Spruce Up the Summer Months
Warmer weather means cool drinks and tangy desserts, which is exactly where lemon comes in. This cheerful fruit adds a burst of citrus to anything from cookies to cheesecake bites, and it’ll make your summer unforgettable.
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1. Lemon Shortbread Cookies
They’re rich, they’re buttery, they’re easy to make—they’re classic shortbread cookies! These bad boys are ready to go with just a handful of ingredients and an hour or so of your time. Fresh lemon juice and zest are the main attractions, giving this traditional dessert the citrus twist we crave.
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2. Lemon Pudding
Who said chocolate pudding was best? Its lemon friend is just as delicious, easy to make, and offers a refreshing tang for the summer. Grab your heavy whipping cream, sugar, and lemons to bring this to life. You can then serve with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream.
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3. Lemon Meringue Pie
The world would be far worse without lemon meringue. A staple dessert that’s somehow light and filling, this pie doesn’t require many ingredients. Even if you made the crust from scratch, basic kitchen ingredients get the job done.
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4. Blueberry Lemon Cake
Oh, you thought PB&J was the best combo? Blueberry and lemon is the best thing since sliced bread, often paired together for beautiful desserts like this classic treat. Nothing beats a mouthful of zesty layers on a hot day, and the best part is that it only takes an hour or so to make.
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5. Lemon Brownies
Move outta the way, chocolate! Lemon brownies are just as scrumptious and simple to make. You’ll need the usual suspects like butter, sugar, and flour (among other things) for this creation, but can also whip up your own glaze from lemons and powdered sugar.
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6. Lemon Popsicles
All that stands between you and this summer treat is lemon juice and cold water—no, really! True sweet tooths opt for a sweetener of their choice like sugar or maple syrup, but this refreshing dessert truly is low maintenance.
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7. Lemon Frozen Yogurt
Summertime means a spoonful of froyo, and there’s no reason to ignore lemon. Depending on your preferred thickness, you can get away with two-ingredient recipes or indulge in more complex ones (which include anything from agave syrup to condensed milk).
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8. Lemon Bark
Like the chocolate bark you know and love, but with a tangy twist. Best made with melted white chocolate, the only other ingredient is lemon drops. You’re left with a creamy treat that isn’t overpowered by zest.
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9. Whipped Lemonade
Lemonade is hardly a dessert on its own, but whipped lemonade takes you there. Condensed milk, whipped cream, and lemon juice are among the only ingredients you need. You can also make a non-alcoholic version or indulge in one spiked with vodka.
10. Lemon Cheesecake
Could we really ask for anything more than lemon cheesecake? This blessed union brings lemon curd and a buttery graham cracker crust together, giving us a delectable dessert perfect for summertime.
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11. Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
Okay, we may have gotten ahead of ourselves with lemon and blueberry. As it turns out, lemon and poppyseed are also an unbeatable duo. You’ve undoubtedly seen this pair in plenty of desserts already, but we like it best in fluffy muffins.
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12. Lemon Donuts
Glaze ‘em, fill ‘em, blend zest in the dough—however you enjoy them, lemon donuts are the perfect snack. They might take a couple of hours to make, but they luckily don’t take many ingredients. They’re also yours to experiment with!
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13. Raspberry Lemon Dump Cake
Dump cakes are pretty much exactly what they sound like. You get a bunch of ingredients, dump them into a pan, and you’re good to bake everything. Raspberry pairs well with lemon, so tossing them in with that boxed cake mix will do wonders.
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14. Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a versatile addition to many desserts like cookies and cakes. Now you just have to make it! You can get away with just five ingredients and a bit of stirring, making a creamy curd perfect for more complex recipes.
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15. Lemon Crinkle Cookies
What’s better than cookies topped with powdered sugar? If you’re in the market for pops of lemon in tender cookies, this dessert is the best of both worlds. They can be a bit more complicated than your five-ingredient recipes, but they’re more than worth the trouble.
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16. Lemon Pound Cake
When you think of lemon, you probably think of pound cake—as you should! It’s a moist, dense cake topped with mouth-watering lemon icing. You can make both at home with a handful of common ingredients.
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17. Lemon Cheesecake Bites
As much as we’d love to devour an entire cheesecake, its bite-sized cousin is far better for our waistline. These bites (or mini cheesecakes) are just as delicious as the dessert you’re accustomed to and even more simple to make.
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18. Lemon Scones
Bring the bakery to your house with lemon scones! A buttery treat that’s as just as tart, scones don’t require more than everyday ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, and milk (among other things). They’re also the best dessert alongside some tea.
19. Lemon Strawberry Trifle
Is there any fruit lemon can’t pair with? This no-bake dessert works well for hungry party guests with layers of fresh strawberries and lemon pudding throughout. By adding a little cream cheese and vanilla yogurt you’ve got a dynamite dessert.
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20. Blueberry Lemon Pie Bars
We end with another blueberry lemon dessert! (How could we not?) These pie bars are crumbly, tart, and oh-so-delicious. Whether you make the crust at home or nab some at the store, the real star of this show is the creamy filling.
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