Brighten Your Day With These Homemade Lemon Desserts
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You know how the saying goes: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Sure, that’s a great idea (and one that Ree Drummond often takes advantage of come summertime), but there are so many other ways to use lemons, too. In fact, the only thing that could make a refreshing glass of lemonade better would be to serve it up with a slice of lemon raspberry cake! That’s just one of many lemon desserts on the list ahead. You’ll also find bright and cheery lemon cookies, easy no-bake desserts, and sweet-tart pairings of lemon and blueberry.
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.
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 your lemon first. Taking the rind off a whole fruit versus a squished half is so much easier. Happy baking, fellow lemon lovers!
Lemon White Chocolate Truffles
These pretty little treats are made with vanilla sandwich cookies, cream cheese, lemon, and white chocolate. Top them off with yellow sprinkles to really make them look sunny and bright.
Get Ree's Lemon White Chocolate Truffles recipe.
Lemon Raspberry Cake
The tender lemon cake and fluffy pink frosting make this cake as tasty as it is pretty. Best of all—there’s a surprise raspberry jam filling inside!
Get the Lemon Raspberry Cake recipe.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
These simple cookies are infused with both lemon zest and juice so there's plenty of bright, citrus flavor. They also have a pretty floral stamp design that makes them perfect for springtime!
Get the Lemon Shortbread Cookies recipe.
Ice Cream Icebox Cake with Lemon Curd
Homemade or store-bought lemon curd is the key to making this easy dessert. It's swirled with the vanilla ice cream to give it a pop of tart flavor that's paired with sweet preserves and gingersnap crumbs.
Get the Ice Cream Icebox Cake with Lemon Curd recipe.
Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake
The adorable pink color of this sheet cake will make anyone smile. Not to mention it has the classic flavor combination of strawberries and lemon. It'll remind you of a glass of pink lemonade!
Get Ree's Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake recipe.
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
These lemony muffins will feel like a sweet treat in the morning, noon, or night! They even have a crunchy sugar-coated streusel and a lemon glaze on top.
Get Ree's Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins recipe.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
There are so many variations on crinkle cookies, but these are perfect for spring or summer. The powdered sugar and citrus flavor are like a pop of sweet sunshine in a single bite.
Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
This cake is sweet and tart and so easy to make. You don't need any decorating skills, either. Just top it off with a layer of cream cheese frosting, a sprinkling of fresh blueberries, and lemon zest curls for extra pop.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
Rich lemon curd meets light and airy meringue in this classic pie recipe. Use a torch or the broiler to get those toasty meringue swirls.
Get the Classic Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.
Lemon Cake
Not only are the cake layers made with bright lemon flavor but there's also a scrumptious lemon buttercream frosting, too! The edible flowers are option but they really make the cake feel like a springtime treat.
Get the Lemon Cake recipe.
Lemon–Poppy Seed Scones
This pastry will brighten up anyone's morning with its tart lemon glaze and crunch from the poppy seeds. Of course, you can always serve it up for afternoon tea or just a sweet treat any time of day.
Get Ree's Lemon–Poppy Seed Scones recipe.
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 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-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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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