25+ Fresh and Bright Lemon Recipes To Love
We love lemons all year long, but especially in winter when nothing else is in season. Bright, cheerful, and beautiful, they’re perfect in everything from desserts to main courses.
If you’re wondering what to make with lemons because you have extras or if you’re just craving citrus flavor, there’s something here to love.
Lemon Bread
This Lemon Quick Bread recipe is a delightful combination of tangy lemon and sweet, moist cake, perfect for any occasion.
So-Easy Lemon Cobbler
This delectable Lemon Cobbler combines the zesty tang of lemons with a buttery, sugar-cookie-inspired topping that will surely leave you wanting more. And the best part? You can enjoy it all year round, no matter the weather outside.
Old-Fashioned Creamy Lemon Pie
This classic dessert combines a graham cracker crust with creamy lemon filling into a favorite summertime pie. It’s easy to make and is made ahead of time.
Lemon Sour Cream Cookies
Soft, cake-like cookies that are easy to make. The lemon flavor in these makes them irresistible.
Sourdough Lemon Cake
One of the most popular sourdough discard recipes on the internet, you will love this Sourdough Lemon Cake. Somewhere between a dessert and a quick bread, this cake perfectly balances the tangy lemon and the glaze’s sweetness.
Coconut Lemon Curd Cupcakes
These Southern Coconut Lemon Cupcakes are just delightful! The cream cheese frosting strikes the perfect balance of sweetness, and the coconut topping adds a beautiful touch.
Lemon Sheet Cake with Lemon Buttercream
This lemon sheet cake is easy to make and served right out of the pan. Topped with a from-scratch buttercream frosting with plenty of lemon zest and juice.
Easy Pink Lemonade Cake
This Easy Pink Lemonade Cake is a fun, vibrant dessert perfect for summer parties, baby showers, or birthdays.
Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
Buttery shortbread cookies with a dollop of perfectly tart lemon curd baked into the center, these lemon curd thumbprint cookies are perfect any time of year. Try them with homemade lemon curd to make them extra special.
From-Scratch Lemon Curd Pound Cake
A moist and tender pound cake with lemon flavor throughout and a tart lemon curd glaze.
Blueberry Lemon Sourdough Bread
An easy recipe for blueberry lemon sourdough bread, a perfect blend of sweet and tart. You’ll love this loaf at breakfast or anytime.
Coconut Lemon Bundt Cake
A recipe for coconut lemon Bundt Cake that you’ll be proud to serve for a special occasion: a moist lemon cake topped with easy-to-make icing and sweet coconut flakes.
Old-Fashioned Lemonade Recipe
Tart, lemony, and just sweet enough. This lemonade recipe is easy to make with no straining, no syrups, and 3 basic ingredients.
Pink Lemonade
Just like your favorite classic lemonade, except…pink! This recipe does not taste like cranberry at all. It’s just enough juice to give it a beautiful color. The flavor is all sugar and lemons and sweet-tart perfection.
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Strawberry Basil Lemonade is perfect for serving at summer events like picnics and parties because of its unique flavor and lovely pink color. You can even enjoy it as a non-alcoholic drink during the day or add some vodka to create a fancy cocktail for evening parties.
Pink Lemonade Vodka Slushy
If you’re looking for the perfect drink to cool down on those scorching summer days, you’ll love Pink Lemonade Vodka Slushy. It’s cold and refreshing, and packs just the right sweet and tart flavors. Plus, it’s the ultimate treat for adults.
Sweet + Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade
Your search for the best strawberry lemonade ends here. The perfect blend of fresh lemons and sugared strawberry syrup makes this recipe simple, with no blending or straining required.
Fresh Summertime Blackberry Lemonade
A from-scratch blackberry sugar syrup mixed with fresh lemon juice and served over ice. A Southern summer favorite.
Canned Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate
A recipe for canned strawberry lemonade concentrate. Mix with water or club soda for a garden-fresh drink whenever you want, or try a family favorite and add to your iced tea.
Blueberry Lavender Lemonade
Gorgeous, refreshing, and delicious, this Outback copycat is perfect for spring and summer. Add some lemon vodka for a perfect cocktail.
Raspberry Peach Lemonade
This isn’t just any lemonade; it’s my favorite. Raspberry Peach Lemonade combines all the best flavors of summer. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, seeking a sweet sip to accompany your porch sits, or simply desiring a delicious way to cool down, this lemonade promises to elevate your summer beverage game.
Strawberry Lemonade Cookies
A recipe for simple drop cookies with the fresh flavor of lemon and strawberry, all topped with a tart strawberry lemon frosting.
Small-Batch Lemon Curd
This from-scratch recipe is the perfect addition to your homemade pantry. You only need a few, simple ingredients and the flavor is far superior to store-bought.
Lemon Pie Filling Recipe
Simple to make and so much better than store-bought, this homemade lemon pie filling is the perfect blend of sweet and tart. Whether you’re filling doughnuts with it, spreading in between cake layers, or using it as a base for a classic lemon pie, it’s worth making yourself.
Lemon Parmesan Spinach Chicken
So many recipes promise a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love. This one delivers. One pan, no chopping, no weird flavors.
Key Lime Pie with Meringue Topping
This recipe was kindly given to me by a chef at one of my favorite beachfront restaurants many years ago. It is an authentic key lime custard topped with meringue. You’ll never go back to a fake green key lime pie!
Mandarin Orange Pineapple Cake
Pineapple and orange are the perfect combination in this cool and creamy cake recipe. Just the thing for summer gatherings or any time you need a light and refreshing dessert. This mandarin orange pineapple cake is one of the best cake recipes for summer.
Spiked Cherry Limeade
Spiked Cherry Limeade is the perfect drink for sipping on a hot afternoon with friends. It’s also super easy to make! Just add some ice and lime slices to enhance the flavors, and voila! You’re ready to enjoy this easy-peasy and crowd-pleasing cocktail to serve at your next summer gathering.
Can you buy lemons in bulk and preserve them?
Yes! Here are some ideas so you can make these recipes whenever you’d like.
- Freezing Lemon Juice: Make the most of your lemons by freezing the juice for later use. Simply squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. You can add these lemon juice cubes to drinks, sauces, or any recipe that needs lemon. They will give it a zesty twist.
- Freezing Lemon Zest: Don’t discard those lemon peels! Zest your lemons before juicing and freeze the zest in a small container or zip-lock bag. If you don’t have fresh lemons, you can still add a lemony taste to baking, marinades, or dressings.
- Preserved lemons are a basic part of Moroccan cooking and are easy to prepare. Quarter lemons almost all the way through, stuff them with salt, and pack them in a jar. Cover with lemon juice and let them ferment for a few weeks. Preserved lemons add a unique, tangy flavor to stews, salads, and sauces.
- Dry lemon peels to add long-lasting flavor to your pantry. Bake washed lemon peels in a low-heat oven until they are completely dry and brittle. Crush or grind the dried peels to use as a seasoning in baking, tea blends, or homemade spice mixes.
- Lemon-infused Oil: Create a lemon-infused oil by steeping lemon zest in a quality olive oil. Store in a cool, dark place and use within a month. It’s perfect for dressings, marinades, or as a finishing oil for dishes that need a subtle lemon kick.
Lemon Lovers Need These:
- A citrus zester that won’t get that bitter white part underneath!
- A handheld juicer.
- An electric juicer for bulk citrus purchases.
KAF Home Pantry Lemons All Over Kitchen Dish Towel Set of 4, 100-Percent Cotton, 18 x 28-inchKitchenAid RRK150MY 5 Qt. Artisan Series – Majestic Yellow (Renewed)Boston International Ceramic Nesting Prep Bowls, 3 Sizes, Painterly Lemons
Let the fresh, tangy lemons transform your kitchen with these easy tips and recipes.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.
