This lemon lush pie recipe takes your taste buds on a delightful journey. In fact, this just might become your favorite lemony dessert ever!

You’ll use almost exactly the same basic recipe you would use for a lemon lush. The only difference is that it’s in the shape of a pie. So if you prefer to cut it into squares, make it in a baking dish or casserole dish.

Lemon Lush Layered Dessert

One of the things I love about lemon lush is the balance of sweet and tart. Each of the creamy layers delivers another element of deliciousness. 

Growing up, I heard of this called luscious lemon lasagna and lemon pudding cake. In fact, my great-grandmother used to make mini lemon pudding cakes.

This lemon lush pie is similar to a lemon meringue pie, but it has a third layer that makes it a great dessert for any occasion. 

Some people consider it a summer dessert and prefer it during the warmer months. But I like it year-round. In other words, it’s a great dessert, no matter when you eat it.

Ingredients

All of the ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store. Here are the items you’ll need:

• Melted butter
• *Graham cracker crumbs (regular or gluten-free)
• Sugar
• Cream cheese
• Lemon juice
• Whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip or the store brand)
• Instant lemon pudding
• Cold milk
• Lemon zest (optional)

For the full recipe with measurements and directions, please either scroll to the bottom of this page or click on the jump-to-recipe button beneath the title. That will take you to the printable recipe card.

*Note: You can use other types of crumbs in place of graham crackers. I’ve had it with lemon Oreos, vanilla wafers, golden Oreos, and butter cookies (for a buttery crust).

How to Make a Lemon Lush Pie

This classic recipe is always popular with large groups of people. A pie shape is good when you’re serving it to your family or a smaller group. 

However, if you’re taking it to a potluck, I recommend using a baking dish and cutting it into squares. Regardless of how you cut it, this lemon lush recipe is a favorite at any type of gathering.

First, combine the butter, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar in a medium bowl. Mix well.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Put it in the refrigerator and chill it for about 30 minutes while you follow the rest of the steps.

In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, powdered sugar, and half of the whipped topping. Mix it with an electric mixer or stand mixer.

Spread this lemon and cream cheese mixture over the chilled graham cracker crust.

Now it’s time to make the next layer. In another bowl, combine the lemon pudding mix and milk. Mix until it begins to thicken.

Spread the pudding mixture of the lemon and cream cheese layer.

Scoop the remaining whipped topping over the top of the pie. Using a spatula or knife, spread it out evenly.

If you want to add garnish, sprinkle lemon zest over the top. Or if you prefer, you can put very thin lemon slices on the top.

Refrigerate a couple of hours before serving.

Slice it into pie-shaped wedges or squares.

Extra Tips for Making Lemon Lush or Lemon Lush Pie

This is a difficult recipe to mess up. Even if something is lopsided, it will still taste wonderful.

But here are some tips to successfully make the best lemon dessert:

• If you can’t find already prepared cookie crumbs, run the graham crackers through your food processor.
• Or if you want to do something completely different, run pecans through a food processor instead of cookies. You’ll wind up with a delicious nutty flavor.
• Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice doesn’t deliver as much fresh lemon flavor.
• Finely crush your cookie crumbs to get the best consistency for your crust.
• Add the layers very carefully to keep them from “bleeding” into each other.
• You can make this with homemade lemon pudding instead of instant pudding mix, but cut the liquid by 25 percent so it be firm enough to handle the layers.
• Don’t cut the chilling time. This dessert is best served cold.
• When adding lemon zest be sure to only zest the yellow part of the lemon. The white part underneath the skin is often bitter.
• Get creative with the garnish. You can add other toppings to make this dessert more festive. Blueberries, sliced strawberries, and raspberries add lots of color. You can also add crushed nuts if you want.
• You can use fresh whipped cream, but please keep in mind that it can deflate over time. Only use fresh whipped cream if you’re going to eat it right away.

How to Store Leftover Lemon Lush Pie

This delicious lemon delight is best served within a day of when you make it. If you have any left over, cover it in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator. It should be good for a couple of days.

See this recipe shared at Full Plate Thursday.

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

We love all kinds of desserts at our house. If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe, check out a few of our favorites:

Pineapple Pie – No-bake pineapple pie delivers a burst of flavors with every single bite. It’s like sending your taste buds on a tropical vacation.

Chocolate Walnut Pie – Also called chocolate pudding pie, chocolate lovers will enjoy this treat after any meal.

Strawberry Dump Cake – Easy to make and delicious to eat, this strawberry dump cake will bring smiles to everyone.

Cherry Icebox Pie – This delicious fluffy cherry icebox pie from Out of the Box Baking is sure to impress everyone at the dessert table.

Brownie and Fruit Dessert Pizza – See is how a dessert pizza is supposed to taste. After all, how can you go wrong with the combination of chocolate and fruit?

Lemon Bars – These yummy lemon bars are made with only 3 ingredients and an optional 4th. They’re easy to make and so delicious! 

Year-Round Dessert

As I mentioned, this lemon lush pie is delicious at any time of year. It delivers sunshine, even on the coldest, rainiest days!

Please feel free to share!