Lemon Lush Dessert

Lemon Lush Dessert

Lemon Lush is the ultimate refreshing dessert for summer gatherings, offering a perfect balance of light, creamy textures with sweet and tangy flavors. With its four distinct layers, this dessert is a crowd-pleaser that’s both indulgent and refreshing.

The base is a buttery shortbread crust enhanced with chopped pecans for a satisfying crunch. On top of that, you’ll find a rich, sweetened cream cheese layer, followed by a smooth lemon pudding made with instant pudding mix. To finish, a layer of whipped topping adds an airy, luxurious touch to this delightful summer treat.

As soon as the warm weather arrives, a lemon-based dessert becomes a must-have. While classics like Lemon Pudding Cakes and Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake never fail to impress, layered desserts like Lemon Lush—baked in a 9×13-inch pan—are ideal for feeding a crowd, even when you’re hosting a house full of hungry guests.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping, divided
• 1 (3-ounce) box lemon pudding mix
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 cups water, divided
• 2 egg yolks

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Combine the flour, butter, and chopped pecans, mixing until the texture resembles biscuit dough. Press this mixture evenly into an 8×8-inch baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
2. In a separate bowl, blend the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup of whipped topping. Spread this mixture over the shortbread layer while it’s still warm.
3. For the lemon layer, whisk together the lemon pudding mix, granulated sugar, egg yolks, and 1/4 cup of water in a medium saucepan. Gradually add the remaining 2 cups of water and cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a full boil.
4. Remove from heat and let the lemon mixture cool for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow it to cool for an additional 30 minutes before spreading it over the previous layers.
5. Once the dessert has cooled completely, spread the remaining whipped topping over the top. Chill in the refrigerator before serving for best results.

Enjoy!