Lemon Lush Dessert

Lemon Lush is a beautiful and easy layered dessert featuring a crunchy crust topped with whipped cream cheese and lemon pudding. It's always a favorite at summer potlucks!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cream cheese, pudding

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 15

Cooling time 45

Total Time 1 30

Servings

Calories 329kcal

Author Sara Garska

Cost $15

Equipment

3 Mixing bowls
Electric Hand mixer
Baking safe pan 9x13"

Ingredients

Baked Crust

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts pecan or walnuts

Cream Cheese Layer

8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 container Cool Whip or similar whipped topping

Pudding Layer

2 boxes INSTANT lemon pudding small boxes (3.4oz)
3 cups milk

Topping

1/2 container Cool Whip

Instructions

Baked Crust

Mix flour, melted butter, and chopped nuts until combined.
Spread on bottom of 9X13 baking dish and press down to make the crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool, about 30-60 minutes.

Cream Cheese Layer

Using an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar.
Add the Cool Whip and mix well.
Gently spread cheesecake layer on top of the cooled crust. Allow to set.

Pudding Layer

Whisk together the pudding mixes and milk.
Pour over the cream cheese mixture and spread gently. Allow to set.

Whipped Topping

Spoon the remainder of Cool Whip on top of the chocolate and spread.
You can also garnish with crumbs of the crust mixture, lemon zest, or chopped nuts.

Video

Notes

This is a make ahead dessert. It’s not difficult but each layer has to set before you add the next one. There is a short baking time for the crust, followed by a period of cooling.

The pecan crust is delicate after baking. Let it cool completely. Make sure the cream cheese mixture is as spreadable as possible. Then spread it gently over the pecan crust.

The pudding layer calls for less milk than the directions on the pudding boxes calls for. Using less milk creates a lemon layer that is firm and can be sliced and hold its shape.

I used the time between layers to clean up utensils and bowls or get the next layer ready. The only layer you can’t prepare ahead of time is the pudding layer. It sets up fast and you want to be able to pour it.

The whole thing takes about two hours. Then you can put it in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve.

Nutrition information is an estimate only.

Nutrition