January 13, 2023
Review RecipeLemon Lush
This homemade lemon lush is the best dessert lasagna featuring a delicious shortbread crust topped with layers of cheesecake, pudding, and Cool Whip.
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A Southern favorite, this heavenly one-pan lemon lush is so simple to make. A buttery pecan shortbread crust creates a delicious base for layers of light and refreshing cheesecake, creamy lemon pudding, and Cool Whip to finish this perfect dessert lasagna.
Lemon Lush Ingredients
You’ll need:
For the Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup crushed pecans
For the Cheesecake Layer
- 2 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
For the Pudding Layer
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes of instant lemon pudding mix
- 3 cups milk
For the Frosting
- 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip
- Garnish with grated lemon zest
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
WHIPPED CREAM: If you want to make homemade whipped cream instead of using Cool Whip and you have heavy whipping cream on hand, check out our stabilized whipped cream recipe.
LIME: Replace the lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon pudding with the lime equivalent for a tangy lime version of this dessert.
CRUST: Instead of the pecan crust, you could opt to make a graham cracker crust instead.
How To Make This Lemon Lush Recipe
STEP ONE: Stir the crust ingredients together and then press by hand into a 9×13 pan sprayed with nonstick spray.
STEP TWO: Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, and let the crust cool while you work on the rest of the recipe.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Make sure that your crust is completely cool before going on to your second layer. It’s important that the crust is cooled so that the following layers set properly on top of it.
STEP THREE: Cream the cream cheese and sugar together with a hand mixer. Add the lemon juice and lemon peel and mix.
PRO TIP:
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise, you will end up with lumps in your mixture.
STEP FOUR: Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cooled crust.
STEP FIVE: Whisk together in a medium bowl the instant pudding mix and milk until a thick yet pourable consistency.
STEP SIX: Immediately pour the pudding on top of the cheesecake layer.
STEP SEVEN: Chill for at least one hour.
STEP EIGHT: Pour the whipped topping on top of the lemon cream cheese layer.
STEP NINE: Chill the entire dessert in the fridge for at least one hour or up to overnight.
PRO TIP:
Chilling overnight will allow all the flavors to mingle and blend together even more!
STEP TEN: Before serving, garnish with grated lemon peel.
STEP ELEVEN: Slice into bars, and you’re ready to eat!
How To Serve
This luscious lemon lasagna is an amazing layered dessert that would be perfect to share at barbecues or other summer gatherings this summer. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and our iced tea on the side.
If you love lemon recipes, make sure you try our lemon poke cake, white chocolate lemon truffles, and these lemon sugar cookies for more sunny citrus treats.
MORE LEMON RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: If you have lemon lush leftovers, be sure to store them in the fridge in an airtight container or covered in aluminum foil.
IN THE FREEZER: You can also freeze this creamy dessert in an airtight, freezer-safe food storage container for up to three months.
Cool and creamy, this lemon lush dessert (also called lemon delight) is a bright and sunny citrus-flavored classic sweet treat you’ll love. I hope you’ll indulge in all of the delicious layers in this fresh dessert soon!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I freeze this lemon lush lasagna?
You can freeze this easy recipe in an airtight container for up to three months.
What’s the difference between lemon lush, lemon lasagna, and lemon delight?
These different names all refer to the same amazing layered dessert!
Could I make a lime version of this recipe?
You could absolutely make a lime version. Just replace all of the lemon components with the lime equivalent.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- No-Bake Chocolate Pudding Pie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
- No-Bake Oreo Pie
- Chocolate Pudding Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
- Lemon Cool Whip Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
- Lemon Bars
- Cherry Cheesecake Lush
- Lemon Cheesecake
- White Chocolate Lasagna
Lemon Lush
This homemade lemon lush is the best dessert lasagna featuring a delicious shortbread crust topped with layers of cheesecake, pudding, and Cool Whip.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 12
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup pecans, crushed
Cheesecake
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon peel, grated
Pudding
- 6.8 ounces instant lemon pudding
- 3 cups milk
Topping
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- lemon peel, grated
Instructions
- Stir all the ingredients together and then press by hand into a 9×13 pan sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Let the crust cool.
- Cream the cream cheese and sugar together.
- Add the lemon juice and lemon peel and mix.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of cooled crust.
- Whisk together the pudding and milk until a thick yet pourable consistency.
- Immediately pour the pudding mixture on top of the cheesecake layer.
- Chill for at least one hour.
- Top the pudding layer with Cool Whip.
- Chill the entire dessert in the fridge for at least one hour up to overnight.
- Before serving, garnish with the grated lemon peel.
Notes
- Make sure that your crust is completely cool before going on to your second layer. It’s important that the crust is cooled so that the following layers set properly on top of it.
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise, you will end up with lumps in your mixture.
- Chilling overnight will allow all the flavors to mingle and blend together even more!
Nutrition
Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 378mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 1115IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Toni Thomason says
I love lemon everything and I cannot get enough of this!
Kella says
Is the crust supposed to be a powder consistency when baked?
Layne Kangas says
It reminds me of kind of a shortbread cookie type consistency. It’s not powdery. Enjoy!!
Gloria says
Such a cool and creamy treat! Love the flavor!
Maudie M Patton says
I learned to make this Lemon Lush years ago as a cooks helper for a resort. Lost the recipe. Now I see this is the recipe for how I learn to make it. Talking over forty years ago.
Thank You.