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The bright, cheery, and lip-puckering flavor of lemons takes Allrecipes Allstar Debbie Hendrix back to childhood. “Growing up, I only really had lemon desserts when visiting my grandma in the summer. She would share her lemon meringue pie on the Fourth of July,” Hendrix recalls. And now, the tradition continues: “Lemon treats are also a favorite of my daughter, so I’m always on the lookout for new lemon recipes we can try.”
To expand her horizons and help her think outside the lemon bar box (although we love those, too!), Hendrix used MyRecipes to build a collection of lemon desserts from Allrecipes and its sister sites EatingWell, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Real Simple. By clicking the heart icon on any recipe page, she can quickly add it to her list to try. “It helps me finally organize my recipes. That’s a project I’ve had on my to-do list for a while!”
First up for Hendrix and her daughter: Amazing Lemon Scones and Lemon Cookies from Scratch. “They’re at the top of our need-to-make list,” she says. But all of the lemon dessert ideas below are part of their shared bucket list for summer.
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Lemon Tiramisu
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
We’re fond of the classic coffee rendition in fall and winter, but when spring makes its glorious return, it’s time for lemon-scented tiramisu. This lemon dessert looks showy, but it’s actually a breeze to DIY. Save even more time by swapping in a couple jars of store-bought lemon curd, if you like. Another piece of sweet news? Lemon Tiramisu is one treat that’s actually better if you make it ahead, fans like Shugmoore confirm: “Be sure to let this sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours. The flavors will mellow as the cookies soften.”
Easy Lemon Cookies
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
The next time you’re craving a lemon cookie yet find yourself crunched for time, turn to this boxed cake mix hack. “These sweet, tart crinkle cookies are easy to make with just five ingredients and in just 20 minutes,” explains recipe creator Lissa. Invest just 10 minutes of prep time, bake for another 10, and you’ll be treated to what Crystal S calls a “wonderful easy recipe!” For an extra lemon bite, she suggests doubling the lemon extract and adding 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. “Superb!”
Copycat of Starbucks Lemon Bread
Inspired by a popular bakery item at the coffee shop chain, the original lemon dessert has some serious competition with this riff. “Dare I say this is BETTER than Starbucks?! So amazing. I used lemon cake mix [instead of yellow] and added lemon zest to batter and glaze,” says home baker Cassiecat11. Even if you follow the exact copycat Starbucks recipe to a T, Allrecipes member Anne Garrett confirms that it “tastes so good and lemony, plus it’s easy! This recipe is a keeper and is sure to please lemon lovers.”
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
The most challenging part about this showy cheesecake? Waiting for it to cool so it’s possible to layer on the lemon curd and cloud-like meringue without them melting off, says ProudDove7509. “This is by far the best dessert I’ve ever made or tasted! It’s my two favorite things combined.” Recipe creator Michelle Berger says patience is a virtue: “I think it tastes even better the day after it’s made, like most cheesecakes.”
Lemon Brownies
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
We’ll concede that these are more cake than brownie. But whatever you call them, we’re almost guaranteed you’ll deem them delicious. Allrecipes member Happicook says this lemon dessert is “tasty, tangy and addictively sweet. I poured the frosting over the cake while it was still hot. Fabulous!” Or try Kellie Justice’s trick. “I let the brownies cool, poked some holes into the brownies, and poured the icing over to let the icing seep in,” she says. “I will definitely make it again.”
Lemon Lush
MacKenzie Schieck
Short for “luscious,” lush is a term typically used to describe a rich, creamy, and layered dessert. The original version is designed with a simple homemade shortbread crust, sweetened cream cheese, lemon pudding mix, and cloud-like swirls of whipped topping. Once you have the ratios handy, though, it’s easy to choose your own adventure. Allrecipes member SpryWhey7544 says, “I made this with half lemon pudding and half chocolate. It was great.” For a no-bake take, follow SturdyYuzu3972’s lead: “I use store-bought pecan sandies cookies for the crust. Put them in a food processor until crushed fine and then mix with a half stick of melted butter and press into the pan. A real time saver—that tastes just as good.”
Microwave Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is one of the easiest ways to add a sweet-tart punch to toast, layer cakes, trifles, tassies, and beyond. Since store-bought lemon curd usually clocks in at about $15 per jar and stovetop lemon curd recipes involve constant whisking and careful temperature control, we tend to spread it sparingly or save it for special occasions. All of that changed when CATSEO shared their ultra-easy microwave instructions. According to Allrecipes fan Monikasteele, this giftable lemon dessert“ tastes delicious, and my family and friends love it! I add it to plain Greek yogurt with blueberries for breakfast. So good.”
Best Ever Lemon Squares (Gluten-Free)
The fact that the mention of “gluten-free” comes after the “best ever” description about this lemon dessert is fitting, believes Debbie Haro: “These are amazing! I will never use a different recipe for lemon bars—it doesn’t matter if you’re gluten-free or not.” For even more citrus oomph, use the juice and zest of two lemons, home bakers suggest.
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall /Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser
To enjoy as part of layer cakes, on sheet cakes, swirled atop cupcakes, spread over cinnamon rolls, or simply by the spoonful, this easy frosting recipe tastes like it came from a fancy bakery. This lemon dessert topping is versatile, but we’re happy to choose favorites here. Best Carrot Cake Ever with lemon cream cheese frosting is too tasty to skip!
Amazing Lemon Scones
Inspired by the scones ANGELSTAR used to order at a bakery in a former hometown, they perfected this rendition after “much trial and error.” All of that effort paid off with a citrusy scone that “melts in your mouth.” The sweet and tangy glaze takes them over the top. But don’t just take their word for it. Home baker Deb C adds, “if you love lemon, you must try these scones. I’m lazy, so I used my food processor to cut the butter into the flour mixture, then added the liquid mixture through the shoot. Fast and easy; just be sure you don’t over process. This is a keeper.”
Simple Lemon Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Simple can be spectacular. There’s no need to fuss with complicated cake layers or potentially sticky Bundt pans. The flavor and tender, moist texture of this lemon dessert speak for themselves, says one Allrecipes member who declares this 9×9-inch treat “perfect, lovely, and light.” We think the cake itself is a masterpiece as-is, but if you’d like to gussy things up, try coating it in a lemon glaze made with 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 1/4 cup lemon juice.
Soft Lemon Cookies from Scratch
Store-bought soft baked cookies can’t compare to this “fantastic recipe that’s a winner,” IndigoSlaw1807 says. “SO delicious, soft, and easy to make!” With a whopping 3 tablespoons of zest and 1/4 cup of juice, these cookies aren’t shy in citrus flavor. If you’d like to up the ante, try ModestHoney1030’s trick: “I stuffed two with lemon buttercream icing to make sandwich cookies.”
Lemon Icebox Pie with Frozen Lemonade
“My husband’s grandmother used to make a lemon icebox pie similar to this for all of our summer get-togethers,” recalls Rhonda Brock Fuller, who kindly shared this semi-homemade recipe with us. A store-bought graham cracker crust acts as the foundation, and just a few scoops of frozen lemonade concentrate go a long way to infuse every bite of this smooth and creamy vintage icebox dessert with peppy flavor.
Lemon-Blueberry Loaf
Two produce-aisle BFFs, lemon and blueberry, shine in this better-than-bakery loaf cake. Recipe creator AUNT MAMIE verifies that “no mixer is required for this colorful, tasty cake. A tried-and-true recipe I have used for many years. Like most sweet loaves, this one tastes best when wrapped tightly and allowed to sit for a day to let the flavors meld.” It currently calls for frozen blueberries (no need to thaw). Feel free to trade in fresh when they’re in season.
Lemon Spritz Cookies
To brighten up Christmas cookie exchanges, spring holiday menus, summer pool parties, and beyond, think spritz. Described by Allrecipes fans as “a keeper,” “a lovely dough to work with,” and “super easy and quick,” these showy spritz cookies get even better when you drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle with yellow sugar.