Sweet Citrus Desserts
A little bit of tartness does wonders to brighten the flavor of a sugary treat—it's no wonder so many beloved desserts feature lemons, limes, oranges, and other citrus fruits. From orange-scented olive oil cake to creamy key lime pie, here are our favorite desserts featuring citrus.
While visiting New York City’s Gramercy Tavern, pastry chef Claudia Fleming garnished this dessert with the cinnamon stick and star anise used to poach the oranges; she also drizzles the plate with a bit of creme fraiche. See the Confit of Oranges filled with Orange Sorbet recipe »
Candied Orange Peels
Bitter citrus rinds are transformed into a candy-sweet, chocolate-dipped confection.
Chef Jair Tellez of Laja restaurant made us this sorbet with charentais melons grown at Mogor-Badan.
The Best Damn Meyer Lemon Cake
Lemon extract, juice, and zest permeate a rich and moist loaf to create what really is is the best damn lemon cake we’ve ever had.
Grapefruit Cake
This citrus-spiked sheet cake is a Texas potluck favorite. **See the Recipe for Grapefruit Cake »**
Orange-Scented Olive Oil Cake
A heady mixture of olive oil and preserved oranges flavors this moist, dense Sicilian dessert.
Orange Cake (Portokalopita)
Chopped phyllo dough gives this orange-scented custard cake from Crete its layered texture. Get the recipe for Orange Cake (Portokalopita) » **
Key Lime Pie
Tart, refreshing key lime pie topped with a layer of chilled whipped cream is a summer classic.
Lemon Icebox Pie
This creamy lemon pie with homemade candied lemon peel is a delicious frozen treat. Get the recipe for Lemon Icebox Pie »
A back-of-the-box recipe for lemon icebox pie gets a gourmet upgrade with real whipped cream, lemon simple syrup, vanilla shortbread, and homemade candied lemon peel scattered over the top—it’s a lovely dessert for a special occasion.
Sweet Orange Buns
Home cook Linda Worsley gave us the recipe for these luscious buns filled with fragrant orange-flavored butter.
Lemon Layer Cake
Lemon infuses this layered masterpiece in three ways: zested into the batter, in a tart syrup that get drizzled over the cakes, and in a thick lemon curd frosting.
Corsican Lemon Mousse
This rich, silky mousse brightened with tangy lemons makes an elegant end to a meal.
Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are a light, brightly-flavored dessert, best served with a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar. Get the recipe for Lemon Bars »
Grapefruit and Campari Granita
Ruby Red grapefruit juice and Campari are a refreshingly bittersweet combination. Get the recipe for Grapefruit and Campari Granita »
Lemon Curd Layer Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Silken white chocolate buttercream frosts a tender yellow cake layered with rich lemon curd in this recipe from the restaurant Rye KC in Leawood, Kansas.
Lime Bars
A light dusting of confectioners’ sugar tempers the intense lime pucker of these creamy bars.
Chile-Lime Macaroons
These lightly spicy coconut cookies are somewhere between a classic American macaroon and a Mexican street snack. Get the recipe for Chile-Lime Macaroons »
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