8 Fresh and Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes

If you are wondering what you can do with a bunch of lemons or lemon curd, look no further! This collection of 8 lemon dessert recipes features fresh and easy ways you can use them all up. From cookies, to cake to bars, you cannot go wrong with any of these delicious desserts!

As a trained pastry chef, I am used to playing with a lot of different flavors. Lemon though has always been a favorite. There is something about the bright, fresh flavor that it brings to liven up recipes. I love using the juice instead of extract, and using the zest to punch up the flavor!

Lemon curd is also one of my favorite things to eat with just a spoon! But you can also use it to fill cakes, dollop, onto cookies, or swirl into buttercream frosting.

In this post you’ll find 8 refreshing lemon dessert recipes from my blog that are all tried, tested and true! Please let me know which one you like the best!

Super Fluffy Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is SO incredibly fluffy. You can make it into a layer cake or bake it into a sheet cake, just adjust the baking time to bake longer as a sheet cake. This cake also has a delicious lemon cream cheese frosting!

Get the recipe

Thick, Soft, and Chewy Lemon Coconut Cookies

These soft and chewy lemon-coconut cookies are irresistibly delicious! They’re the perfect balance between sweet and zesty. They come together in just a few minutes and you don’t have to chill them!

Get the recipe

Zesty Lemon Buttercream Frosting

This lemon buttercream frosting has serious flavor to it! It’s made with both lemon juice and lemon zest for that extra flavor punch. This icing is perfect to add to all your favorite Spring desserts!

Get the recipe

Easy and Fresh Lemon Meringue Cookies

These Lemon meringue cookies are made with fresh lemons and are so easy to make. They have a melt in your mouth shortbread cookie crust, a lemon curd filling, and are topped with a light meringue. Follow the step by step instructions to make these delicious cookies!

Get the recipe

Melt in Your Mouth Lemon Shortbread Cookies

These lemon shortbread cookies are the perfect balance between sweet and sour! They are super light but bursting with fresh lemon flavor. One bite is all you need to be hooked on these melt in your mouth cookies.

Get the recipe

Easy Lemon Bars

These Lemon Bars are BURSTING with lemon flavor! They have a melt in your mouth shortbread crust, and an easy to make lemon filling. Dust them with powdered sugar and you are set!

Get the recipe

Easy Blueberry Lemon Scones

These Blueberry Lemon Scones are absolutely delicious. They come together in just a few minutes and bake up golden and flaky. Top them with a lemon glaze and its the perfect breakfast treat!

Get the recipe

The Best Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

These Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies are a HUGE HIT during the holidays but can be made anytime of year! The shortbread cookie is full of irresistible lemon flavor that you will absolutely love!

Get the recipe

8 Fresh and Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes Including Easy Lemon Shortbread Cookies

If you are wondering what you can do with a bunch of lemons or lemon curd, look no further! This collection of 8 lemon dessert recipes features fresh and easy ways you can use them all up. From cookies, to cake to bars, you cannot go wrong with any of these delicious desserts!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: Scottish

Diet: Kosher

Keyword: citrus desserts, easy lemon desserts, lemon desserts, summer desserts

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Chilling Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 22 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 116kcal

Author: Sam Adler

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (227g) softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar (56g)
• 2 tsp lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract optional
• 2 cups all purpose flour (240g)
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• turbinado sugar for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium sized bowl or the bowl of a hand or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar together on low until light and airy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add the 2 tsp lemon zest, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (if using), and mix lightly to combine. Add in the 2 cups of flour and 1/4 tsp kosher salt. Mix until a unified dough forms.
• Shape the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Unwrap the dough and place it between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1/2" thickness and cut out shapes using a cookie cutter. Repeat the process with scraps. You might have to chill the scraps for a few minutes again before re-rolling. Lift the cookies using an offset spatula 1 1/2" apart onto their baking tray.
• If possible chill the cookies for another 10 minutes on the baking tray.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until firm. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar or more lemon zest if you want!

Notes

Turbinado sugar is a coarse type of sugar that can be added to the top of the shortbread.

If the cookies are falling apart while cutting and moving them, chill the dough for a few minutes to harden it up. 

The vanilla extract is optional to add extra flavor.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

8 Fresh and Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes Including Easy Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)

Calories 116 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 26mg1%

Potassium 14mg0%

Carbohydrates 10g3%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 236IU5%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 4mg0%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.