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Mike Krautter
When life gives you lemons, make our favorite lemon dessert recipes. From crowd-pleasing sheet cakes to dainty tarts, they're the bright bite that ends any meal on a high note. They are year-round crowd-pleasers because lemon is as welcome in winter as it is refreshing at a summer cookout or potluck. And is there any type of dessert that doesn't work with lemon? Our collection encompasses the classics—there's more than one take on lemon meringue pie and a nod to how much we love lemon bars. We're also sharing some less-expected lemon desserts because you’ll want to make them, too.
Lemon-Meringue Sheet Cake
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Lofty peaks of irresistible meringue top a luscious lemon sheet cake in this dramatic dessert. If you don't have a blowtorch, you can brown the peaks with a quick blast under the broiler.
Lemon Cake
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Julia Hartbeck
This moist lemon cake features lemon juice and zest in the batter. The baked layers are brushed with lemon simple syrup and sandwiched with whipped frosting or lemon curd. We use the same whipped frosting to cover the cake—and it includes a little lemon juice! Candied lemon slices are the finishing touch that this super citrus dessert needs.
Glazed Lemon Cookies
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Brie Goldman
Easy to make and easy to love—that's these lemon cookies. No rolling or shaping is needed because they are drop cookies. They bake up sweet, cakey, and packed with lemon flavor.
Lemon-Glazed Sheet Cake
The perfect dessert to bring to a potluck or picnic, this sheet cake serves a crowd and can be made in advance. In our book, that's a win-win!
Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones
Gone are the days of dry, bland scones. Enter: these bright, spiced scones with flaky layers offering refreshing lemon flavor.
Meyer-Lemon Shortbread Wreath Cookies
Lemon doesn't just shine in summery desserts. Extra-special Meyer lemons flavor buttery shortbread—and the delicate glaze—for these festive holiday cookies.
Meyer-Lemon and Hazelnut Tart
Toasted ground hazelnuts take the place of flour in the crust for this tart, so gluten-free guests can indulge in a slice, too. The luscious filling has the perfect balance of tart-but-not-too-tart flavor.
Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake
Is there any better combination than coconut and lemon? We don't think so, which is why we've created a multi-layered treat made with coconut cake and coconut lemon curd. The cake is garnished with even more coconut flakes and candied lemon slices for a hint as to what's waiting on the inside.
Lemon Tassies
If you're hosting a more casual gathering where guests will be mixing and mingling, these individual bite-sized tarts are perfect for passing around.
Lemon Shortcakes With Basil Berries
This isn't any old-fashioned strawberry shortcake. Lemon zest perks up the basic biscuits, and a few tablespoons of lemon juice cut the sweetness of macerated berries.
Vanilla Sheet Cake With Lemon Cream-Cheese Frosting
Did someone say summer? Instead of making a fussy layer cake, bake this low-maintenance but super delicious sheet cake. It's decorated with a creamy, bright frosting, plus lemon zest and juicy blueberries.
Lemon-Date Bars
Medjool dates have a deep caramel flavor and chewy texture that is a delight to bite into in this riff on classic lemon bars. Date paste is spread over a homemade crust and then topped with a creamy lemon filling and a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Lemon Honey Cake
Honey and light brown sugar collaborate on sweetness in this mild lemon cake. Don't fancy lots of frosting? The bare sides and creamy lemon curd feel just right here.
Sparkly Lemon Cookies
Give these lemon cookies the finishing touch they deserve with a sprinkling of coarse sanding sugar. The crunchy topping is a delightful contrast to the cakey texture of the cookies.
Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie
This cake is not for the faint of heart—and that's why it's so fantastic. A lemony filling made with eight egg yolks and a cup of heavy cream is plenty rich and indulgent. And it just so happens to be one of Martha's favorites.
Lemon Cornmeal Cake
A combination of raw ground almonds, cornmeal, olive oil, and almond extract put this cake in a league of its own. With just a dusting of powdered sugar for the topping, it's a casual dessert that's perfect for a party.
Pear-and-Lemon Pie With Pâte Brisée Crust
Instead of making an apple pie for Thanksgiving (or anytime, really), try this unexpected dessert made with pear slices, candied lemon peel, cinnamon, and perky lemon juice.
Lemon-Basil Custard Pie With Red Berries
Three kinds of vibrant berries—strawberries, raspberries, and currants—are mixed and macerated together to top this rich lemon custard. It's a juicy contrast that works so well.
Lemon-Mascarpone Crepe Cake
Want to create a dessert that will truly wow? Nearly two dozen crepes, stacked on top of each other between layers of a light lemon curd, should do the trick.
Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake
Perk up your morning with our sweet, crumbly coffee cake. Sliced Meyer lemons are baked into the batter of this cake for an unexpected tart flavor in each bite. If that's not enough, we've incorporated Meyer lemon juice into the glaze as well.
Lemon-Cranberry Meringue Pie
Take a gander at this beauty. On top of our buttery, flaky pate brisée is a double layer of tart goodness. The first layer is a creamy lemon filling that then gets topped with a thin cranberry gelée and is chilled until set.
Lemon Curd Soufflé Tart
We've upgraded a basic lemon tart with a light, mousse-like filling and an all-butter crust. A generous dusting of powdered sugar is the finishing touch.
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