. This recipe is the perfect way to turn fresh lemons into a light and refreshing dessert!

23. Limoncello Tiramisu

by The Marble Kitchen

This easy limoncello tiramisu sings with lemon flavor that comes from both fresh lemons and delicious limoncello. Ladyfingers are soaked in a limoncello syrup and then layered with a pillowy lemon whipped mascarpone cream. Your guests will keep asking for more!

24. Easy Lemon Trifle Dessert Recipe

by BellyFull

This lemon trifle recipe is sweet, tart, light, and wonderful. Layers of homemade angel food cake, lemon curd, pudding, blueberries, shortbread cookies, and whipped cream result in a stunning presentation, but it’s so easy to make! Perfect dessert for a Sunday brunch, Easter, or any holiday!

25. Steamed Lemon Sponge Pudding

by Apply to Face Blog

Make this delightfully lemony light and fluffy sponge dessert in your crockpot (or steam in a pan) for a whole lot of easy lemon love.

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Lemon Candy Recipes

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26. Candied Lemon Slices

by Running to the Kitchen

Learn how to make candied lemon slices easily with just 3 ingredients. This simple method can be applied to any citrus fruit. Use as a gorgeous garnish for desserts or chop up for use in baking recipes!

27. Easy Lemon Fudge Recipe

by Life Love Liz

This easy lemon fudge recipe is a simple and super quick lemon dessert. This quick fudge is bursting with fresh and zesty lemon flavor!

28. Lemon Truffles

by Fresh April Flours

These smooth and creamy lemon truffles are full of lemon flavor and rolled in bright and sunny sprinkles. Easy-to-follow instructions will make you feel like a candy-making expert!

29. Lemon Cheesecake Bliss Balls

by Two City Vegans

These lemon cheesecake balls are creamy, light, and delicious! Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and healthy, you can feel good about indulging in this sweet treat.

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Frozen Lemon Dessert Recipes

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30. Lemon Basil Granita

by Champagne Tastes

This easy lemon basil granita is a frozen dessert made with a quick basil honey simple syrup and lemon juice. No ice cream maker is needed!

31. Lemon Custard Ice Cream

by The Bake School

Yes, you can make lemon-flavored ice cream with this lemon custard ice cream recipe! It’s creamy and lemony making it the perfect lemon treat all year long!

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Lemon Breakfast Treat Recipes

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32. Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

by Dish’n the Kitchen

These Meyer lemon poppy seed muffins are like little bursts of sunshine on a cloudy day. They’re packed full of bright lemon flavor with a secret ingredient that keeps them moist all day long.

33. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

by The Healthy Epicurean

These fluffy, whole-grain lemon ricotta pancakes are served with a stunning berry compote you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. Easy to make, healthy, and absolutely delicious!

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Lemon Preserves and Frostings

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34. No Butter Lemon Curd

by Food Nouveau

This no-butter lemon curd is better-for-you, yet just as rich and puckery as the traditional treat. Learn where lemon curd comes from, how to make it, and enjoy it from breakfast to dessert!

35. Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

by Create Kid’s Club

Looking for an icing that’s less sweet and more tangy? You’ve gotta try our lemon cream cheese frosting. This delicious cream cheese icing tastes similar to cheesecake–but better! Made with lemon curd and almond extract, it’s a must-try recipe!

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Citrus Desserts Cookbook

Love zesty, citrus-centric dessert recipes? Then you’ll love my Citrus Desserts Cookbook! Filled with colorful, irresistible meticulously tested dessert recipes—including cakes, tarts, breakfast treats, and delicious bars, spoonable treats, and candies—Citrus Desserts features mouthwatering photography, countless clever tips, and variation ideas to make the recipes as versatile as possible. LEARN MORE