Easy Lemon Desserts You’ll Crave All Spring & Summer 🍋
There’s something about lemon desserts that just feels fresh, bright, and endlessly craveable. If you’re a lemon lover, you’re in for a treat! We’ve rounded up 14 of our favorite easy lemon desserts, from classic bars and showstopping pies to soft cookies and tender cakes.
Whether you’re baking for a spring gathering, a summer cookout, or just because you’ve got a bag of lemons on the counter, there’s something in this list for every skill level and every occasion. Let’s get to baking!
Cakes & Cupcakes
When it comes to lemon desserts, cakes and cupcakes are where that bright citrus flavor really gets to shine. From the ultra-moist Lemon Jello Cake to gorgeous Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes, every recipe in this section is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Grab your mixing bowl because one of these beauties is about to become your new favorite.
Lemon Jello Cake
A super moist, tender cake made with lemon gelatin mixed right into the batter for an extra punch of citrus flavor.
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Lemon Cake with Frosting
A bright, fluffy lemon layer cake topped with a tangy, velvety cream cheese frosting that balances sweet and tart perfectly.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
A classic pairing of zesty lemon and nutty poppyseeds baked into a soft, fragrant cake that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
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Lemon Poppy Mini Bundts
Individually portioned mini bundts with a gorgeous glaze. It's the perfect make-ahead treat for a brunch or shower spread.
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Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes
Fluffy lemon cupcakes loaded with juicy blueberries and topped with a bright lemon frosting. It's a crowd-pleasing combination.
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Iced Meyer Lemon Cake
Made with sweet, floral Meyer lemons and finished with a simple drizzle icing for an elegant and effortlessly simple dessert.
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Bars & Tarts
If you ask me, bars and tarts are the ultimate stress-free way to serve a crowd without sacrificing any of the wow factor. They slice up beautifully, travel like a dream, and somehow taste even better after a little time in the fridge. These lemon bars and tarts hit every note you want in a citrus dessert.
Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Creamy lemon cheesecake swirled with a vibrant raspberry ribbon on a buttery crust… stunning enough for a party, simple enough for a weeknight.
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Raspberry Lemon Tart Bars
Bright lemon curd and sweet-tart raspberries come together in bar form for an easy, picnic-ready take on a classic tart.
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Mom’s Lemon Meringue Pie
A showstopping dessert with a flaky crust, luscious lemon filling, and towering toasted meringue that never fails to impress.
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Lemon Bars
A buttery shortbread crust topped with a silky, tangy lemon curd filling and a dusting of powdered sugar.
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Cookies & Muffins
Sometimes the best lemon dessert is the one you can grab straight off the cooling rack without any fuss, and that is exactly what this section is all about. These lemon cookies and muffins are quick to make, easy to share, and packed with that bright, zippy citrus flavor we just can’t get enough of. These are dangerously good… basically, you need all of them.
Soft Lemon Cheesecake Cookies
Soft, pillowy cookies with a hidden cream cheese center that gives every bite a luscious cheesecake-like richness.
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Glazed Lemon Cookies
Chewy lemon cookies studded with creamy white chocolate chips and finished with a sweet lemon glaze for extra zing.
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Lemon Drop Cookies
Light, melt-in-your-mouth drop cookies bursting with fresh lemon flavor. They're quick to make and impossible to eat just one.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Bakery-style muffins with a tender crumb, bold lemon flavor, and a satisfying poppyseed crunch. Perfect for breakfast or dessert.
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From melt-in-your-mouth cookies to towering meringue pies, these lemon desserts never disappoint. The best part? Most of these recipes come together with simple pantry staples and a handful of fresh lemons, making them as easy as they are impressive.
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Lemon Jello Cake
This Lemon Jello Cake is perfect anytime of year, but it's especially great for Easter and the 4th of July. It's an easy lemon cake that uses a few shortcuts to speed things up!
Course 500+ Best Dessert Recipes, America’s Best 4th of July Desserts, Recipes and Sides, Easy Cake Recipes For Beginners, Over 100 Easter Recipes for Spring
Cuisine American
Keyword cake, dessert, jello, lemon
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 27 minutes minutes
Total Time 37 minutes minutes
Servings 12 -16
Calories 375kcal
Author Sweet Basil
For the Cake
- 1 Box Lemon Cake Mix 15.25 oz
- 4 Eggs large
- 1 ⅓ Cups Water
- 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Package Lemon Jello small box — 3 oz
Make the Jello Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and sprinkle with flour.
Tip and tap the edges of the cake pan to coat it with flour.
In the bowl of a mixer, add the cake mix, eggs, water, oil and jello powder and mix together.
1 Box Lemon Cake Mix, 4 Eggs, 1 ⅓ Cups Water, 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil, 1 Package Lemon Jello
Pour into the greased and floured pan.
Bake for 27-30 minutes. While the cake is in the oven, prep the icing (see instructions below).
When cake is done, poke all over with a fork while still hot.
Immediately pour lemon icing over top.
Make the Lemon Icing:
In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth.
2 Lemons, 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
*Note that you must use regular Jello (i.e. not sugar-free or another alternative).
Store covered, at room temperature, or may be stored in the refrigerator. Serving: 1piece | Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 364mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g