Dessert Advisor's Top 10 Lemon Desserts

The fresh and citrusy flavour of the lemon brings a splash of sunshine to any dessert it touches. So, we’ve decided to put the spotlight on our top 10 lemon desserts for National Lemon Juice Day.

1. Lemon Bars

Firstly, lemon bars. Delicate and dainty, these are perfect for picnics and high teas. Their zingy and vibrant filling sits atop a crisp and buttery shortbread and being pre-cut, you don’t need any cutlery! Often dusted with icing sugar, these squares (or rectangles) travel well. 

2. Lemon Tart

We also refer to them as “tarte au citron”. This is the quintessential French tart that you can find in cafes and patisseries all throughout the year. Don’t confuse this dessert with the lemon meringue pie, though! The sharp lemon filling sits inside a sweet and flaky tart shell and is served with little else other than clotted, whipped, or Chantilly cream.

3. Lemon Cheesecake

Sometimes light and refreshing, sometimes thick and creamy, the lemon cheesecake comes in many forms. A great combination of sweet and tart. The citrusy flavour has a delicate way of balancing the richness of the cheesecake. You can bake it New York-style and top it with freshly made curd. It can also be a no-bake lemon cheesecake that’s light and smooth.

4. Lemon Pudding

An old fashioned dessert that is best when served warm. Lemon pudding is also called lemon delicious pudding in Australia and New Zealand. For good reason, too. In the oven, while it’s baking, the fluffy lemon cake has a way of separating from the gooey pudding underneath. It’s almost as if you’re getting two desserts for the price of one when you tap into the delicious pudding surprise at the bottom!

5. Lemon Sorbet

Once used as a palate cleanser, lemon sorbet now stands firmly on its own two feet when it comes to ‘proper dessert’. Known to be intensely tart and citrusy, it’s perfect for the sour taste fans! Perfect after a spicy meal, we recommend this sorbet on any hot summer’s day. Made with three simple ingredients: lemon, water, and sugar, it’s viewed as a sophisticated dessert but it does lend itself well to bonus ingredients like vodka, limoncello, and even gin.

6. Lemon Cookies

Soft and chewy, lemon cookies are certainly a crowd-pleaser. Also referred to as lemon drop cookies, or anginetti if you have any Italian in you, this cookie is a bright addition to any day. With light and crispy edges, the almost cake-like interior is often coated in a sweet icing. It’s hard to just stop at one!

7. Lemon Cake

One of the ultimate lemon desserts, whether it’s a pound cake, a layered cake, or a classy lemon syrup cake, you can’t go wrong. Moist and buttery, these cakes often contain lemon juice and plenty of zest, which gives a wonderfully fresh perfume to match the punchy icing or frosting on top. If you have the chance to try it with buttermilk or yogurt, we recommend you do, as those additions make for superior cakey crumbs!

8. Lemon Marmalade

A throwback suggestion for all the grandmas and grandpas. While lemon marmalade can prove harder to come by than other citrus options like orange and tangerine, it’s no less delicious! Like the sorbet, it contains just three ingredients: lemon, water, and sugar, but can also have ginger added to it. The fruit pieces are balancing the zesty tang, and the ginger adding extra zing! This marmalade is perfect for scones, biscuits, muffins, and toast.

9. Lemon Posset

A cross between pudding and lemon curd, posset was first a comforting medieval drink. A creamy drink that used to be curdled with wines, ales, and liqueurs, it was used to help bring on sleep. Now lemon posset is experiencing a resurgence on the food scene. With a lush and velvety texture similar to mousse, we’re grateful it’s making a comeback.

10. Lemon Meringue Pie

Lastly (but certainly not least!), the beautiful and timeless lemon meringue pie. This classic dessert features a sweet and flaky crust, a smooth but zingy filling, and all topped by a billowy, dream-like meringue that’s lightly toasted. It tastes even better than it looks – and it looks great!

There you have it, our top 10 lemon desserts to help you with some edible inspiration this Nation Lemon Juice Day.