If you love lemon desserts, you’re in the right place. From buttery cookies and tangy bars to fluffy cakes, creamy cheesecakes and lemon meringue, these are my favourite lemon desserts for all your lemon cravings.

Whether you need an easy bake for afternoon tea, a make-ahead dessert for guests, or a bright and fresh treat for spring and summer, there’s something here for you. They’re grouped by type so you can jump straight to what you’re in the mood for.

Lemon bars and cookies

Lemon Curd Bars
A lemon curd bar propped up against a second one to show the filling inside.
Bright, buttery and packed with fresh lemon flavour these bars will disappear fast. They're perfect when you want an easy dessert that still feels special.
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Lemon Curd Cookies
Closeup of lemon curd cookies.
If you love soft, crumbly cookies with plenty of lemony flavour, these are a great pick. The lemon curd gives them a lovely bright twist that makes them feel a bit extra.
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Lemon Biscuits (Lemon Glazed Cookies)
Closeup of a pile of lemon biscuits.
These are ideal if you're after a classic sugar cookie with a lemony twang. Simple, cheerful and perfect for morning tea or gifting.
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Lemon Blueberry Cookies
Closeup of the baked cookies with blueberries around.
Lemon and blueberries are always a winning combination, and these cookies make the most of both. A great choice when you want something a little fruity as well as citrusy.
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Lemon Meringue Pie Cookies
Top down view of a lemon meringue pie cookie broken in half.
All the fun of lemon meringue pie, in a smaller, more playful bake. Perfect when you want something a bit different for a dessert table or weekend baking project.
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Lemon Shortbread
Closeup of the side of the lemon shortbread showing the texture.
Buttery, tender and lightly zesty, this is a lovely option for anyone who prefers a slightly less sweet treat. Great with tea, coffee or as part of a homemade gift box.
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Lemon cakes and cupcakes

This section is for the cake lovers. From everyday loaf cakes to celebration-worthy bakes, these lemon cakes are bright, comforting and easy to fall in love with.

Flourless Lemon Cake (Gluten Free) [+Video]
A lemon cake drizzled with white icing on a marble platter and wooden board. Lemons in the background.
The most popular cake on Sugar Salt Magic, this is the lemon cake to make when you want something easy and elegant (and it just happens to be gluten free). It's a great option for entertaining or sharing with a mixed crowd.
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Lemon Drizzle Cake
Slices of lemon cake leaning up against the remaining cake.
A classic for good reason, this cake is soft, bright and full of fresh lemon flavour. It's a wonderful all-round for an afternoon tea, visitors or just because.
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Lemon Butter Cake
Closeup of the slices of lemon butter cake on a platter.
Rich, tender and beautifully lemony, this is a comforting cake with fresh citrus lift. It's a great recipe to have on hand when you want something simple but always impressive.
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Lemon Poke Cake
A slice of lemon poke cake on a dessert plate.
If you love an extra-moist cake with plenty of flavour in every bite, this one is for you. It's fun, easy to serve and always a crowd pleaser.
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Lemon Meringue Cake
A lemon meringue cake cut into slices.
Can't choose between cake and lemon meringue pie? This one gives you the best of both and is a beautiful centrepiece for special occasions.
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Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes
A batch of cupcakes topped with raspberries on a white plate.
These cupcakes are light, fluffy and full of cheerful flavour. The raspberry and lemon combo makes them perfect for parties, spring gatherings or afternoon tea.
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Raspberry Lemon Loaf
Closeup of the inside texture of the raspberry lemon loaf.
This loaf cake is easy, sliceable and full of sweet-tart flavour. It's the sort of cake that works just as well with coffee in the morning as it does for dessert later on.
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Blueberry Lemon Yoghurt Cake
A slice of blueberry lemon loaf cake with a bite taken out.
Soft, moist and packed with blueberry-lemon goodness, this cake is a lovely everyday bake. The yoghurt helps keep it beautifully tender and light.
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Lemon Blackberry Cake
A slice being lifted from the cake.
If you love berry desserts with a lemon kick, this is such a good choice. The blackberries add a deeper fruity note that pairs beautifully with lemon.
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Lemon cheesecakes and tarts

This is the section for creamy fillings, crisp bases and desserts that feel a little more indulgent. If you’re baking for guests or an after-dinner dessert, these lemon recipes are hard to beat.

Baked Lemon Cheesecake Recipe
Baked lemon cheesecake cut into slices on a cake plate.
Creamy, rich and packed with fresh lemon flavour, this baked cheesecake is always a winner. It's a lovely make-ahead dessert when you want something impressive and reliable.
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Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
A cheesecake on a white cake plate with a blurred slice in the foreground
This dessert is for the serious lemon lovers. With the creamy richness of cheesecake and sweet meringue, it feels extra special.
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Biscuit Base Lemon Meringue Pie
A slice of lemon meringue pie being held above the rest of the pie.
A classic lemon dessert with a simple biscuit base, this pie is bright, nostalgic and always popular. It's the perfect choice when you want a proper crowd-pleasing dessert.
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Lemon Tartlets
A gold tray filled with lemon tartlets.
These little tartlets are elegant, fresh and ideal for entertaining. They're great for dessert platters, parties or anytime you want something a little fancy in a smaller size.
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Lemon brunch bakes and pastries

These bakery-style bakes are perfect for brunch, morning tea or sharing on a slow weekend. They sit beautifully between dessert and sweet treat, with plenty of lemon in every bite.

Lemon Danish Pastry
13 lemon danish pastries on a sheet of baking paper.
Flaky, buttery and filled with tangy lemon curd, these pastries feel like such a treat. Perfect for a weekend brunch baking project.
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Lemon Donuts
Top down view of lemon donuts on a metal tray.
These are pure fun and a great way to turn lemon into something playful and indulgent. Perfect for weekend baking, special breakfasts or sharing with family.
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Blueberry Cake Donuts with Lemon Icing
A batch of iced blueberry donuts on a sheet of baking paper.
The lemon icing gives these blueberry donuts a bright, tangy finish that's just lovely. A great choice when you want something a little different to a normal cake.
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Blueberry and Lemon Scones
A stack of 3 blueberry and lemon scones with glaze drizzling down the sides.
Soft, fruity and lightly zesty, these scones are lovely for afternoon tea. The blueberry lemon combination keeps them feeling fresh while still nice and cosy.
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Make-ahead and cosy lemon desserts

If you want something chilled, spoonable or comforting, these recipes are a great place to finish. They’re perfect for intimate dinner parties, family desserts and those times when you want lemon in a softer, creamier form.

Lemon Tiramisu
A slice of lemon tiramisu on a dessert plate.
This lemon tiramisu is chilled, creamy and such a lovely twist on a classic dessert. It's a great make-ahead option for warmer days or when you want something a little unexpected.
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Self Saucing Lemon Pudding
Top down view of a lemon pudding in a round white bowl, with a scoop taken out. Lemons in the top corner
Warm, soft and wonderfully comforting, this is the lemon dessert to make on cooler days. It's cozy, nostalgic and finishes with the most lovely bright citrus flavour.
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Whether you’re in the mood for a quick lemon cookie, a soft and buttery cake, or a dessert that’s a little more showstopping, I hope this collection helps you find your next lemon bake. If you try any, I’d love to hear which lemon dessert becomes your favourite.

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