Aunt Ruth's Lemon Lush

American Dessert Recipes

Base Layer 2 sticks butter 2 cups flour 1 cup nuts, chopped Lush Layer 16 oz. cream cheese 2 cups powdered sugar 2 cups Cool Whip (plus additional for topping) Pudding Layer 2 small packages (3.5 oz) lemon instant pudding 3 cups milk Cool Whip to top

Mom loves my Aunt Ruth's Lemon Lush. A great summer picnic dessert from those hot Southern summers in North Carolina! Prepare the baking dish: butter or spray with nonstick a 9x13 baking dish. Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a pastry blender or two forks, cut the butter into the flour. Blend well. Mix in nuts. Pat this crumbly base into a buttered 9x13 baking dish. Bake 15-20 minutes at 400F. Set aside to cool. Next, prepare the rich creamy layer: Beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth, like frosting. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over cooled base layer. Prepare the pudding layer: Beat pudding and milk until smooth. Spread over cream cheese layer, top with more Cool Whip. Refrigerate until picnic time. Cut into squares. Serve after hamburgers and hot dogs and potato salad and alongside brownies and watermelon! Variations Make sure to make your dessert eaters aware of the nuts in the base - or leave them out if y'all are dealing with allergies. And if lemon's not your thing, try this dessert with your favorite pudding - any instant pudding will do. Chocolate, butterscotch, coconut - go nuts!

Submitted by Gretchen Grant
Contributed on: Friday November 20th, 2009 and modified on Thursday September 23rd, 2010