Is there really anything as incredible as lemon desserts? I honestly don’t think I can ever get enough of them. Whether it’s Lemon Blueberry Donuts, No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake, Greek Yogurt Lemon Bundt Cake, Lemon Cheesecake Bars, you name it…I am probably having seconds. Thirds aren’t out of the question. This Lemon Lush is the ultimate lemon dessert. It’s completely made-from-scratch with a buttery shortbread crust, a lemony cream cheese filling, homemade lemon pudding, and whipped cream. It’s bright, fresh, light, creamy, and absolutely incredible. This dessert makes the perfect addition to summer BBQs, potlucks, parties, or just to have on-hand at home to steal a bite of every time you walk by the fridge. 😉 (If you love luscious and creamy desserts, check out my Chocolate Lasagna or this Paula Deen Banana Pudding next!)
Ingredients Needed:
This Lemon Lush is made up of a few different layers. Here’s what you’ll need:
Shortbread Crust
Unsalted Butter: make sure the butter is cold and cubed into small pieces. Flour: fluffed and leveled to prevent a dry crust. Granulated Sugar: gives the shortbread crust a touch of sweetness.
Cream Cheese Layer
Cream Cheese: be sure to bring the cream cheese to room temperature for a completely smooth texture. Powdered Sugar: sweetens the cream cheese filling and gives it more structure. Lemon Juice: use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
Lemon Pudding
Whole Milk and Granulated Sugar: a sweet and creamy base for our lemon pudding. Eggs: adds richness and gives the pudding its classic creamy consistency. Cornstarch: helps thicken the pudding. Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice: gives the pudding an extra intense lemon flavor. Remember, freshly squeezed is the way to go! Vanilla Extract: adds flavor depth and warmth to contrast the brightness of the lemon. Yellow Food Coloring: food coloring is optional, but it does give the lemon pudding that bright yellow color.
Sweetened Whipped Cream
Heavy Whipping Cream and Powdered Icing Sugar: whipped together to form our homemade whipped cream. Vanilla Extract: adds a touch of warmth and flavor depth.
How to Make Lemon Lush
This lemon dessert is made up of three simple layers, homemade whipped cream, and comes together with 20 minutes of prep!
Tips, Tricks, & Notes for Lemon Lush
Cool the crust completely. If the crust is hot when you add the cream cheese layer, it will become runny and melty. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. The flavor is just unmatched by the bottled stuff. Chill for at least 6 hours. Make sure you chill this lemon dessert in the fridge for a minimum of 6 hours so it sets completely. Make ahead of time. This Lemon Lush lasts 3-4 days in the fridge so it’s great to make ahead of time!
Variations
Add nuts. Feel free to give your dessert a bit of extra crunch with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts or pecans. Swap the crust. You can easily swap the shortbread crust out for a graham cracker crust or Golden Oreo crust. Use store-bought pudding. I’m all for homemade lemon pudding, but if you want to save a little bit of time, swap it out for store-bought lemon pudding or even lemon pie filling. Use Cool Whip. You can also save a little bit of time by using Cool Whip in place of the homemade whipped topping.
More Lemon Desserts You’ll Love
Lemon Icebox Pie
Easy Lemon Meringue Pie recipe
Frosted Lemon Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
Greek Yogurt Lemon Bundt Cake
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