We're going to be talking about all sorts of desserts this week (it's Dessert Week!), but we think our favorite kind of goodies are the ones made with lemon. There's something so fresh and bright about lemon desserts with a tang that balances out the sweetness. We've featured lots of lemon desserts here at The Kitchn - here are 20 of our favorites.
CAKES & PIE
1. Lemon-Scented Pull-Apart Loaf from Leite's Culinaria - So crazy good that it will disappear in minutes!
2. Lemon Spongettes - It's not quite a pudding but not quite a cake, either. It's a...Spongette.
3. Ina Garten's Lemon Cake - A layer cake that includes the zest of about seven lemons, and a syrup that puts it over the top.
4. Lemon Yogurt Cake with Ginger-Thyme Syrup - Similar to Ina's recipe, but with the added kick of ginger and thyme.
5. Meyer Lemon and Walnut Cake with Honey Syrup - A cake that may win over fruitcake haters.
6. Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie - Simplicity is this pie's crowning glory: jammy, tart, sweet, brilliant Meyer lemons spilling out of a flaky, buttery crust.
7. D.I.Y. Candied Lemon Peel - This project makes a beautiful garnish for cakes and pies.
COOKIES & BARS
8. Ultra-Chewy Lemon Coconut Cookies - A foolproof chewy cookie, minus the chocolate.
9. Smoked Lemon Bars - Smoked lemonade inspired this unique dessert.
10. Ultimate Lemon Butter Bars from Rose Levy Beranbaum - This recipe was developed to address two problems that lemon bars are prone to: A topping that is not firm enough, and a base that is too soggy.
11. Lemon Melting Moments - Intensely flavored bite-size cookies.
12. Mini Molasses Cookies with Lemon Filling - The dark spice of these cookies is brightened by a tart lemon filling that softens the sandwiches into sunny, chewy, one-bite treats.
13. D.I.Y. Lemon Filling - This is a great filling for pre-baked tartlets and sandwiched between cookies.
ICE CREAM & PUDDING
14. Extra-Quick No-Cook Meyer Lemon Ice Cream - This extra-quick ice cream recipe is nearly as simple as making whipped cream.
15. Creamy, Tangy Lemon Ice Cream - A creamy, tangy lemon ice cream that's hassle free.
16. Lemon Rice Pudding - If you like rice pudding at all, this is for you.
17. Spiked Lemon Ginger Sorbet - Like those lemon shakeups at the street fair or the lemonade on your mom's back porch, cold and beaded with condensation, this sorbet carries all that nostalgic sweetness of high summer.
FRUIT & CHEESE
18. Roasted Pears with Lemon Stilton, Walnuts and Honey - One of the quickest, easiest, and most elegant desserts we've ever stumbled upon.
19. White Stilton with Lemon - We don't serve dessert cheeses often, but we were immediately smitten by its sweet tartness, almost like cheesecake infused with lemon.
20. Lemon and Honey Fruit Salad - Celebrate the sun with this simple fruit salad of melon, strawberries, and bananas, tossed with a tangy dressing of lemon and honey and just a hint of nutmeg.
Related: 10 Desserts For A Few Or Even Just Two
(Images: See linked posts for full credits)
(Originally published April 30, 2010)
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Ina Garten has an amazing recipe for fruit salad with limoncello and lemon curd. I use fat free greek yogurt and you don't miss the extra fat at all. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fruit-salad-with-limoncello-recipe/index.html
I always buy a bag of lemons intending to make something like this, but when I get around to it- citrus mold! Any tips on how to prevent?
The pull-apart loaf looks amazing!
Thanks for the great recipes. I have Lemon tree in my garden, and I'm using the Lemons for cooking (and also for drinking - try cold lemonade for hot days). Check the following Lemons recipes, they are also good:
http://www.terarecipes.com/recipe_search_engine/specialrecipe/lemon
Doris
Laurenot, the best way to avoid citrus mold is to use the citrus! I don't mean to sound snarky, but if you're not up for a bag, just buy a couple. You can cut up the slightly moldy level and sacrifice it to the garbage disposal to infuse the kitchen with a refreshing smell.
This post is just what I needed! I have been on a lemon dessert kick (have already done Ina's lemon cake, lemon bars, lemon shortbread, lemon shortbread with raspberry filling...) and it's time for something new!
Also.. for the citrus mold questioner... when your lemons are on their last legs, use them for cleaning. Lemon juice is a miracle worker to remove stains from counters and sinks and stuff.
I made a millionaire's shortbread cake, with a lemon caramel layer and chocolate ganache!!
Lemon curd tarts are one of my favorite lemon desserts, I made these tarts recently, http://www.abrowntable.com/2012/01/pasta-frolla-and-tart-au-citron.html
I love lemon desserts as well. I like adding some zest to cakes and muffins...and I enjoy making (and eating) lemon souffle. It's surprisingly easy and the taste is light and - just plain tasty!
Lemon stilton and goat cheese w/ lemon are so wonderful with a little honey and blueberries on crackers.
My favorite lemony dessert is lemon chess pie.
@LAURENOT:
- Take them out of the plastic bag and leave them in a bowl on your counter - moisture in plastic enhances the development of mold.
- Freeze the zest and juice for later use.
- Submerge them in a large bowl, in water, with a weighted plate on top - store this in your refrigerator - change the water every other day but preferably every day (you can use the discarded water for indoor houseplants). I send my family members a giant box of Meyers from my garden at Christmas, and this is how they store them, from the Christmas snows through Spring they have fresh lemons and they say it makes the snowy weather more survivable.
Laurenot, my mom always zests the lemons, freezes the zest in teaspoon amounts wrapped in neat little squares of plastic wrap then put into a container or baggie. She juices the lemons, freezes it in small amounts (I've used an ice cube tray, then dumped into a baggie) for later. Takes a bit at the outset, but it's SO nice to have when you want a lemon something and don't have to take the time to zest and juice!
Also, the lemon pull-apart bread is THA BOMB. Make it for Easter!
I've never understood when a food is described as "scented". That is, why is it "lemon-scented pull apart loaf" as opposed to "lemon-flavored"?
Ina's recipe for Lemon Bars is the best one I've tried....and I've tried quite a few!!! This is definitley a keeper in my recipe file!!!