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  1. Midwest Living
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  4. Luscious Lemon Dessert Recipes

Luscious Lemon Dessert Recipes

By Midwest Living editors Updated January 04, 2023
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Lemon Posset
Credit: Blaine Moats

Our refreshing, tangy lemon treats include lemon pies, cakes, cookies, bars, cheesecakes and ice cream.

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Lemon Posset

Lemon Posset
Credit: Blaine Moats
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This brilliant (and totally old-school) British dessert uses just heat and kitchen magic to turn lemon and cream into luscious pudding. Watch a short video on how to make a lemon posset.

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Lemon Sugar Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies
Credit: Carson Downing
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The light lemon flavor gives these sparkling sugar cookies a little special twist. Judy Kiburz Harrison's recipe won best-in-class at the Iowa State Fair.

Related: The Midwest's Best Cookie Recipes

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Candied Lemon Pound Cake

Candied Lemon Pound Cake
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This moist, buttery pound cake has a triple threat of lemon: Chopped candied peel speckles the interior, and thin strips dance along the top, over a sheen of puckery lemon icing. The recipe comes from Nathaniel Reid Bakery in St. Louis.

Related: Ultimate Cake Recipes

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Lemon-Cream Cheese Pie

Lemon-Cream Cheese Pie
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This creamy lemon pie, a longtime reader-favorite recipe, is a signature dessert at Al's Oasis, a family restaurant along the east bank of the Missouri River in Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Related: Make Your Best Pie Ever

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Blackberry Lemon Scones

basket of Blackberry Lemon Scones
Credit: Blaine Moats
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These scones are a signature item in the cafe on Elderslie Farm in Kechi, Kansas. Use a silicone spatula to gently stir in the berries so they stay intact and don't stain the dough purple.

Related: Simple Recipes for Tender, Buttery Scones

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Puckery Lemon Bars

Puckery Lemon Bars
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These lemon bars are less sturdy and more lusciously creamy than their classic bake-sale cousins. You may want to eat them with a fork.

Related: Our Best Bar Cookies

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No-Churn Lemon Bar Ice Cream

No-Churn Lemon Bar Ice Cream
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True to the easy no-churn spirit, this burst of summer sunshine requires no stovetop cooking or baking: Just stir in purchased lemon curd and crumbled vanilla Oreos.

Related: Try Our No-Churn Blueberry Ice Cream and No-Churn Peanut Brittle Ice Cream

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Lemonade Cake

Lemonade Cake
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Lemon Butter Frosting tops a summer-perfect dessert flavored with thawed lemonade concentrate.

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Lemon Curd Tart

Lemon Curd Tart
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This decadent recipe comes from Incredibly Delicious in Springfield, Illinois. "The lemon curd is one of our favorite workhorses," says owner-chef Patrick Groth. 

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Meyer Lemon Pots de Crème with Honeyed Kumquats

Meyer Lemon Pots de Crème with Honeyed Kumquats
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The creamy lemon puddings look and taste sophisticated but are actually quite simple to make, and they can even be prepared in advance.

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Toasted Fennel-Lemon Cake

Toasted Fennel-Lemon Cake
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This moist beauty begs for a mug of afternoon tea. Fennel seeds add the faintest hint of licorice flavor, just enough to make the cake stand out from the other Bundts in the room. We like the sweeter flavor of Meyer lemons in this cake. Look for them sold in bags at large supermarkets. If you substitute regular lemons, reduce the zest to 2 tablespoons.

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Cranberry-Lemon Tart

Cranberry-Lemon Tart
Credit: Carson Downing
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This tangy, make-ahead tart, perfect for the holidays, has a crisp ginger crust. The gorgeous swirls of cranberry and lemon curd are easily created with a toothpick or chopstick.

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Lemon Curd Bars

Lemon Curd Bars
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The Little Traveler in Geneva, Illinois, uses creamy, tangy lemon curd to make these bars for its "girlfriend tea" events.

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Triple Lemon Pie

Triple Lemon Pie
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This pie earns its triple-lemon name from peel, juice and extract. (You can add lemon slices and whipped cream on top of the baked pie for even more lemony goodness!) A store-bought piecrust speeds prep.

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Blueberry-Topped Lemon Cheesecake

Blueberry-Topped Lemon Cheesecake
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This recipe features a luscious fresh blueberry sauce on creamy lemon cheesecake.

Related: Rich and Creamy Cheesecakes

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Luscious Lemon Bars
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Sweet and tart, these moist, powdered sugar-topped classics will disappear fast at a potluck.

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Lemon Walnut Biscotti

Lemon Walnut Biscotti
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Biscotti gets its crunch from twice-baking. This citrus-speckled recipe comes from the former Inn at Kristofer's in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

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Lemon Drop Cupcakes

Lemon Drop Cupcakes
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Lemon liqueur and lemon zest flavor these cupcakes, while swirled lemon frosting adds an elegant topping. Finish with glazed lemon slices or crushed lemon drop candies.

Related: Delicious Cupcake Recipes

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Lemon-Blueberry Biscuits

Lemon-Blueberry Biscuits
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Lemon yogurt is the secret ingredient in these pretty biscuits. The recipe comes from Natura Farms in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. 

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Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie

Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie
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This lemon meringue pie recipe, which includes candied lemon peel, comes from Luke Reichle of Kansas City, Missouri.

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Blueberry-Lemon Loaf

Blueberry-Lemon Loaf
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Make this loaf on a Sunday night so it's ready for a quick weekday morning meal.

Related: 20 Sweet Quick Bread Loaves

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Lemon Drop Bark

Lemon Drop Bark
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Melt the candy coating, add the candy, and you're done. Bark candy is just that simple. The crushed lemon drops give this sweet treat some pucker.

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Lemon Blueberry Fan Cookies

Lemon Blueberry Fan Cookies
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Lemon extract and blueberry jam make the perfect sweet and tangy combination for these eye-catching shaped cookies.

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Fresh Rosemary & Lemon Cupcakes

Fresh Rosemary & Lemon Cupcakes
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Italian flavors inspired this cupcake, with its refreshing blend of fresh rosemary and lemon and topping of lemon glaze.

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Spiked Raspberry-Lemonade Cupcakes

Spiked Raspberry-Lemonade Cupcakes
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Lemon peel, lemon juice and raspberry liqueur give these cupcakes a refreshing sweet-sour flavor. Top with a fresh raspberry and lemon slice before serving.

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Rhubarb-Lemon Chiffon Pie

Rhubarb-Lemon Chiffon Pie
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This light and airy pie recipe was a prizewinner at the Aledo, Illinois, Rhubarb Festival.

Related: Rhubarb Recipes We Love

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Lemon-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Lemon-Pecan Shortbread Cookies
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Irresistible tangy lemon and rich pecans flavor one of the easiest cookies around: buttery shortbread. Serve with a cool dish of ice cream in warm weather or a hot cup of tea when it's chilly outside.

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Triple-Layer Lemon Cake

Triple-Layer Lemon Cake
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Lemon cream cheese frosting tops a rich special-occasion cake made with lemon peel, lemon juice and lemon curd.

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    1 of 28 Lemon Posset
    2 of 28 Lemon Sugar Cookies
    3 of 28 Candied Lemon Pound Cake
    4 of 28 Lemon-Cream Cheese Pie
    5 of 28 Blackberry Lemon Scones
    6 of 28 Puckery Lemon Bars
    7 of 28 No-Churn Lemon Bar Ice Cream
    8 of 28 Lemonade Cake
    9 of 28 Lemon Curd Tart
    10 of 28 Meyer Lemon Pots de Crème with Honeyed Kumquats
    11 of 28 Toasted Fennel-Lemon Cake
    12 of 28 Cranberry-Lemon Tart
    13 of 28 Lemon Curd Bars
    14 of 28 Triple Lemon Pie
    15 of 28 Blueberry-Topped Lemon Cheesecake
    16 of 28 Luscious Lemon Bars
    17 of 28 Lemon Walnut Biscotti
    18 of 28 Lemon Drop Cupcakes
    19 of 28 Lemon-Blueberry Biscuits
    20 of 28 Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie
    21 of 28 Blueberry-Lemon Loaf
    22 of 28 Lemon Drop Bark
    23 of 28 Lemon Blueberry Fan Cookies
    24 of 28 Fresh Rosemary & Lemon Cupcakes
    25 of 28 Spiked Raspberry-Lemonade Cupcakes
    26 of 28 Rhubarb-Lemon Chiffon Pie
    27 of 28 Lemon-Pecan Shortbread Cookies
    28 of 28 Triple-Layer Lemon Cake

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