Luscious Lemons

The sunny goodness of tangy citrus comes alive in six sparkling summer dessert ideas.

For a food as commonplace as it is today, the lemon’s origins remain shrouded in mystery. Historians seem unable to agree on precisely where in Asia this sunny fruit first sprang up thousands of years ago – or how it made its way to Europe and the Mediterranean groves where lemon trees now grow so abundantly. The one thing we do know is that Christopher Columbus carried lemon seeds with him on his explorations and by the 16th century, the fruit was being enjoyed the world over.

Today, lemons are synonymous with clean, refreshing aromas and flavours. The invigorating scent of these brilliant yellow gems is found in everything from perfumes to laundry soap, while in the kitchen lemons brighten an infinite number of beverages and foods. For us, however, where lemons truly shine is on the dessert table.

Their unique combination of tangy and sweet flavours has made favourites of old-fashioned creations like lemon meringue pie and lemon bars. While there’s no denying the appeal of these classics, we’ve come up with six fresh twists on lemony treats, ranging from a light-as-air Chilled Lemon Mousse, to a refreshing Lemon Ginger Ice served in hollowedout lemon cups to a decadently creamy Lemon Ripple Cheesecake. Sample any one of them and you just may discover a new lemon classic to add to your summer dessert repertoire.

Recipes in this article:

• LEMON GINGER ICE IN LEMON CUPS
• LEMON CHIFFON CAKE WITH LEMON CURD FROSTING
• LEMON CURD
• LEMON CREAM PUFFS WITH SUGARED ALMONDS
• LEMON RIPPLE CHEESECAKE
• SOUR CREAM LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE
• CHILLED LEMON MOUSSE WITH FRESH BERRIES AND CREAM

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