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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Once the dessert has cooled completely, spread the remaining whipped topping over the top. Chill in the refrigerator before serving for best results.
Enjoy!
