This Lemon Lush Dessert is light, fresh, and decadent. It’s made up of buttery shortbread crust that’s layered with a lemon cream cheese filling, homemade lemon pudding, and whipped cream. Just 20 minutes to prep!
Lemon Lush is a layered dessert made up of a buttery shortbread crust, a lemon cream cheese filling, and a lemon pudding layer. It’s light, fruity, creamy, and delicious!
Ingredients Needed:
This Lemon Lush is made up of a few different layers. Here’s what you’ll need:
Shortbread Crust
- Unsalted Butter: make sure the butter is cold and cubed into small pieces.
- Flour: fluffed and leveled to prevent a dry crust.
- Granulated Sugar: gives the shortbread crust a touch of sweetness.
Cream Cheese Layer
- Cream Cheese: be sure to bring the cream cheese to room temperature for a completely smooth texture.
- Powdered Sugar: sweetens the cream cheese filling and gives it more structure.
- Lemon Juice: use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
Lemon Pudding
- Whole Milk and Granulated Sugar: a sweet and creamy base for our lemon pudding.
- Eggs: adds richness and gives the pudding its classic creamy consistency.
- Cornstarch: helps thicken the pudding.
- Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice: gives the pudding an extra intense lemon flavor. Remember, freshly squeezed is the way to go!
- Vanilla Extract: adds flavor depth and warmth to contrast the brightness of the lemon.
- Yellow Food Coloring: food coloring is optional, but it does give the lemon pudding that bright yellow color.
Sweetened Whipped Cream
- Heavy Whipping Cream and Powdered Icing Sugar: whipped together to form our homemade whipped cream.
- Vanilla Extract: adds a touch of warmth and flavor depth.
How to Make Lemon Lush
This lemon dessert is made up of three simple layers, homemade whipped cream, and comes together with 20 minutes of prep!
- Prep the crust: In a bowl, combine flour, cubed butter, and sugar until crumbly. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13″ baking dish, press it into the bottom firmly, then bake until dry looking on top. Cool completely before adding the cream cheese layer.
- Make the cream cheese layer: Beat the cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth, then add in the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- Make the lemon pudding layer: In a saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, eggs, cornstarch, and lemon zest. Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a low simmer. Cook and stir until thickened, then add in lemon juice, vanilla, and optional food coloring. Remove from the heat and strain into a bowl. Cool to room temperature.
- Assemble: Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust in the pan, then add on the lemon pudding layer. Spread evenly.
- Chill: Place the Lemon Lush into the fridge and chill until completely cold.
- Top it off: In a bowl, whip together the cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread over the top of the. Lemon Lush, then serve or refrigerate until you’re ready to serve!
How to store Lemon Lush:
Leftovers must be stored in the fridge and will last covered with plastic wrap or foil for 3-4 days.
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