Citrus Dessert Recipes

Pucker up for this sweet-and-sour assembly of colorful citrus treats, from lemon meringue to Key lime and everything in between. 

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

A cinnamon-graham cracker crust lays the groundwork for a light and cheesy bar dotted with blueberries and powdered sugar.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Madeleines with Lemon Curd

These supple, raspberry-centered sponge cakes are perfectly sweet on their own, but a buttery lemon curd drizzle gives them extra-bright flavor. Just be sure to eat them fresh out of the oven when they're at their fluffiest, preferably with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Get the Recipe: Madeleines with Lemon Curd

Lemon Bars

Is it any surprise that the Barefoot Contessa's lemon bar recipe is just a bit sweeter and richer than the average?

Get the Recipe: Lemon Bars

Orange Scented Bomboloni with Pastry Cream and Chocolate Orange Sauce

Bobby spikes these little fried balls with orange liqueur (in the pastry cream and also the dipping sauce), and rolls the warm dough in cane sugar directly out of the frying pan. Eating just one is hardly an option.

Get the Recipe: Orange Scented Bomboloni with Pastry Cream and Chocolate Orange Dipping Sauce

Lemony Scones with Strawberry Compote

These tart lemon scones with jammy strawberry compote taste like you slaved over the oven all day, but they actually take only 15 minutes of active prep time — the rest is just waiting for them to bake and cool.

Get the Recipe: Lemony Scones with Strawberry Compote

Individual Orange and Chocolate Cheesecakes

Giada makes her cheesecakes in a mini muffin tin to achieve the perfect tiny bites. They are equal parts ricotta and cream cheese piled atop a crushed chocolate wafer crust. 

Get the Recipe: Individual Orange and Chocolate Cheesecakes

Ricotta Orange Pound Cake with Strawberries

Sweet, refreshing strawberries and dense pound cake are scented with orange zest and amaretto.

Get the Recipe: Ricotta Orange Pound Cake with Strawberries

Terry's Famous Homemade Key Lime Pie

This signature sweet-tart treat requires no baking: The filling naturally thickens when condensed milk reacts to the acidic lime juice.

Get the Recipe: Terry's Famous Homemade Key Lime Pie

Almond and Lemon Biscotti Dipped in White Chocolate

You might be surprised to find cornmeal in biscotti, but its pleasantly coarse texture blends seamlessly with chopped almonds and smooth white chocolate. These are just begging to be paired with afternoon tea.

Get the Recipe: Almond and Lemon Biscotti Dipped in White Chocolate

Strawberry-Lemon Poke Cake with Italian Meringue

Torched meringue makes this strawberry-lemon cake look fancy, but it's actually a super-easy treat. Just use boxed lemon cake mix, poke a bunch of holes in it and squeeze in strawberry gelatin!

Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Lemon Poke Cake with Italian Meringue

Lemon-Lime Mousse

The best thing about these sweet-tart parfaits that taste like Key lime pie? Most of the work can be done a couple days in advance, so simply fold in egg whites and cream, then top with macerated berries before serving.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Lime Mousse

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Lemon lovers will appreciate Giada's light, bright ricotta cookies. The best part about these sweets? They travel well, making them a great gift for friends and family.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tangerine Gelatin

This recipe lets tangerines shine brilliantly, simply pairing their juice and zest with gelatin and sugar.

Get the Recipe: Honey Tangerine Gelatin

Tiny Lemon Angel Cakes with Lemon Confit

Top mini lemon-infused angel food cakes with a sweet-tart glaze and garnish with candied lemon rinds. Use whipped egg whites for a texture that's as light as a feather.

Get the Recipe: Tiny Lemon Angel Cakes with Lemon Confit

Scorze di Arancia al Cioccolato (Candied Orange Peels)

Fancy a genuine taste of Italy? Boil orange peels and turn them into candied strips dipped in chocolate, a la Extra Virgin.

Get the Recipe: Scorze Di Arancia Al Cioccolato

Vegan, Gluten-Free Lemon Fonuts

These lemon "fonuts" are baked, not fried, and are totally vegan and gluten-free. They come out of the oven light and fluffy and are saturated with fresh lemon flavor. Drizzle with a lemon glaze for the perfect tangy-sweet finish.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Fonuts (Vegan and Wheat/Gluten Free)

Pink Grapefruit Meringue Pies

These individual pies have it all: a chocolate-studded graham cracker crust, tart grapefruit filling and a cute meringue topper. Serve them at a cookout alongside the season's best berries.

Get the Recipe: Pink Grapefruit Meringue Pies

Inverted Lemon Meringue Pie

Nadia G. turns this classic summer pie on its head by topping her crunchy, spongy meringue with zesty lemon curd. Upside down or not, you'll find it's always delicious.

Get the Recipe: Inverted Lemon Meringue Pie

Citrus Semifreddo

This incredibly creamy frozen confection is spiked with limoncello and flecked with thin ribbons of citrus zest. Crumble amaretti cookies for a final showstopping touch.

Get the Recipe: Citrus Semifreddo

Blood Orange Granita

This flaky, refreshing dessert couldn't be easier since your freezer does most of the work for you. Combine fresh blood orange juice, sugar and cracked black pepper to achieve this slightly spicy, ruby-hued slush.

Get the Recipe: Blood Orange Granita

Pink Grapefruit and Orange Terrine

Put an adult spin on gelatin with a wobbly, white wine-infused terrine. A little sugar takes the bitter bite out of grapefruit and sweetens this refreshing fruit-filled amber treat.

Get the Recipe: Pink Grapefruit and Orange Terrine

Lemon Shaker Pie

This humble pie hails from Midwestern Shakers who had a soft spot for seasonal fruit. For maximum frugality, the whole lemon was used in the filling, which involved macerating the peel in sugar for a few hours to create a texture somewhere between marmalade and lemon curd. 

Get the Recipe: Lemon Shaker Pie

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