Lemon Lush Cake Amazing Ultimate (Print Version)
Luscious layered dessert with buttery crust, creamy filling, tangy lemon pudding, and fluffy whipped topping
# What You Need:
→ Crust
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
→ Cream Cheese Layer
04 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
05 - 1 cup powdered sugar
06 - 1 cup whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
→ Lemon Layer
07 - 2 packages (3.4 oz each) instant lemon pudding mix
08 - 2 1/2 cups cold milk
09 - Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
→ Topping
10 - 2 cups whipped topping
11 - Lemon slices or zest, for garnish (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the flour, softened butter, and powdered sugar. Mix until the texture becomes crumbly. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
03 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the crust turns lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
04 - Beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until perfectly smooth. Gently fold in 1 cup of whipped topping. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together both packages of instant lemon pudding mix, cold milk, and lemon zest if using. Whisk vigorously for 2 minutes until the pudding thickens. Spread evenly over the cream cheese layer.
06 - Spread the remaining 2 cups of whipped topping gently over the lemon pudding layer, covering the entire surface.
07 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the layers are fully set and firm.
08 - Garnish with fresh lemon slices or a sprinkle of lemon zest before slicing into squares and serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the crisp buttery crust and the silky cream cheese middle is the kind of texture pairing that makes people close their eyes when they take a bite.
- It looks like you spent all day on it, but the hands on work barely stretches past a half hour.
02 -
- If the crust is even slightly warm when you add the cream cheese layer, everything will slide around and the clean layers you see in pictures will be impossible to achieve.
- Underwhisking the pudding is the most common mistake, so set a timer for two full minutes and do not stop early.
03 -
- Cover the pan tightly with foil or plastic wrap during chilling, but do not let it touch the whipped topping or it will stick and pull away when you uncover it.
- A cold sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry between cuts gives you those perfectly clean bakery style squares.