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As we inch closer and closer to spring, we’re dreaming of the warmer weather to come, and days spent outdoors. While we know that we might not be able to celebrate in all the ways that we normally would, we can still welcome the lighter, brighter days in smaller ways — perhaps by baking something so full of lemons and sunshine that you can’t help but feel a bit cheerier.
Is there anything that screams spring more than lemon-y sweet treats? With Easter just around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of the perfect lemon desserts to help you celebrate. From tangy lemon bars and lemon cookies to moist and zippy bundt cakes and pound cakes to ultra-creamy puddings and pies, here are 32 lemon desserts to make right now.
Easy Lemon Desserts
From cookies to simple cakes to pies, and of course lemon bars, these sweet treats don’t require too much heavy lifting.
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Lemon CookiesThese sunny, sweet-tart cookies start with a box of cake mix for a shortcut that makes them super simple to pull off. Add a touch of fresh lemon zest to really boost the flavor.
Go to Recipe 3 / 20
Lemon Meringue PieThe hardest part of making this lemon meringue pie is not the tender-crisp crust, the tangy-rich filling, or the light-as-air topping. It’s letting the thing cool completely before slicing into it.
Go to Recipe 7 / 20
The Best Lemon BarsThis is the platonic ideal of a lemon bar, with a buttery shortbread crust that’s sturdy but tender enough to bite through, and a thick but luscious filling that evenly balances the sweetness and the tart lemon flavor.
Go to Recipe 10 / 20
Lemon Curd Sandwich CookiesThis lemon curd sandwich cookie starts off with just-sweet-enough cookies, made rich and tender by a simple cream cheese dough. If you’re not game to make your own lemon curd, grab a jar of your favorite kind from the store. It will work just fine.
Go to Recipe 12 / 20
Meyer Lemon Shaker PieThe filling in this Meyer lemon pie has only five ingredients, and yet it spills out in a glorious jammy gush of sunny lemon flavor. It’s surprisingly good: sweet, tart, and a little bitter.
Go to Recipe 17 / 20
Flourless Lemon Almond CakeWhen the cake itself is a standout, there’s no need for fancy swirls of frosting or decorations. That’s exactly the case with this lemon almond cake: It’s lightly sweetened and full of bright lemon flavor.
Go to Recipe 20 / 20
Lemon Rice PuddingIf you like rice pudding, this is the ultimate comfort food, scented with lemon, and not very sweet, so perfectly acceptable for breakfast.
No-Bake Lemon Desserts
You can’t go wrong with any of the desserts in this line up. Just know that the sheet pan lemon tart is a favorite of just about the entire Kitchn team.
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No-Bake Sheet Pan Lemon Yogurt TartThis no-bake sheet pan lemon tart is big enough for all your get-togethers. And if it doesn’t win you over with its sweet bite, the supreme ease of it sure will. Take your pick between topping with Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream.
Go to Recipe 3 / 7
Lemon Rice PuddingIf you like rice pudding, this is the ultimate comfort food, scented with lemon, and not very sweet, so perfectly acceptable for breakfast.
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Lemon Icebox Pie No-bake lemon icebox pie has a creamy bite from cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice and zest — topped with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
Go to Recipe Lemon Cakes (and Beyond)
Whether you’re game for a layer cake, bundt cake, loaf cake, chiffon cake, or an impressive tart – we’ve got them all.
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Triple Lemon Cake Inspired by Malinda Russell's cream cake, this triple lemon cake has a delicate crumb and is bursting with flavor.
Go to Recipe 4 / 16
Easy Lemon Bundt Cake with Fresh Lemon GlazeA gentle lemon undertone sweeps through the cake, which is subtly sweet, making way for the tart two-ingredient glaze that blankets the top. And in classic Bundt fashion, the texture is sturdy, with the lightness and tender crumb we love and expect in a lemon cake.
Go to Recipe 7 / 16
Lemon Drizzle CakeThis British bake is similar to a Victoria sponge, but substitutes almond flour for some of the all-purpose flour and gets a handful of poppy seeds.
Go to Recipe 8 / 16
Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Chiffon CakeLight and fluffy, sky-high chiffon cakes are simple to pull off and always look very impressive. A basic lemon glaze is all you need for a topping, though it can also be cut in half and filled with flavored whipped cream, mascarpone, or custard.
Go to Recipe 10 / 16
Lemon Pound CakeThis recipe will reward you with two soft and tender lemony loaves. While you could halve the recipe, I urge you not to. It freezes extremely well. Just hold off on adding the glaze until serving, if you plan to freeze.
Go to Recipe 12 / 16
Lemon Meringue CheesecakeEach layer of this cheesecake is delicious in its own right — creamy cheesecake, tart lemon curd, and toasted meringue — but combining them into one creates nothing short of a masterpiece.
Go to Recipe 15 / 16
Lemon Supreme CakeWith three layers of lemon-soaked cake blanketed in satiny vanilla buttercream, this little cake makes for an exceptional dessert for anything from a bridal brunch to afternoon tea to a birthday party.
