Pucker Up for These Sweet-Tart Lemon Desserts

lemon desserts
35 Sweet and Tart Lemon DessertsWill Dickey
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If you're a fan of all things sweet and tart, you're not alone! Ree Drummond loves her lemon desserts, especially come springtime. "Lemons are year-round, but they always seem so springy to me," she says. From lemon blueberry cake to no-bake lemon cheesecake, these citrusy treats will take you from spring desserts to summer and beyond. And with sunny season around the corner, these lemon desserts are sure to add a bright and cheery element to your Easter menu, graduation party, Mother's Day brunch, or any backyard cookout.

Whether you're making bake sale goodies, surprising a friend with a batch of homemade sweet rolls, or simply looking to add some zing to your day, your plans should definitely involve one of these delicious lemon dessert recipes. Ree's got recipes for lemon pound cake, lemon meringue pie, and lemon bars that will become staples on your baking list for years to come. They'll be like a slice of pure sunshine no matter what season it is!

A few quick tips before you start baking: If a recipe calls for lemon juice, press and roll your lemons against the counter first before you halve and squeeze them—this will help you get the most juice out of them! And if your recipe calls for juice and zest, make sure to zest first. Taking the rind off a whole fruit versus a squished half is so much easier. Happy baking, fellow lemon lovers!

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

These cookies are made with both lemon juice and lemon zest for double the pop of citrus. They're a sweet-tart treat you'll want to make again and again.

Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipe.

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lemon desserts lemon crinkle cookies
Caitlin Bensel

Lemon Blueberry Cake

Lemons and blueberries are like a match made in dessert heaven! The classic sweet-tart combo will also look stunning on your table, too.

Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.

lemon desserts lemon blueberry cake
Caitlin Bensel

Classic Lemon Meringue Pie

The perfect lemon meringue pie consists of three components: a pie crust, lemon curd filling, and a toasted meringue topping that's piled high. This recipe will teach you all three!

Get the Classic Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.

lemon desserts classic lemon meringue pie
Will Dickey

Lemon–Poppy Seed Scones

These scones have double the lemon flavor thanks to the sweet lemon glaze on top. Serve them up for brunch or just an afternoon snack!

Get Ree's Lemon–Poppy Seed Scones recipe.

lemon desserts scones
Ryan Dausch

Lemon Cake

Anyone would be happy to get a slice of this bright lemon cake. It's perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays, or just a Sunday afternoon when you need a sweet treat.

Get the Lemon Cake recipe.

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lemon desserts lemon cake
Will Dickey

Easy No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake

There's no oven required at all when it comes to this easy lemon cheesecake. Just whip it up during the week and you'll have a sweet dessert on the weekend.

Get the Easy No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake recipe.

lemon desserts easy no bake lemon cheesecake
Will Dickey

Lemon Tart

Between the tart filling and the buttery crust, there's something so simple, yet so elegant when it comes to this lemon tart.

Get the Lemon Tart recipe.

lemon desserts lemon tart
Will Dickey

Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

Any cake that can be served at breakfast, brunch, or dessert is worth saving in our opinion. This one even has a simple glaze that you can whip up in minutes!

Get the Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake recipe.

lemon desserts lemon poppy seed cake
Will Dickey

Lemon Curd Ripple Ice Cream

It's always homemade ice cream season! You can make both the lemon curd and the ice cream from scratch or take a shortcut with store-bought curd.

Get the Lemon Curd Ripple Ice Cream recipe.

lemon desserts lemon curd ripple ice cream
Erica Kastner

Atlantic Beach Pie

If you take lemon icebox pie and key lime pie and mash them together with a salty cracker crust, you get this Atlantic Beach pie. It's so unique!

Get the Atlantic Beach Pie recipe.

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lemon desserts atlantic beach pie
Caitlin Bensel

Frozen Lemonade

Made with vanilla ice cream and homemade lemonade, this recipe is the perfect combination of a refreshing beverage and a dessert. It's great for those warm, sunny days.

Get the Frozen Lemonade recipe.

lemon desserts frozen lemonade
Nicole Dubois

Individual Lemon Blueberry Trifle

Serving this trifle up in individual jars makes it so easy to bring on a picnic in the park. It would also make a cute addition to a tea party or bridal shower.

Get the Individual Lemon Blueberry Trifle recipe.

lemon desserts individual lemon blueberry trifle
Erica Kastner / The Pioneer Woman

Lemon Pound Cake

Lemon pound cake is amazing on its own—but it's totally irresistible with a lemony glaze on top!

Get Ree's Lemon Pound Cake recipe.

lemon desserts recipes lemon pound cake
Con Poulos

Homemade Lemon Curd

Creamy, tangy lemon curd is used in many of these lemon desserts, but it can also be a dessert in and of itself! Just serve it up over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with a bowl of fresh berries.

Get the Homemade Lemon Curd recipe.

lemon desserts homemade lemon curd
Erin Merhar

Lemon Cupcakes with Lavender Frosting

From the floral frosting to the lemony cupcake base. everything about these treats screams springtime! The pretty purple color makes them a cute recipe for Easter too.

Get the Lemon Cupcakes with Lavender Frosting recipe.

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lemon desserts lemon cupcakes with lavender frosting
Jessica Merchant

Lemon Icebox Pie

On a warm afternoon, it's hard to beat this chilled lemon pie. You may even find yourself sneaking a slice right out of the fridge.

Get the Lemon Icebox Pie recipe.

lemon desserts lemon icebox pie
Will Dickey

Lemon Bars

These bars are big on crust—just the way Ree likes 'em! They're sweet, tangy, and delicious.

Get Ree's Lemon Bars recipe.

lemon desserts recipes lemon bars
Con Poulos

Mini Lemon Meringue Pies

Give lemon meringue pie a new twist: This fun take on the classic retro dessert comes in individual-size bowls!

Get Ree's Mini Lemon Meringue Pies recipe.

lemon desserts recipes mini lemon meringue pies
Con Poulos

Lemon Coconut Pudding Cups

Time for a cup full of tropical flavors! If you've never made pudding before, you're in for such a creamy, dreamy treat. It's made all the better with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Get the Lemon Coconut Pudding Cups recipe.

lemon desserts lemon coconut pudding
Erica Kastner

Meyer Lemon, Ginger, and Turmeric Cake

You'll be absolutely amazed by the color of this cake when you slice into it. If you can't find Meyer lemons, you can substitute regular lemons instead. The result will just be a little more tart.

Get the Meyer Lemon, Ginger, and Turmeric Cake recipe.

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lemon desserts meyer lemon ginger turmeric bundt cake
Bridget Edwards

Double Lemon Cupcakes

Ree's extra-lemony cupcakes have zest in the batter and in the frosting. For the finishing touch, try topping them with candied lemon peel.

Get Ree's Double Lemon Cupcakes recipe.

lemon desserts recipes double lemon cupcakes
Con Poulos

Lemon Zucchini Coffee Cake

This is a bright, citrusy take on a classic coffee cake—and a great way to use zucchini. Bonus: It tastes even better the next day.

Get the Lemon Zucchini Coffee Cake recipe.

lemon desserts lemon zucchini coffee cake
Bridget Edwards / The Pioneer Woman

Citrus Butter Cookies

These cookies are for lemon lovers—and orange and lime lovers, too! They're packed with three kinds of citrus for extra zesty flavor.

Get Ree's Citrus Butter Cookies recipe.

lemon desserts recipes citrus butter cookies
The Pioneer Woman

Lemon Lime Pound Cake

If you've ever wondered what your favorite lemon-lime soda tastes like in cake form, this is it! The zest on top gives this cake a little extra zing.

Get Ree's Lemon Lime Pound Cake recipe.

lemon desserts recipes lemon lime pound cake
The Pioneer Woman

Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls

Lemon and blueberries go together like peanut butter and jelly! The duo makes for an extra-sweet take on traditional cinnamon rolls.

Get Ree's Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls recipe.

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lemon desserts recipes blueberry lemon sweet rolls
The Pioneer Woman

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

How cute are these bright and sunny treats?! The cream cheese frosting and garnish of fresh blueberries and lemon zest really make them stand out.

Get the Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes recipe at Garnish and Glaze.

lemon desserts blueberry lemon cupcakes
Garnish and Glaze

Lemon Cheesecake Crepes

These crepes are super easy thanks to two tricks: The batter can be made in a blender and it can be prepared up to two days ahead! Just add a lemon-y cheesecake filling and you're ready to eat.

Get the Lemon Cheesecake Crepes recipe at Sugar and Soul.

lemon desserts lemon cheesecake crepes
Sugar and Soul

Lemon Sheet Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Love cream cheese frosting? Try this zesty version on top of a simple lemon sheet cake. It looks extra pretty with candied lemon slices on top.

Get the Lemon Sheet Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Butter be Ready.

lemon desserts recipes lemon sheet cake with lemon cream cheese frosting
Butter be Ready

Strawberry Lemon Bars

You know and love traditional lemon bars, but now it's time to mix things up. This berry-lemon combo does the trick!

Get the Strawberry Lemon Bars recipe at Chisel and Fork.

lemon desserts recipes strawberry lemon bars
Chisel and Fork

Lemon Sweet Rolls

Not only is there citrusy flavor rolled up in each of these sweet rolls, but they're also smothered in a delightful gooey lemon cream cheese icing.

Get the Lemon Sweet Rolls recipe at Butter Be Ready.

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lemon desserts lemon sweet rolls
Butter Be Ready

Lemon Thyme Cake

Lemon and thyme is a magical combo—especially in this pretty cake. The cute mini lemon decorations on top are fun to make, too.

Get the Lemon Thyme Cake recipe at Spoon Fork Bacon.

lemon desserts recipes lemon thyme cake
Spoon Fork Bacon

Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding Dessert

Love pudding? Love cheesecake? This mashup is for you! The best part: It's totally no-bake!

Get the Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding Dessert recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

lemon desserts recipes lemon cream cheese pudding dessert
Amanda's Cookin'

Lemon Curd and Coconut Marshmallows

Try your hand at DIY marshmallows—it's a great weekend project. These are over-the-top, with a lemon curd swirl and a coconut coating.

Get the Lemon Curd and Coconut Marshmallows recipe at Kitchen Sanctuary.

lemon desserts recipes lemon curd and coconut marshmallows
Kitchen Sanctuary

Coconut and Lemon Curd Macarons

Homemade macarons make a beautiful gift, especially these coconut-lemon ones—they're sure to brighten anyone's day!

Get the Coconut and Lemon Curd Macarons recipe at Posh Little Designs.

lemon desserts recipes coconut and lemon curd macarons
Posh Little Designs

Lemon Blueberry Crepe Cake

No cooking or baking required for this fun cake: Just start with a package of pre-made crêpes! Serve this treat for dessert, or add it to your brunch spread.

Get the Lemon Blueberry Crepe Cake recipe at The Noshery.

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lemon desserts recipes blueberry lemon cake
The Noshery

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