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When Life Gives You Lemons Try Our Best Lemon Dessert Recipes

Love a good lemon dessert? Try one of these 11 lemon dessert recipes – they’re easy peasy lemon squeezy!

There’s something about a good lemon dessert recipe that I just love. Bright, tart and fresh, lemon also makes for a perfect summer dessert.

Not that I don’t love a good chocolate dessert, too, because I surely do, but lately lemon has had my heart.

From lemon pie to lemon cookies to lemon ice cream cake, lemon sits right alongside chocolate and vanilla among the crown jewels of dessert.

If you’re looking for the best lemon dessert recipes going, I’ve got you covered with 11 delicious summer dessert recipes you don’t want to miss.

1
Lemon Cupcake Recipe Photo
Julianne Bayer
Homemade Lemon Cupcakes Recipe
These homemade lemon cupcakes are topped with a creamy lemon buttermilk frosting with just the right amount of tangy lemon flavor. The cupcakes themselves are light and fluffy, packed with fresh lemon zest for a pop of bright, lemony flavor. Perfect for parties or picnics all summer long, this is about to become your go-to cupcake recipe.
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2
Raspberry Lemon Blondies Photo
Stacey Mebs
Raspberry Lemon Blondies Recipe
Fast and easy to make, these chewy raspberry lemon blondies are just the right mix of tart and sweet – a simple dessert bar recipe stuffed with fresh berries then finished with a sweet lemon glaze poured over top. These blondies are a sweet finish to any summer meal, but they’re also pretty amazing in the morning with a cup of coffee, too.
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3
Cake Mix Lemon Bars Photo
Kristan Roland
Cake Mix Lemon Bars Recipe
If you’re a lemon lover, you need a good lemon bar recipe in your dessert repertoire. These cake mix lemon bars are exactly what they sound like! Lemon bars, made from a lemon cake mix to dramatically cut down the prep time. From start to finish these lemon bars are done in under 30 minutes then drizzled with a sweet lemon glaze.
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4
Lemon Zucchini Bread Photo
Amanda Powell
Lemon Zucchini Bread Recipe
I love a great quick bread recipe because they’re as perfect for dessert as they are for snacking on alongside your morning cup of coffee as a simple, easy breakfast. This light and not-so-sweet lemon zucchini bread is topped with a fresh lemony glaze. Everything about this bread recipe screams summer.
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5
Rhubarb Lemon Macarons Photo
Amanda Powell
Rhubarb Lemon Macarons Recipe
I love a good macaron and these bright, summery lemon rhubarb macarons might just be my favorite. Soft, lemony macarons sandwich lemon rhubarb buttercream and a dollop of rhubarb jam. While macarons can be a bit trickier of a dessert to master, the effort is well worth the results to taste these incredible lemon macarons.
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6
Lemon Blueberry No Bake Cheesecakes Photo
Nora Rušev
Lemon Blueberry No Bake Cheesecakes
The perfect dessert for a spring or summer dinner party, these simple no-bake cheesecakes are bursting with sweet lemon and blueberry flavor. A simple graham cracker crust, a creamy Greek yogurt-based filling, and a delicious blueberry sauce create one seriously delicious dessert. Serve them in little jars for an easy, perfectly portioned dessert you can prep in advance.
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7
Lemon Sugar Cookies Photo
Stacey Mebs
Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
These lemon sugar cookies are so super soft they almost melt in your mouth – and they’re also so easy to make! Think sweet lemon sugar cookies topped with the perfect soft creamy lemon frosting. These aren’t your average, boring sugar cookies. In fact, these sugar cookies are good enough to make a sugar cookie fanatic out of anyone.
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8
Lemon Coconut Muffins Photo
Stacey Mebs
Lemon Coconut Muffins Recipe
Some might not consider a muffin a dessert, but I’m going to go out on a limb and label these lemon coconut muffins as dessert. Or as a great addition to brunch. Or both! It’s your call. They’re really simple to make and they freeze incredibly well so keeping a stash in the freezer is totally called for in my book.
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9
Lemon Ginger Pizzelle Sandwich Cookies Photo
Tanya Schroeder
Lemon Ginger Pizzelle Sandwich Cookies Recipe
These lemon ginger pizzelle sandwich cookies are an elegant cookie that can be made surprisingly quickly! They’re so delicious with a thick layer of filling made with mascarpone cheese and crystallized ginger. This is the kind of perfect low effort, refreshing dessert that’s perfect for summer.
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10
Lemon Cranberry Bread Photo
Stacey Mebs
Lemon Cranberry Bread Recipe
Another quick bread for your consideration, this lemon cranberry bread recipe is a show stopper. Dense, sweet lemon-flavored bread is studded with fresh, tart cranberries. To raise the bar even farther, a sweet lemon glaze made with powdered sugar and lemon juice is poured over top. This is one of those lemon dessert recipes you’ll make again and again.
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11
Gluten Free Lemon Crinkle Cookies Photo
Erin D.
Gluten Free Lemon Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Not only is this gluten free lemon crinkle cookie recipe one of our very best lemon dessert recipes, but it’s also one of our most popular dessert recipes of all time – and with good reason! These sweet, tangy cookies are a breeze to make with just a few ingredients before they’re rolled in powdered sugar and baked. You’ll love them!
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