Lemon Lasagna

Name: Lemon Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 14.3 ounces golden Oreo cookies; ½ cup butter, (melted); 8 ounces cream cheese, (softened); 16 ounces Cool Whip, (divided in half); 1 cup powdered sugar; lemon juice, (from 1 lemon); 3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix; 3.4 ounces instant lemon pudding mix; 3 cups milk; lemons, (for optional garnish)

Lemon lasagna is a creamy dessert full of light and fluffy layers on top of a sweet and crunchy Oreo cookie crust.

Jump to Recipe

Prep Time30

Total Time1 30

Servings

For those who crave a dessert that’s both light and luscious, our Lemon Lasagna is the one to try. This recipe puts the lemon front and center. A lemon Oreo base brings an unexpected tang, while real lemon juice adds brightness to every creamy layer. The result is a perfectly balanced combination of tart and sweet, with each bite delivering a refreshing yet indulgent experience.

Let’s Dish: About This Dessert

Main Ingredients: Golden Oreos, cream cheese, Cool Whip, powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and lemon pudding, milk.
Quick Steps: Make Oreo crust, spread cream cheese, then pudding, top with Cool Whip.
Total Time & Yield: 1 hour 30 minutes, serves 12.

Why This Recipe

This lemon lasagna recipe stands out by emphasizing a balanced combination of tartness and sweetness.

While many recipes use Golden Oreos or even graham crackers for the crust, our recipe brings a zesty brightness by using lemon Oreos, amplifying the citrus flavor right from the base. This adds a unique tanginess that complements the creamy layers without being overly sweet.

Additionally, unlike other recipes that stick to basic cream cheese and Cool Whip layers, we blend in fresh lemon juice and zest, adding a natural freshness that elevates the dessert beyond just relying on pudding mix for flavor.

The result is a brighter, fresher dessert that stands out compared to others that lean heavily on pre-packaged elements.

Moreover, while some variations recommend different cookie bases or pudding flavors, our focus remains on enhancing the natural lemon flavor to offer a more cohesive lemon-forward experience.

This makes our recipe ideal for true lemon lovers looking for something refreshingly bright and creamy.

Lemon Lasagna Ingredients

lemon lasagna raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

1 (14.3-ounce) package of golden Oreo cookies
½ cup butter, melted
8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
16-ounce container of Cool Whip, divided in half
1 cup of powdered sugar
Lemon juice from 1 lemon
1 (3.4-ounce) package of instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (3.4-ounce) package of instant lemon pudding mix
3 cups of milk
Optional: lemons for garnish

PRO TIP:

The pudding will not set with dairy-free or lactose-free milk. Make sure you are using regular milk in this recipe.

Substitutions And Additions

LEMON PUDDING LAYER: Lemon pudding is an easy way to make this layer, but you could also use lemon pie filling or lemon curd. You can substitute either of these for a tart, more lemony flavor. Adding lemon zest to your pudding layer or sprinkled on top of the dessert is a delicious way to add some extra, bright lemon flavor.

CRUST: If you can’t find golden Oreos, you can use a graham cracker crust instead. Substitute 9 crackers (1 sleeve) of graham crackers. Check out our homemade graham cracker crust recipe for instructions.

TOPPINGS: There are so many tasty options here! Top this dessert with your favorites, such as chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, toasted coconut, or shaved white chocolate.

WHIPPED TOPPING: If you would prefer to make your own whipped cream instead of using Cool Whip, check out our whipped cream recipe.

How To Make This Lemon Lasagna Recipe

For The Crust

STEP ONE: In a food processor, pulse the golden Oreos until fine crumbs are formed. Set aside 1 cup of crushed Oreos to use as a topping later.

Be sure to add the whole Oreos to the food processor, filling included. This will help to keep your crust together.

STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed Oreos with ½ cup of melted butter.

STEP THREE: Press the cookie mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Chill completely in the refrigerator.

For The Cream Cheese Layer

STEP FOUR: In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, 8 ounces of Cool Whip, one cup of powdered sugar, and lemon juice until smooth.

cream cheese layer being spread over oreo cookie layer

STEP FIVE: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on top of the crust. Chill in the refrigerator.

For The Lemon Layer

STEP SIX: In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups of milk with both of the instant pudding flavors. Mix until the pudding thickens.

lemon pudding layer being spread over cream cheese layer

STEP SEVEN: Spread the pudding layer over the cream cheese layer. Chill in the refrigerator.

For The Topping

STEP EIGHT: Top with the remaining Cool Whip.

lemon lasagna being topped with cool whip then garnished with Oreo crumbs and lemon slices

STEP NINE: Chill for at least one hour before serving, or overnight if possible. Before serving, top with the remaining Oreo crumbs and sliced lemons for garnish, if desired.

Chilling this dessert overnight will make it easier to cut and give it a thicker consistency. If you plan to make it a day ahead, add it to the fridge overnight and then top with the crushed cookies just before serving.

How To Serve

Serve this luscious dessert treat for a quick and easy no-bake option anytime you are craving something sweet and tangy. Add our iced tea, raspberry iced tea, sweet peach iced tea, or our southern strawberry sweet tea on the side to wash it down.

MORE LEMON RECIPES

Dessert Bars

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Cookie Recipes

Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies

Dessert lasagnas are all the rage, and we can’t get enough of these sweet layered desserts! Our other popular picks are chocolate lasagna and raspberry lasagna.

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: This lemon lasagna dessert recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: Lemon lasagna can also be frozen for up to a month. Defrost in the fridge before serving.

close up shot of a slice of lemon lasagna with a piece taken out of it on a fork

This bright and cheerful lemon lasagna, also called lemon delight or lemon lush, is the ultimate four-layer treat! So many creamy ingredients make this a heavenly confection that will become one of your new favorite desserts.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I change the flavors in this lasagna recipe?

There are so many possibilities with this recipe. Try chocolate pudding with chocolate Oreos, banana pudding with golden Oreos, or pistachio pudding with chocolate Oreos. Choose toppings that pair well with each flavor.

How do I store this lemon dessert recipe?

You can keep lemon lasagna in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for about a month.

I can’t find vanilla Oreos, what other cookies can I use for the crust?

If you can’t find vanilla Oreos, you can use either graham cracker crumbs or vanilla Nilla wafers for your crust.

More Lemon Dessert Recipes

Lemon Lasagna

5 from 20 votes

Lemon lasagna is a creamy dessert full of light and fluffy layers on top of a sweet and crunchy Oreo cookie crust.

Prep Time 30

Total Time 1 30

Servings

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Ingredients

14.3 ounces golden Oreo cookies
½ cup butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
16 ounces Cool Whip, divided in half
1 cup powdered sugar
lemon juice, from 1 lemon
3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix
3.4 ounces instant lemon pudding mix
3 cups milk
lemons, for optional garnish

Instructions

For the Crust

Place the whole golden Oreos in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs are formed. Set aside one cup of crushed Oreos for the topping.
In a medium bowl, combine crushed golden Oreos with ½ cup melted butter.
Press the cookie mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Chill in the refrigerator.

For the Cream Cheese Layer

In a large mixing bowl, mix softened cream cheese, 8 ounces of Cool Whip, one cup powdered sugar, and lemon juice from 1 lemon until smooth.
Spread evenly over cookie layer. Chill in the refrigerator.

For the Lemon Layer

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 3 cups milk with both instant pudding flavors until pudding thickens.
Spread evenly over cream cheese layer. Chill.

For the Topping

Top with remaining Cool Whip.
Chill for at least one hour before serving. Cover with remaining Oreo crumbs and lemon slices for garnish, if desired.

Video

Notes

The pudding will not set with dairy-free or lactose-free milk. Make sure you are using regular milk in this recipe.
Transform this lasagna into a pie by making it in a pie dish. Follow the same steps to layer your pie (a deep dish pie tin is recommended). Since the pie dish will be a little smaller, don’t feel like you have to use all of the mixture for each layer.
Be sure to add the whole Oreos to the food processor, filling included. This will help to keep your crust together.
Chilling this dessert overnight will make it easier to cut and give it a thicker consistency. If you plan to make it a day ahead, add it to the fridge overnight and then top with the crushed cookies just before serving.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Lemon Lasagna