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This luscious lemon lasagna AKA Lemon Lush consists of 4 tasty layers, including a Lemon Oreo crust, cream cheese layer, lemon pudding layer and topped with whipped cream!
My White Chocolate Lasagna was the hit recipe that started it all. Since then, I’ve made this Lemon Lasagna, and even a Pumpkin Lasagna! I’m thinking I’ll have to try even more flavors, because everyone loves these layered desserts!
AKA Lemon Lush
You might have heard of “Lemon Lush”, or maybe even “Lemon Delight”, and now you’re reading about “Lemon Lasagna”.
Well guess what? They’re all names for this same recipe—a luscious layered lemon lasagna (try saying that three times fast!).
It’s one of those “layered” treats (hence why we call it lemon lasagna) that has so many levels of delicious-ness. It starts off with a Lemon Oreo base, then a cream cheese layer, lemon pudding layer, and lastly a layer of cool whip topping.
Top it with a fresh lemon and you’ll be getting rave reviews from everyone. No baking is required for this recipe, and it’s especially perfect during the warmer months since it’s a cool recipe.
How to Make Lemon Lush
OREOS. Begin by crushing your Oreos. For a very fine mixture, place Oreos in a food processor. Place in a ziploc baggie and add melted butter. Mix until it is well combined.
CRUST. Press into the bottom of a 9×13 pan, spreading out to cover the entire bottom of the pan.
CREAM CHEESE LAYER. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, margarine/butter, powdered sugar, and ½ of the cool whip. Blend well and pour over your Lemon Oreo Crust.
PUDDING. In another bowl, make the pudding by adding your milk and instant pudding to your bowl. Whisk together until pudding thickens. Pour over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for at least 5 minutes.
TOPPING. Top off with the rest of your Cool Whip or Homemade Whipped Cream.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Add lemon slices and ENJOY!
Tips + toppings
TIPS. to ensure your layered dessert turns out perfectly, keep these tips in mind.
- Leave the Oreo filling inside the Oreos when you make the crust. This helps to keep the crumbs together.
- The pudding will not set if you try using a dairy free or lactose free milk.
TOPPINGS. Here are some optional toppings for your lemon lasagna:
- NUTS: crushed walnuts, crushed pecans, sliced almonds
- FRUIT: strawberries, toasted coconut
- OTHER: crushed Oreos, Sprinkles
SUBSTITUTIONS
SUBSTITUTIONS. I get asked often if the lemon pudding can be replaced with lemon curd or lemon pie filling and the answer is yes! Those are great options. They will also give it a more tart, lemon flavor.
If you can’t find lemon Oreos, or if you don’t want the lemon flavor to be as strong, golden Oreos work just as well! You could also do a shortcake crust or Graham cracker crust instead.
PUDDING. Easily Change the flavor of the dessert using different pudding flavors. Some ideas include:
- Chocolate pudding with chocolate oreos. Top with chocolate shavings
- Banana pudding with golden oreos. Top with banana slices.
- Cheesecake pudding with golden oreos. Top with fresh berries.
- Pistachio Pudding with chocolate oreos. Top with mini chocolate chips.
Just as good a day or two later!
The great thing about this recipe is that it stores well in the fridge or freezer and leftovers taste fantastic. Just cover your pan with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the fridge 3-5 days. If you store it in the freezer, it will keep well for about a week.
Making the recipe ahead of time and storing it in the fridge for a day before serving works great for this recipe. In fact, giving it that extra time always helps the layers set even more.
If you want to make just the pudding layer ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a day this also can be done. It gives the pudding extra time to set and cool.
Even though this Lemon Lush recipe is especially perfect for Spring and Summer, we love making it all year long, but that’s because Arizona is warm all year long. 😉 We really enjoyed it and hope you do too!
For even more lemon desserts, check out:
- Lemon Sheet Cake
- Lemon Blossoms
- Better than Starbucks Lemon Loaf
- Lemon Creme Crumb Bars
- Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Lemon Cupcakes
Lemon Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 (14.3-ounce) package Lemon Oreos (or Golden Oreos; about 36 cookies)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Filling
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 (16-ounce) tub whipped topping (or homemade whipped cream) divided
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes lemon instant pudding
- 3 cups milk
- lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Crush Oreos in a food processor to a very fine texture. Place crushed Oreos in a large resealable plastic bag and add melted butter. Shake to mix until well combined.
- Press buttered crumbs into the bottom of a 9-x-13-inch baking dish, making sure to cover the entire bottom.
- In a medium bowl, blend powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, and half of the whipped topping with a hand mixer. Blend well and pour over crust.
- In another bowl, combine instant pudding and milk. Whisk together until pudding thickens, then pour over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for at least 5 minutes.
- Top off with the remaining whipped topping and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Add lemon slices for garnish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use real whipped cream instead of Cool Whip in the lemon lasagna. I just can’t stand cool whip.
Yes, of course 🙂 I hope you like it!
The Lemon Lasagna is now one of my family’s favorites! Giving my Mom the recipe as she asked for and my brother, etc. A tasty delight!
Awe, love to hear that! Thank you so much!! I’m so glad it’s a hit!!
I made the Lemon Lasagna and everyone loved it. I made it using strawberry pudding also and that was just as good. I am going to make this for our annual Italian Festival where I live, can I make these ahead and freeze them?
I am so glad to hear that!! Thank you so much! I haven’t tried freezing it before, so couldn’t personally let you know, but I think it should be ok. Hope that helps! Enjoy!
How well does this keep after it is made This is Thursday and want to have it over the weekend.
It should be ok. I haven’t made it that early in advance, just maybe the night before or morning of. Cover well. Good luck!
Do you scrape off the filling of the Oreo cookie in the Lemon Lasagna before you crush them
Nope, you crush them together 🙂 You won’t even see the filling once it’s crushed. Enjoy!
I just tried this recipe today and it was pretty tasty. To give it just a bit more tartness I added about 2 oz of frozen lemonade concentrate to the cream cheese mixture. Nummy!
I’ll have to try that! Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you liked it!
Can you make a Graham cracker crust instead of cookies?
Sure can 🙂 Good luck and hope you like it!
Would a can of lemon pie filling (which I have) work instead of the pudding?
I have not tried that, but it might work just fine? I wish I knew…only one way to find out 🙂 Let me know how it comes out..thank you!
Try pudding would not thicken. Could it be because I used lactose free milk. Should I have followed pudding directions on the pudding and pie filling?
Yes, I would follow the directions for the pudding. That could have been why. Hope you’ll try again 🙂
Hi Luna,
Love your creations and so are my kids :).
I would like to make the Lemon Lasagna for the weekend for a BBQ party but here over at the UK we don’t have lemon instant pudding. What can I buy or make on my own instead .
Many thanks in advance.
Michelle
Here is a recipe for a homemade lemon pudding…http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-lemon-pudding-21418. I hope that helps! I hope you like it!