Lemon Lush is a layered dessert with a shortbread crust, sweetened cream cheese, lemon pudding, and whipped cream. This Lemon Lush recipe is made completely from scratch!
Now tell me that doesn’t look lovely and delicious?!? I basically grew up on this Lemon Lush dessert. I remember my mom making it for almost every family get-together, it was either Lemon Lush or her famous Chocolate Chip Cake.
My favorite part of this layered lemon dessert is the shortbread crust with the walnuts in it. When I was a kid I used to eat this dessert layer by layer, leaving the crust for last. My mom’s Lemon Lush recipe is made with cool whip and lemon pudding from a box. For mine, I opted to make homemade stabilized whipped cream and homemade lemon pudding because that’s just how I roll.
This dessert is so great to serve at spring and summer get-togethers because it’s tasty, a bit different, and serves a crowd! Plus you can make it ahead of time which I love for when I’m entertaining. This Lemon Lush recipe would also be fabulous for BBQ and Easter dessert.
WARNING: My Lemon Lush recipe is made completely from scratch. This means you won’t be using a boxed pudding mix or whipped topping from the freezer section. I prefer it from scratch even though it’s a little labor intensive, but you can always make it with store-bought pudding and whipped topping if you’d like.
More Lemon Recipes:
- One Pot Greek Pasta Recipe with Lemon & Chicken
- Lemon Cream Pie Float
- Lemon White Chocolate Pudding Cookies
- Zesty Lemon Bars
- Lemon Cream Pie Cheesecake Dip
- Citrus Cream Pasta
- Lemon Chicken
- Lemon Souffle
Cook’s Note – Lemon Lush Dessert:
- This recipe is completely versatile, so feel free to substitute the homemade lemon pudding for your favorite; key lime, vanilla, chocolate…whatever! I’ve made a key lime version of this recipe. Instead of using walnuts, I used coconut and it was to die for!
- Lemon Lush will keep for up to 5 days, covered, in the refrigerator.
- If you want an extra lemon kick, try adding 1 Tablespoon of lemon zest to the shortbread layer.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links.
Cook’s Tools:
Lemon Lush Dessert
Ingredients
Lemon Pudding
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 Tablespoons grated lemon zest
- pinch salt
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons butter softened
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup cold salted butter
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Stabilized Whipped Cream
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar sifted
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 cup of the prepared stabilized whipped cream
Garnish
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Lemon Pudding:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and milk until smooth. Add the egg yolks, zest and salt. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly until thickened and the mixture coats the spoon, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and butter. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl and strain the pudding. Let cool to room temperature.
Crust:
- Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 9x13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving overhang on all sides.
- In a medium bowl sift together the flour and powdered sugar. Using a pastry cutter or 2 forks, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the walnuts. While still in the bowl, knead the dough until smooth, about 10 times. Pat the dough evenly into your prepared baking pan and prick with a fork 25-30 times. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until light brown in color. Cool for at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.
Stabilized Whipped Cream:
- In a small bowl soak the gelatin in the cold water. Give it a quick stir and let sit for 5 minutes. Place the bowl of gelatin in a pot of simmering water, about 1-inch deep. Heat until the gelatin dissolves. In the bowl of a stand mixer add the heavy whipping cream and gelatin. Whip until soft peaks form.
Cream Cheese Layer:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Mix on medium speed until combined and smooth, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the stabilized whipped cream and mix until just combined.
To Assemble:
- Spread the cream cheese mixture in an even layer over the cooled crust. Smooth the lemon pudding in an even layer, followed by the remaining stabilized whipped cream and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional).
To Finish:
- Chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before serving.
Nutrition
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Vida
This looks amazing! Since I have no fine mesh strainer, I will make using the cooking method lemon pie mix. Adding abfine mesh strainer for the future. Really love your recipes!
Sandi
I knew I had to make this recipe as soon as I saw the word lemon. Our tree is bursting with lemons. The whole family loved this!!
Ashley
I’m obsessed with anything lemon and this cake is packed with lemon flavor. It’s perfect for summer too.
Dayna
The BEST Lemon Lush!
Val
This looks amazing! What is the purpose of the foil under the crust? Can this be made without the foil? Thanks!
Jillian
My mom has been making it this way with the foil for decades. She said it’s easier to get the lemon lush out of the pan this way.