Lemon Lush (with Video)
A delicious dessert lasagna recipe for summer, this bright and cheerful Lemon Lush is four layers of luscious dessert heaven!
Lemon Lush Dessert Recipe
One of my favorite no bake desserts has to be dessert lasagnas – or as I like to call them Lushes!
Even though everyone has been calling these layered desserts dessert lasagnas for years now, I still can’t help but picture layers of noodles and tomato sauce covered in whipped cream whenever I hear “dessert lasagna” so I have stuck with calling them lush desserts.
I’ve made a few different versions – from a standard chocolate dessert lasagna to our pistachio lush or our viral peanut butter chocolate lush – but I didn’t have a single fruit lush in my repertoire, so I thought lemon would be the perfect first recipe. (I’ll definitely be making a blueberry and possibly a strawberry one before the end of summer.)
This lemon lush dessert reminds me of a no bake lemon meringue pie, with it’s luscious layers of cream cheese filling, lemon pudding, and sweetened whipped topping all on a buttery graham cracker base.
It’s an absolutely heavenly summer dessert for the lemon fan in your life, and would be the perfect low-maintenance recipe for a BBQ or entertaining. A sprinkle of lemon zest and maybe some sliced lemons is all you need to make this dessert classy and elegant. (At least until the kids grab the lemon slices and start making silly faces with them!)
You can make this recipe the day before you want to serve it, and in fact I think the flavors develop even nicer if you let it sit (covered) in the fridge for a day.
Check out our quick recipe video for how to make our lemon lush dessert recipe, and then don’t forget to scroll down and grab your free printable recipe!
Lemon Lasagna Ingredients
Graham cracker crust:
Lemon Cream Cheese Layer:
Lemon Pudding Layer:
Whipped Topping:
- Cool Whip
- Lemon Zest, plus more/slices of lemon for garnish
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: swap out the lemon for your own favorite citrus pudding – lime, orange, etc.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 8″ x 8″ baking tray <– I like these Pyrex containers with fitted lids for easy fridge storage and taking to parties
- Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
- Whisk
- Offset spatula
- Large mixing bowls
- Micro-pane grater, optional
- Sharp kitchen knife
How to Make a Lemon Dessert Lasagna
Grease and line a 8″ x 8″ baking pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the graham crackers and sugar. Mix, then add the melted butter and mix completely.
The graham cracker mixture should resemble damp sand but should not be too wet. Adjust with more graham crackers or butter to get the perfect texture.
Press the graham cracker mixture into the prepared baking pan and place in fridge as you prepare the next dessert layer.
(The graham cracker mixture should form a solid crust – if it has too much dry cookie crumbs or too much standing butter, adjust the amounts.)
You may want to wait 30 minutes or more before starting the second layer to allow the graham cracker crust time to set up.
In a large, clean bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with icing sugar and lemon juice, to taste.
Remove the graham cracker crust from the fridge and use an offset spatula to spread the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker crust.
Smooth down and place in the fridge to set up.
Prepare the lemon pudding layer by combining the lemon pudding packages and milk in a large bowl and beating with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken.
Spread the lemon pudding layer over the cream cheese layer and return the pan to the fridge.
For the final whipped topping layer, you just need to spread the Cool Whip over the lemon pudding layer.
(If you are using another whipped topping or fresh whipped cream, you may want to add a bit of sweetener, either with honey or powdered icing sugar.)
Refrigerate the lemon lush for at least 2-4 hours before serving.
Prior to serving, use a micro-pane grater to zest a lemon over the top layer of the lemon dessert, and then use a sharp knife to cut the lemon into wedges or thin slices.
Cut the lemon lush into nine equal squares and garnish with the lemon slices.
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Lemon Lush
This bright and cheerful Lemon Lush is four layers of luscious dessert heaven! Graham cracker crust, cream cheese layer, lemon pudding, all topped with whipped cream
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust:
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
Lemon Cream Cheese Layer:
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Lemon Pudding Layer:
- 6.8 ounces instant lemon pudding mix (2 3.4-ounce packages)
- 2 cups milk
Whipped Topping:
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- Zest of 1/2 a lemon (plus more/slices of lemon for garnish)
Instructions
- Grease and line a 8" x 8" baking pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the graham crackers and sugar. Mix, then add the melted butter and mix completely.
- The graham cracker mixture should resemble damp sand but should not be too wet. Adjust with more graham crackers or butter to get the perfect texture.
- Press the graham cracker mixture into the prepared baking pan and place in fridge as you prepare the next dessert layer.
- (The graham cracker mixture should form a solid crust - if it has too much dry cookie crumbs or too much standing butter, adjust the amounts.)
- You may want to wait 30 minutes or more before starting the second layer to allow the graham cracker crust time to set up.
- In a large, clean bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with icing sugar and lemon juice, to taste.
- Remove the graham cracker crust from the fridge and use an offset spatula to spread the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker crust.
- Smooth down and place in the fridge to set up.
- Prepare the lemon pudding layer by combining the lemon pudding packages and milk in a large bowl and beating with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Spread the lemon pudding layer over the cream cheese layer and return the pan to the fridge.
- For the final whipped topping layer, you just need to spread the Cool Whip over the lemon pudding layer.
- (If you are using another whipped topping or fresh whipped cream, you may want to add a bit of sweetener, either with honey or powdered icing sugar.)
- Refrigerate the lemon lush for at least 2-4 hours before serving.
- Prior to serving, use a micro-pane grater to zest a lemon over the top layer of the lemon dessert, and then use a sharp knife to cut the lemon into wedges or thin slices.
- Cut the lemon lush into nine equal squares and garnish with the lemon slices.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese Brick (8 oz Box)
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Jell-O Instant Pudding & Pie Filling, Lemon, 3.4 oz
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Domino, Granulated White Sugar, 1 lb
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Domino Powdered Sugar, 32 Oz
-
Keebler Graham Cracker Crumbs, 13.5 oz
-
Lemon, One Medium
-
Realemon 100% Lemon Juice, 32 oz
-
Cool Whip Original Whipped Topping (8 oz Tub)
-
Pyrex Rectangular Food Storage, Red, (6 Pack)
-
Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester Grater, 18/8, Black
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 557Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 418mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 7g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
This no-bake lemon lush dessert is the perfect summer recipe for entertaining, or just a special family night treat!
For more delicious layered desserts, check out our Pistachio Dessert Lasagna or our Peanut Butter Chocolate Lush recipe.
Check out some of our other No Bake Recipes: