This post is for the lemon lovers out there! I have a few at my house, so I make these 10+ Lemon Desserts often!
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These 10+ Lemon Desserts are sweet, tart, and indulgent! From Lemon Blondies to Lemon Curd Cheesecake, there's a lemon treat in this list for everyone! Also included are helpful tips on choosing lemons, juicing them, zesting them, and more!
If you're looking for more recipes to use, check out my posts for 25+ Spring Desserts, 40+ Summer Desserts, and 40+ Unique Desserts!
Types of Lemons
There are more than 30 lemon varieties, but these two are the ones that you're most likely to find in a grocery store and bake with:
- Eureka Lemons - This variety is the most common, and is available in grocery stores year-round. Eureka Lemons have a classic lemon flavor and acidity and are bright yellow in color.
- Meyer Lemons - This variety is in season in the winter months, and you'll usually find them in grocery stores through the winter and into early spring. Meyer Lemons are less acidic, sweeter, and are a bit darker in color (both the skin and the fruit) than Eureka Lemons.
How to Choose Lemons
Here are a few helpful hints to help you choose the best lemons:
- Look at the skin - The skin should be smooth and free of mold or insect damage. Bumpy skin is an indication that the lemon isn't quite ripe. The darker yellow the lemon is in color, the riper (and, therefore, juicier) it will be.
- Give it a squeeze - Lemons that are ready for use will be firm, but with a little give. Pass on any lemons that are soft or squishy. If the lemon is hard, it's not ripe yet. A good lemon will also be heavy for its size.
How to Ripen Lemons
If your lemons are a little under ripe, here are a few ways to help them along:
- Place them in a bright location - Place the lemons in a bright spot on your kitchen counter, but out of direct sunlight. Here the lemons should ripen in a few days.
- Place them in a bag - Place the lemons in a paper bag with an apple or a banana and close the bag loosely. Both apples and bananas produce ethylene gas that will help to ripen the lemons. Check the lemons daily to ensure that they're not getting too ripe.
Zesting Lemons
Many lemon recipes call for using lemon zest, which is the outermost yellow layer of the lemon's skin. An average-sized lemon will give you about one tablespoon of zest.
Lemon zest has fantastic lemon flavor, and can easily be removed with a citrus zester. Just make sure that you're only using the yellow portion of the skin and not the bitter white pith that's underneath.
If you have more lemons that you need, the lemons can be zested and the zest frozen for up to three months. I spread the zest out on a plate to freeze, then transfer the frozen zest into an airtight container. Freezing the zest this way keeps it from being stuck together and you can easily remove what you need for a recipe and return the rest to the freezer.
Juicing Lemons
There are several methods to try to get the most juice out of your lemons. This one is my favorite:
Place your (room temperature) lemon in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Take the lemon out of the microwave and roll it on your counter a few times, pressing down gently with your palm as you do. Now just slice the lemon in half and squeeze!
You'll get about 3 tablespoons of juice out of the average lemon. If you just need juice from a lemon or two, you can probably make do with just squeezing with your hands. For recipes calling for lots of lemon juice, you'll want to have a juicer to make the job easier.
Lemon Dessert Recipes
Without further ado, here are all of my favorite Lemon Desserts! I can't wait to add more to this list!
So there you have it! 10+ Lemon Desserts to fulfill your sweet-tart cravings! I hope you found something here to make your day extra sweet!
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Updated 6/4/2025
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