What is it about lemon desserts that makes them so special? It must be the magical way that citrus tang cuts through the sweetness of a just-baked pastry, cake or pudding, or the intoxicating fragrance of freshly grated lemon zest. We also love their sunny yellow brightness, which always looks impressive on a festive table.
Whether baked as a lemon tart or whipped into a summer-ready sorbetto, these are the lemon dessert recipes we repeatedly bake.
Ricotta-polenta cake with lemon-rosemary syrup
Enjoy a slice of this fragrant, versatile cake at any time of day. And you can make the whole thing in just over an hour.
Lemon jellies with sorrel-yoghurt sorbet
This sorrel-yoghurt sorbet sits pretty on top of a hollowed-out lemon, filled with lemon jelly.
Lemon tarte Tatin with bay leaf ice-cream
The classic combination of bay leaf and lemon never go out of style.
Greek rice pudding with pistachios and lemon (Rizogalo)
This Greek rice pudding recipe with the sweetness of vanilla, pistachio and candied lemon will become a winter favourite.
Flour and Stone’s lemon dream cake
Recipe for lemon dream cake by Nadine Ingram from Sydney bakery Flour & Stone.
Lemon sugar churros recipe with mixed berry compote
Classic flavours of lemon and sugar meet golden crisp churros. Need we say more?
Lemon verbena custard slice with passionfruit
The custard slice receives a modern glow-up.
Lemon curd and almond bread and butter pudding
Rich brioche, tangy lemon curd and the savoury notes of almond – this winter pudding is a perfect balance of flavours.
Lemon cheesecake slice with citrus jelly
Recipe for lemon cheesecake slice with citrus jelly.
Bethany Finn’s lemon delicious pudding
Don’t forget the cream.
How to make a lemon tart
How to achieve that bright, tangy custard and fine, crisp base? Pastry chef Catherine Adams has the answers.
Lemon curd sponge cake
It’s pretty hard to beat a featherlight sponge cake and this one’s no exception.
Curtis Stone’s lemon curd crumble
A curd, cake and crumble all in one.
Curtis Stone’s Dutch baby with lemon butter and clotted cream
Savour it one fluffy mouthful at a time.
Lemon-buttermilk tart
Like a custard tart, but with a refreshing tang.
Alistair Wise’s Twinkies
This grown-up take on the American treat comes from Sweet Envy’s Alsitair Wise – who else?
Lychee and mango with lime-coconut syrup and lemon gelato
A simple summer fruit salad enlivened with that zingy syrup.
Blackberry and lemon mini pavlovas
A tarter-than-usual lemon curd offsets pavlova’s sweetness, while blackberries add a delightful summer fragrance.
Jaclyn Koludrovic’s lemon polenta cakes with pistachio nuts and mascarpone
These small cakes pack a mighty punch. Soaked in lemon syrup and topped with mascarpone frosting, they’re a taste of Sicily in every bite.
Lemon meringue pie
Sweet but tangy, there’s no denying the pull of this retro classic.
Flour and Stone’s trifle with madeleines, lemon curd and peaches
Nadine Ingram of Sydney’s Flour and Stone shares her showstopping Christmas dessert.
Brown butter cake with lemon curd and white chocolate cream
A simple butter cake gets a new lease on life with the addition of some gently browned butter plus a layer of lemon curd and white chocolate frosting in the centre.
Lemon sherbet marshmallows
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lemon sherbet marshmallows
Lemon sorbetto
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lemon sorbetto.
Yoghurt cake with lemon (Yiaourtopita)
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for yoghurt cake with lemon (Yiaourtopita) by Kathy Tsaples.
Baked lemon ricotta doughnuts
These oven-baked doughnuts have a surprise waiting inside: a tangy lemon ricotta filling.
Classic lemon cream tartlets (Tartes au citron)
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Classic lemon cream tartlets (Tartes au citron)
Greek pastry puffs with lemon curd
Australian Gourmet Traveller dessert recipe for Greek pastry puffs with lemon curd (tiganites).
Jaci Koludrovic’s limoncello baba with vanilla cream
These boozy cakes are a punchy end to a meal – or a fun way to kickstart an afternoon party. The choice is yours.
Lemon custard fritters
These tangy fritters are just the ticket on a wintry day. Switch up the spices in the sugar for a change if you like – cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves would all work well.
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