Lemon Lush dessert is light, creamy and sweet, yet tart. This layered treat has all the delicious flavors of cheesecake but is so much lighter, making it the perfect refreshing dessert for the warmer season.
If your family is like mine, they will love the cool lemony tang of these desserts: lemonade pie recipe and girl scout lemon cookies.
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Why this Lemon Lush Dessert Recipe is a Keeper
This is a great dessert for summer. It’s super easy, perfect for feeding a crowd and the layers make a beautiful design.
- Bright and Refreshing Flavor: The tangy lemon curd or pudding layer provides a wonderful zing that’s perfectly balanced by the sweet and creamy layers. It’s a dessert that truly wakes up your taste buds, making it ideal for warmer weather or as a light contrast to a richer meal.
- Easy to Make (with shortcuts!): Despite its impressive layered appearance, Lemon Lush is surprisingly straightforward to assemble. Many recipes offer shortcuts like using pre-made cookie crusts or instant pudding, making it a breeze even for novice bakers.
- Crowd-Pleaser: The combination of textures – a buttery or crunchy crust, a smooth and creamy filling, and a light whipped topping – is universally appealing. The bright lemon flavor is also a hit with a wide range of palates. It’s a dessert that often disappears quickly at gatherings and potlucks.
- Customizable: The recipe is versatile and allows for variations to suit different preferences. You can experiment with different types of crusts (graham cracker, shortbread, Oreo), add nuts to the crust or topping, or even switch up the flavor of the pudding layer (though lemon is a classic for a reason!). Some people enhance the lemon flavor with extra zest or juice.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The needs time to chill and set, which makes it a fantastic make-ahead dessert. You can prepare it hours or even a day in advance, leaving you stress-free when it’s time to serve.
- Visually Appealing: The distinct layers create an attractive presentation that looks more complicated than it actually is. A sprinkle of nuts or a garnish of lemon slices adds a final touch that makes it look extra special.
Can you Freeze Lemon Lasagna?
Yes. Store this creamy lemon delight in an airtight bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Pro Tip for the Lemon Lush Layered Dessert
Garnish with lemon slices, zest, crushed shortbread cookies, or fresh berries right before serving.
Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions for the Lemon Pudding Dessert
To make this recipe, you will need just a few easy to find ingredients. This recipe is super customizable, so feel free to try different ingredients and flavors.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Fresh Lemon: Use fresh Lemon juice and zest to get the best lemon flavor.
- Pudding: I like using instant pudding, but you could also make homemade lemon pudding if you have a recipe you love.
- Pudding Variations: Try different pudding flavors to try in combination with the lemon zest and lemon juice cream cheese. I love lemon blueberry.
- Lemon Curd: Use lemon curd to top the cream cheese and lemon pudding layers. If you love lemon, then this is an amazing addition to the lemon lush like a lemon meringue pie.
- Nuts: Instead of walnuts, make a pecan crust with chopped pecans for this lighter than lemon cheesecake.
- Sugar Free: The recipe called for regular but you can use a sugar free instant pudding and whip topping for this favorite recipe.
- Crust: Use a graham cracker crust instead of the homemade crust then add lemon layers.
How to Make the Lemon Lush Recipe
This recipe comes together in 4 quick and easy steps. I love all lemon desserts, but this one is certainly one of my favorites.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Bake the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350℉. Combine the flour and butter until crumbly, then add chopped walnuts. Press the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish and bake until golden brown.
- Lemon Cream Cheese Layer: Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
- Pudding Layer: In another bowl, whisk the instant lemon pudding mix and milk together. Let the mixture firm up, then spread the layer of lemon pudding over the cream cheese layer in an even layer.
- Add Toppings and Chill: Add the whipped cream, spread evenly, over the pudding layer and garnish with remaining chopped walnuts. Chill for at least 4 hours.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for the Lemon Dessert with Whipped Topping
Preparing a recipe ahead of time can be the best way to go. Make this dessert in advance to be able to enjoy it after dinner.
- Make Ahead: Lemon lush is a layered dessert, so make the dish and refrigerate until ready to serve.
How to Store and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Store the lemon dessert in an airtight container. Keep this dessert in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy this sweetened cream cheese lemon dessert topped with whipped cream with Lemon White Chocolate Cookies
Common Questions About This Lemon Lasagna Recipe
Can I Make Another Way?
If you’d like, try making layers using half of the cream cheese filling and lemon pudding mix at a time. This will result in a more layered dessert.
Why is my Dessert Runny?
If your dessert is runny, chances are you added too much milk to the pudding. You can try to thicken it with more gelatin or cornstarch, but next time be sure to add the right amount of liquid.
Do I Have to Use Nuts in the Lemon Lush?
Nope. Feel free to make the shortbread crust without nuts, or make an alternative crust such as a graham cracker crust. Some graham cracker crusts don’t need to be baked, making it a true no-bake pastry.
Expert Tips for Making This Lemon Lush Recipe
- Buttery Shortbread Crust: Classic crust is made from flour, butter, and chopped pecans. Toast the pecans first for a nuttier, deeper flavor.
- Chill: Chill the crust dough for 10 mins before baking to keep it from puffing up too much. Also, be sure to allow to cool completely before adding pudding mixture.
- Room Temperature: Soften the cream cheese fully to avoid lumps in the lemon cream cheese filling.
- Set Time: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, so the layers set up and slice clean.
- Toppings: Top with lemon zest, fresh whipped cream, berries, sugar and lemon slices.
- Individual: Make individual parfaits that are easy to take on the go.
- Use Cool Whip: You can make homemade whipped cream using sugar and heavy whipping cream. However, the frozen whip topping is more stable and best for this lemon lush recipe.
- Serve this Recipe With: Serve with 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars, Caramel Chocolate Oatmeal Bars or Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake.
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Lemon Lush
Lemon Lush dessert is light, creamy and sweet, yet tart. This layered treat has all the delicious flavors of cheesecake but is so much lighter, making it perfect for the warmer season.
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Ingredients
CRUST:
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Butter, softened
- 1 cup Walnuts, chopped
CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
- 16 ounces Cream cheese, 2- packages softened
- 1 ¼ cups Powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons Lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
PUDDING LAYER:
- 6.8 ounces Instant lemon pudding, 2 packages
- 3 cups Milk
- 12 ounces Frozen whipped topping, thawed
- ½ cup Walnuts, chopped, optional
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Add the flour and butter to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture is crumbly.
- Add the walnuts and pulse until combined.
- Press the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
- Let crust cool.
Cream Cheese Layer
- While the crust is cooling, add the cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, lemon juice and zest to a medium bowl and mix together until smooth. Spread evenly over the cooled crust.
Pudding Layer
- In a medium bowl, whisk the pudding and milk together until fully combined; Let the mixture firm up for about 15 minutes.
- Once the pudding is set, spread it over the cream cheese layer in an even layer.
- Spread the whipped topping over the pudding layer and garnish with remaining chopped walnuts.
- Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
Christina’s Notes
- Buttery Shortbread Crust: Classic crust is made from flour, butter, and chopped pecans. Toast the pecans first for a nuttier, deeper flavor.
- Chill: Chill the crust dough for 10 mins before baking to keep it from puffing up too much. Also, be sure to allow to cool completely before adding pudding mixture.
- Room Temperature: Soften the cream cheese fully to avoid lumps in the lemon cream cheese filling.
- Set Time: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, so the layers set up and slice clean.
- Toppings: Top with lemon zest, fresh whipped cream, berries, sugar and lemon slices.
- Individual: Make individual parfaits that are easy to take on the go.
- Use Cool Whip: You can make homemade whipped cream using sugar and heavy whipping cream. However, the frozen whip topping is more stable and best for this lemon lush recipe.
- Serve this Recipe With: Serve with 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars, Caramel Chocolate Oatmeal Bars or Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake.
Helpful Tips for All RecipesThese quick tips will help you get perfect results every time.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nutrition
Calories: 506kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 13gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 513mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 616IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 251mgIron: 2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
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