13 Tangy Lemon Desserts Our Editors Make on Repeat

Sweet and tart enough to make you pucker.

By
Genevieve Yam
Genevieve Yam headshot
Genevieve Yam
Senior Editor
After graduating from the International Culinary Center, Genevieve cooked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se. Prior to joining Serious Eats, she was an editor at Epicurious. She grew up between Toronto and Hong Kong and is a graduate of the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She currently lives in New York with her husband and two cats.
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The Serious Eats Team
The Serious Eats Team
At Serious Eats, we’re a team of self-proclaimed food nerds who are ever-curious about the “why” behind cooking. The staff has worked in restaurants, test kitchens, bakeries, and other notable publications, bringing extensive culinary and editorial expertise to the table.
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Published April 27, 2025
Overhead view of Lemon Tart

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Lemons are a kitchen staple for me: A squeeze of lemon juice or a touch of zest can help brighten an entire dish. I always keep several on hand for easy dressings and sauces, and I especially love using the fruit to make desserts. Lemon desserts are refreshing and have just enough acidity to prevent them from being cloyingly sweet. As it happens, I'm not the only one on our team who has a soft spot for lemon desserts: Our senior culinary editor, Leah, makes a mean lemon pound cake, and our associate editorial director, Megan, enjoys a lemon tart that's tangy enough to make you pucker. As for me, I will never turn down a slice of lemon meringue pie. Below, you'll find the lemon desserts that our editors love most, including tender cakes and delicate cookies. These lemon confections are the ones we make over and over again, and we suspect you will, too.

  • Lemon Pound Cake

    Lemon pound cake with glaze on a wooden board, surrounded by lemons, a knife, and a bowl of fresh berries.

    Serious Eats / Debbie Wee

    "A slice of this lemon pound cake and a glass of iced tea sounds divine. I generally love any baked good in the shape of a loaf, but a bright, tangy cake is one of my absolute favorites to have in this form. It's also so easy to assemble—I make the batter in just one bowl. Instant gratification for a citrus treat craving!" - An Uong, writer

  • Spicy Chile Lemonade

    Side view of spicy lemonade

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    "I'm not a big dessert person, and to the degree I am, I'm usually drawn to anything buttery, creamy, and custardy. Lemon desserts? I'll eat them happily if served to me, but otherwise not my thing. Which means I need to cheat here, and offer another lemon recipe that has a sweet element, but is not really dessert: this spicy chile lemonade. I developed it using Stella Parks' clever lemon-syrup method of making lemonade, but add bright, fruity red hot peppers for a drink that is tart, sweet, and punched up with heat. It's great." - Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

  • Lemon Sugar Cookies

    Plate of lemon sugar cookies on a yellow textile on top of yellow and white tiles.

    Serious Eats / Robby Lozano

    "I made these recently when I was testing a stand mixer, and my husband and I couldn't stop eating them. They are chewy, soft, and fresh and lemony—the perfect spring cookie." - Grace Kelly, senior editor

  • Lemon Drizzle Cake

    Platter with sliced lemon cake on yellow tile. On the side is a slice of cake, forks, and coffee mug

    Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

    "This British classic is delicious on its own or with a cup of tea. Plus: It takes just 10 minutes to prep and comes together in a single bowl!" - Genevieve Yam, senior editor

    Continue to 5 of 13 below

  • Limoncello Spritz

    Side view of three limoncellos

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    "I’ll be honest, I’m not really a fan of lemon desserts. If it’s not berries, stone fruit or apples, it’s probably not a fruit dessert for me. But I do love lemon cocktails. Close enough right? This refreshing limoncello spritz is exactly what I want on a warm sunny day." - Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor

  • Lemon Tart

    Overhead view of Lemon Tart

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    "Leah notes in her headnote for this recipe that the problem with most lemon desserts is that they are just not lemony enough, and I couldn't agree more. That's why I love her ultra-lemony tart, which is packed with the zest and juice of four whole lemons. And the buttery, crunchy shortbread-like crust is not only the perfect counterpart to the silky filling, it's also easy to make." - Megan O. Steintrager, associate editorial director

  • Sunny Lemon Bars

    Lemon bars cut into squares and dusted with powdered sugar on a marble countertop

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    "Lemon bars are one of my favorite desserts. I'll be making this version for my upcoming baby shower and expect everyone to be as obsessed with them as I am. The tart custard and buttery crust just does it every time." - Riddley Germperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director

  • Blueberry-Lemon Scones

    blueberry scones on a baking sheet
    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Light, lemony scones with pops of juicy blueberries, and nothing to get in the way of the fruit's bright flavor. Here, a blend of coconut oil and full-fat coconut milk provides just the right amount of richness, and lemon zest helps highlight the fresh berries.

    Continue to 9 of 13 below

  • Lemon Meringue Icebox Cake

    Overhead angle of 2 slices of Lemon Meringue Icebox cake on a marble plate. In the top right corner, there is a spoon with a bite of lemon meringue pie on it

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    "Genevieve's lemon meringue icebox cake is the only dessert I will not be turning my oven for this month." - Amanda Suarez, associate visuals director

  • Lemon-Ricotta Cheesecake

    20191107-lemon-ricotta-cheesecake-vicky-wasik-12

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    "I love the pairing of punchy lemon and creamy dairy. This rich lemon-ricotta cheesecake is the best of both worlds!" - Genevieve

  • Lemon Meringue Pie

    Overhead view of lemon meringue pie

    Serious Eats / Fred Hardy

    A bright lemon filling nestled in a flaky pie crust and topped with pillowy clouds of bruléed meringue makes this an irresistible classic.

  • Lemon Meltaways

    Cookies covered in confectioners' sugar on top of a yellow mat.
    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik.

    Brace yourself for the most incredibly delicate cookie that tastes like a cross between lemon shortbread and cotton candy. Confectioners' sugar and tapioca starch reduce the need for flour in the dough, resulting in an exceedingly tender cookie.

    Continue to 13 of 13 below

  • Crispy Lemon-Ginger Sandwich Cookies

    20170410-lemon-ginger-cookies-vicky-wasik-18.jpg

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    These zesty ginger biscuits are as elegant as a mass-produced tea biscuit can be, with a pair of dainty ginger cookies sandwiched around a refreshingly tart lemon creme. Molasses helps the cookies spread, so each one bakes up thin enough to sandwich.

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