24 Tart and Tangy Desserts for Lemon Lovers

Lemon lovers, rejoice! The sunny, tart-meets-sweet flavor of everyone's favorite yellow citrus fruit shines brightly in our favorite lemon dessert recipes. You absolutely must use fresh lemons when making these recipes—bottled juice simply won't suffice! You'll be rewarded with powerful, puckery flavors and aromas that make your desserts sing. From classic lemon meringue pie to lemon cakes and cupcakes, cookies, custards, and more unusual desserts, we've got all the baking recipes you need to make the most of fresh lemon juice and zest.

3 Ways to Make Zesty Lemon Sugar

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Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

The Spruce

Lemon meringue pie is an all-American dessert that's been a family and diner favorite for decades. This is the classic recipe, with tangy, creamy, homemade lemon curd, and piles of fluffy, browned meringue on top.
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Meyer Lemon Cake

Anna Kurzaeva/Getty Images

Spring is Meyer lemon season, and there's no better time to make this moist and and fluffy lemon cake. Sweet Meyer lemons have very thin skins, making it possible to use the whole fruit in the cake batter. This delivers an intense lemony flavor that makes this tea cake truly special.
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Lemon Creme Brulée

Diana Rattray

If you love the creme brulée served at fine dining restaurants, you're sure to flip for this zingy special occasion dessert of lemon custard with a caramelized sugar crust. Prepare ramekins of custard and store in the fridge up to two days ahead, then use a kitchen torch (or your oven's broiler) to create the crispy sugar topping just before serving.
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Lemon Truffle Pie

EmmaKStudio-E+-Getty Images

Wow your brunch or dinner guests with this lemon truffle pie that has to be tasted to be believed! Spoon prepared lemon curd over a mixture of melted white chocolate and cream cheese, bake in a single pastry crust, and savor the aroma. Serve topped with whipped cream and garnish with lemon zest or slices.

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Best Ever Lemon Pound Cake

The Spruce

Lemon pound cake makes a delightful afternoon treat for your book club or drop-in guests. This recipe is baked in a bundt pan, and finished with a lemony sugar glaze, for extra sweetness and zing. Send that lemon taste into overdrive by adding a teaspoon of salt to the cake batter.
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Lemon Bars

Nadine Greeff/Stocksy United

Enjoy these luscious lemon bars with a smooth intensely sweet-tart lemon any time. They make an especially great Mother's Day dessert. Finish the bars with lemon frosting for a beautiful look and even more tangy flavor.
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Lemon Butter Cookies

Diana Rattray

Simple, scrumptious lemon butter cookies topped with powdered sugar are perfect for dipping into your afternoon cup of tea, or sharing with friends at brunch and parties. Bake up a batch in just 30 minutes.
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Vodka Lemon Sorbet

Sarah Bossert/E+/Getty Images

Spike this sharp, tangy, lemon sorbet with plenty of fresh lemon juice, zest, and of course, vodka, to create a fantastic summer "adult" dessert for special occasion meals. Serve it in chilled martini glasses, as pictured, with a fresh mint garnish to complete the effect.

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Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd Filling

Diana Rattray

Create a lovely, lemon curd-filled layer cake for parties with this essential dessert recipe. Lemon's sweet and tangy flavors are front and center in the frosting, made with cream cheese and more lemon curd.
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Torta Della Nonna

Anita Schecter

The lemon in this classic Tuscan dessert is in the custard filling that is nestled in a sweet pastry crust. The torta is baked with a layer of pine nuts on top, creating a crunchy foil to the creamy center. A sprinkling of powdered sugar adds the perfect finishing touch on this simple but elegant dessert.
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Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake

Elaine Lemm

Impress friends and family with this gorgeous lemon raspberry cheesecake that tastes as great as it looks — and that's saying something! You'll love its creamy, tart-meets-sweet filling, nestled in a homemade graham cracker crust.
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Blueberry Upside-Down Cake

The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm

You will find a great lemony zing in this blueberry upside-down cake. The two fruits are a perfect pairing, and the recipe is rather quick and simple. Bake this fruity, buttery cake for a special occasion or freeze it so you'll have a dessert ready to serve whenever needed.

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Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

Diana Rattray

Dried lavender flowers (available at health food stores, farmers markets, and online) add a subtle, elegant floral aroma to this bright-tasting lemon pound cake with lemon-lavender glaze. Serve it for special spring occasions and events, using additional buds to decorate the cake plate.
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The Ultimate Lemon Posset

The Spruce

Make these super-easy individual stovetop lemon custards any time you're expecting dinner guests and prepping dessert in advance. It only takes three ingredients and 15 minutes to make. Chill the mixture in ramekins in the fridge while you go about your day.
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Lemon Chiffon Cake

Kristina Vanni

You can't go wrong with a homemade lemon chiffon cake. This recipe cooks in an ungreased tube pan and can feed a crowd. Make the cake ahead of time so that it has time to cool and drizzle it just before serving. It's perfect for a brunch, afternoon tea, party, or dinnertime dessert.
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Lemon Cheesecake Mousse

Laurel Randolph

Kids and adults alike will inhale this fluffy lemon cheesecake mousse that's light enough to enjoy on warmer days. Add your favorite berries for garnish, and feel free to make it with key lime in place of lemon for a fun variation.

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Classic French Lemon Tart

The Spruce

Serve up a patisserie favorite with this simple, classic French lemon tart recipe. The tangy lemon filling is made with creme fraiche (or sour cream) for extra richness, creating a beautiful balance for the sweet, flaky pastry crust.
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Lemon Marshmallows

Elizabeth LaBau

Homemade lemon marshmallows are tangy as all get-out, light as a feather, and kick store-bought marshmallows to the curb! Dip them into melted dark chocolate and let them set for a treat grown-ups will rave about, or dust them with powdered sugar for kids to enjoy.
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Blueberry Lemon Cake

Kristina Vanni

Lemon and blueberry is a classic combination, and for good reason. The sweet blueberries are a perfect pair to bright, tart lemon. This blueberry lemon bundt cake would make a lovely summertime dessert for brunch or dinner.
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Dairy-Free Vegan Lemon Cupcakes

The Spruce

Vegan lemon cupcakes are wonderful to enjoy in spring and summer, and make a great lunchbox treat. Olive oil and soy milk in the batter keeps these cupcakes extra-moist. Store the finished cupcakes in the fridge, or freeze up to three months.

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French Lemon Souffle

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

You've heard of a cheese souffle, but have you ever tried a classic lemon dessert souffle? Making one is easier than you may think, using our step-by-step recipe. Sprinkled with powdered sugar, it makes a light yet satisfying dessert for dinner parties or a romantic dinner at home.
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Indian Cham Cham Dessert with Lemon Juice and Saffron

Jehangir Hanafi/Dreamstime

Cham cham is a traditional North Indian dessert that comes in a variety of flavors. This treat requires a number of steps to make, but produces sweet, pillowy dough balls you'll dream about for weeks. If you're up for something different, try making a version that's flavored with freshly squeezed lemon juice and aromatic saffron.
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Easy Lemon Sorbet with Fresh Lemon Zest

France Ruffenach/The Image Bank/Getty Images

Whether you enjoy it for dessert or as a palate cleanser between courses, this ultra-smooth lemon sorbet is sure to please your taste buds. Use your ice cream maker to prepare it, and enjoy whenever you crave a simple cooling scoop of lemony goodness.
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Creamy Lemon Dessert Sauce

Lemon dessert sauce is delicious drizzled over fresh fruit, gingerbread, cakes of all kinds, and Sunday morning blueberry pancakes. This sauce boasts a thick, custard-like texture thanks to heavy cream and egg, and a wonderful sweet-tart flavor from fresh lemon juice.