The Lemon Dessert Collection (12+ Recipes)

When life hands you lemons, turn to the Lemon Dessert Collection. These 12+ lemon desserts feature bright lemon citrus flavor in the form of cookies, cakes, pies, and more. Classic recipes like lemon bars and lemon cupcakes and fancy favorites like lemon pudding cakes and lemon cheesecake promise dessert success for bakers of all skill levels.

If you love bright, fresh desserts, lemon is hard to beat. This vibrant citrus fruit turns simple ingredients into sweet-tart treats that taste like pure sunshine. 🙂

My team and I have shared many lemon dessert recipes over the years, and you can find them all by searching the “lemon” ingredient page on my website! (You can browse various ingredients on the ingredients index page.)

But the list below highlights 12 of our favorite. These are go-to, meticulously tested lemon dessert recipes that we return to again and again.

If you’re craving something ultra creamy and refreshing, this 7-ingredient creamy lemon pie is always a winner. It includes a salty-sweet crust, is very simple to make, and tastes like the lemon cousin of key lime pie! It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert.

You’ll find a mix of classic lemon desserts and a few unique favorites in this collection. Some recipes are quick and simple, like these oatmeal lemon crumble bars, while others are perfect for when you want to bake something a little more special, like the always-impressive lemon meringue pie.

No matter which one you choose, each recipe is carefully tested so you can count on bright lemon flavor and reliable results every time.

And if you really love lemon flavor, keep a batch of homemade lemon curd on hand—it’s delicious on yogurt, ice cream, scones, toast, and so much more.

Bookmark this list for the next time you’re craving a little lemon in your dessert!

12 Favorite Lemon Desserts

Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Buttercream

This 3-layer lemon cake is deliciously moist and light and is remarkable paired with tangy cream cheese buttercream.

Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

These are the BEST lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust and creamy thick lemon curd filling that doesn’t require any pre-cooking on the stovetop.

Iced Lemon Pound Cake

Dense, buttery pound cake gets a lemon lift in this bright and cheery citrus version that’s topped with a light yet creamy lemon icing.

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

These lemon thumbprints are a lemon lovers’ dream cookie! Enjoy sweet, soft lemon sugar cookies filled with from-scratch lemon curd and drizzled with lemon icing.

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

Savor every sweet-tart taste of the creamiest, dreamiest cheesecake flavored with fresh lemon, nestled between a buttery graham cracker crust and a layer of homemade lemon curd.

Soft & Moist Lemon Cupcakes

My go-to lemon cupcake for well over a decade! If you’re looking for an easy lemon cupcake recipe that’s moist, tender, and reliable, your search ends here.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

These are ultra creamy (and super easy!) lemon blueberry cheesecake bars baked on a crispy graham cracker crust.

Oatmeal Lemon Crumble Bars

Creamy, crumbly, and refreshing, these oatmeal lemon crumble bars come together with a simple crumb crust and a 2-ingredient lemon filling.

Lemon Pudding Cakes

With fluffy lemon cake on top and rich lemon pudding on the bottom, these lemon pudding cakes promise unique complementing textures and plenty of fresh flavor in each bite.

Lemon Berry Yogurt Cake

This incomparably moist lemon berry yogurt cake has a soft, creamy, and buttery crumb; is bursting with bright lemon and fresh berry flavors; and is conveniently decorated with a simple drizzle of lemon glaze.

Classic Lemon Meringue Pie

With a flaky homemade pie crust, tart and smooth lemon filling, and fluffy toasted meringue topping, this lemon meringue pie is impossible for lemon fans to resist.

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

These lemon blueberry cupcakes are supremely soft and moist with fresh lemon flavor and sweet blueberries in every single bite, plus a silky cream cheese frosting to finish it off.

Lemon Berry Petit Fours (For Beginners!)

Petit fours, which are delicate mini cakes, can often be complicated and fussy, but this is a simplified petit fours recipe that’s perfect for beginners and lemon fanatics alike.

Creamy Lemon Pie

You need just 7 ingredients and only 20 minutes of hands-on time to make this! Make this ahead and serve chilled. Delicious!