These tremendous straightforward, nostalgic Lemon Lush is the right make-ahead dessert. Layers of creamy whipped topping, lemon pudding, and cheesecake all topped on essentially the most scrumptious, buttery shortbread crust!
If you happen to love shiny, citrusy desserts which might be extremely straightforward to make, this Lemon Lush recipe goes to turn into a favourite. Also called lemon delight dessert or lemon layered dessert, Lemon Lush is a traditional make-ahead dessert with layers of buttery shortbread crust, candy cream cheese, lemon pudding, and creamy whipped topping.
A buttery shortbread crust
A creamy sweetened cream cheese layer
A tangy lemon pudding layer
A light-weight whipped topping
After chilling, the layers set right into a cool and creamy dessert that slices superbly. The stability of candy, tangy, and buttery flavors makes it a longtime favourite at potlucks, holidays, and household gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Lush
There’s a purpose this traditional lemon lush dessert has stayed standard for many years. It’s easy, refreshing, and at all times a crowd favourite. It’s a kind of recipes that my mother used to make rising up and was at all times a normal at any huge gathering!
Straightforward to make – Easy substances and simple steps.
Excellent make-ahead dessert – Even higher when made the day earlier than! It arrange properly so that you get cleaner cuts, plus it frees up time the day you want it! No speeding round anxious about dessert!
Nice for feeding a crowd – This can serve at least 10 folks, relying on the best way you slice it which makes it excellent for events!
Customizable flavors – Straightforward to adapt with different pudding or fruit choices!
Components for Lemon Lush
This straightforward lemon lush recipe makes use of easy pantry and fridge staples. Be certain that to scroll to the underside of the publish for the total recipe card!
Crust Layer
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
Cream Cheese Layer
2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Lemon Layer
2 packages immediate lemon pudding combine. Don’t use prepare dinner and serve right here as a result of it’s too heat to unfold on prime of the cream cheese layer with out melting it. If you happen to solely have prepare dinner and serve, make it forward, let it chill and THEN unfold it on the cream cheese layer.
3 cups chilly milk. It have to be chilly to thicken up the moment pudding!
Zest of 2 lemons. That is optionally available however actually helps amp up the lemon taste!
Topping
Cool Whip or every other model of whipped topping. Enable it to thaw within the fridge so it’s straightforward to unfold. It’s also possible to make your whipped cream to unfold on prime too! I actually like making my very own whipped cream (1 cup heavy cream + 1/4 cup powdered sugar) as a result of it’s just a little stiffer than whipped topping, so it slices just a little cleaner!
Find out how to Make Lemon Lush
In a big bowl mix the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter. Use a pastry cutter to combine the substances collectively. The combination will resemble dry cookie dough. It’s also possible to use your palms if wanted.
Press the combination evenly into the underside of the ready pan and bake at 350°F for 20 – 25 minutes.
Combine the cream cheese and sugar collectively in a bowl till it’s easy and creamy. Unfold the cream cheese combination on prime of the cooled shortbread crust.
When the crust has cooled, mix the cream cheese and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl. Combine till easy and creamy after which unfold this layer evenly over the crust.
Whisk collectively the lemon pudding, milk, and zest till it’s thick.Unfold the lemon pudding layer on prime of the cream cheese layer evenly.
In one other bowl whisk collectively for 5 minutes till it’s thick the lemon pudding combine, milk, and lemon zest. Unfold the lemon pudding evenly over the cream cheese layer.
Unfold the whipped topping evenly over the pudding layer. Cowl the dessert hermetic and chill for at the very least 4 hours earlier than serving.
Unfold the whipped topping on prime of the lemon pudding layer.
Suggestions for the Finest Lemon Lush
These easy ideas will make your home made Lemon Lush dessert even higher.
If you need a brighter citrus taste: Scale back the milk within the pudding to 2 3/4 cups and add 1/4 cup contemporary squeezed lemon juice. This offers the lemon layer a stronger, brisker lemon taste.
Swap the Lemon Layer: You’ll be able to substitute the pudding with different lemon fillings like lemon pie filling or my lemon curd recipe.
Lemon Lush Taste Variations
As soon as you realize the fundamental methodology, it’s straightforward to show this into different lush dessert flavors. Attempt these scrumptious variations:
Strawberry Lush – Use strawberry pudding and add sliced strawberries.
Blueberry Lemon Lush – Add blueberry pie filling between the layers and use vanilla pudding.
Orange Creamsicle Lush – Use orange pudding as a substitute of lemon.
Chocolate Lush – Swap in chocolate pudding and you would even do an Oreo crust!
Banana Lush – Add banana pudding and perhaps even some sliced bananas! This owuld be a very easy tackle Banana Pudding!
Find out how to Retailer Lemon Lush
This creamy lemon layered dessert shops superbly, making it nice for leftovers.
Within the Fridge: Retailer your Lemon Lush lined tightly within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Due to the cream cheese and pudding layers, it ought to at all times keep chilled.
Within the Freezer: You’ll be able to freeze Lemon Lush for as much as 2 months for finest freshness. Cowl it tightly with plastic wrap after which cowl that with foil. This can preserve it the freshest. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving.
These straightforward, nostalgic, make-ahead lemon dessert is ideal for all events! It’s layers of shortbread, lemon pudding, cheesecake, and whipped cream!
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 (8- ounce) blocks cream cheese, room temperature
1 (8- ounce) container whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed within the fridge
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with non stick spray. Put aside.
In a big bowl mix the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter with a pastry cutter. The combination will come collectively like a dry cookie dough. You should utilize your palms if it’s good to as properly to combine.
Press the combination evenly into the underside of the ready pan. Bake for 25 minutes till calmly golden. Switch the pan to a wire rack to chill fully.
When the crust is cooled mix the cream cheese and the granulated sugar in a mixing bowl and blend till creamy. Unfold this layer evenly on the crust.
In one other bowl whisk collectively for five minutes the pudding, milk, and lemon zest till it’s thick. Unfold the pudding layer on the cream cheese layer.
Lastly unfold the whipped topping on the pudding layer.
Cowl hermetic and chill for at the very least 4 hours. That is nice to make a day forward too.
Notes
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Freeze hermetic for as much as 2 months for finest freshness. Thaw within the fridge.
