Homemade Lemon Pudding Recipe with Fresh Lemons

Tips for Making Homemade Pudding
Choosing the Best Lemons
Like this homemade lemon pudding? Here are more lemon recipes to try:
How to Make Homemade Lemon Pudding From Scratch:
Homemade Lemon Pudding Recipe with Fresh Lemons

Homemade pudding is always a much loved dessert recipe in my house. I often make pudding from scratch to avoid artificial ingredients. It is seriously easy and takes only a few minutes, other than time to chill. This homemade lemon pudding recipe uses fresh lemons and whole milk. Simple ingredients make this homemade pudding quick, easy, and delicious!

food, homemade lemon pudding recipe with fresh lemons

collage of homemade lemon pudding in jars with text overlay ‘lemon pudding recipe’

Tips for Making Homemade Pudding

Lemon pudding recipes can seem simple, but you really have to pay attention. You will have to stir constantly, so don’t walk away! Prepare all of your ingredients ahead of time. That means separate your eggs, juice and zest your lemons, and pour and measure ingredients.

Once you turn on the heat, do not leave it unattended! A few things you might need before you get started making lemon pudding from scratch:

Glass pudding cups: Serve your lemon pudding in style with simple glass cups
Pudding Cookbook: Want to make more homemade pudding? Try Puddin’: Luscious and Unforgettable Puddings, Parfaits, PuddingCakes, Pies, and Pops: A Cookbook
Hand held mesh strainer: Homemade pudding can be a tad bit lumpy. Strain out the lumps with a wooden spoon and mesh strainer. You will strain out some of the lemon zest. It is up to you if you prefer a very smooth pudding.

fresh lemons in a basket

Choosing the Best Lemons

You could certainly try making this pudding recipe with a bottle of lemon juice but I really don’t recommend it. It really gets a boost of flavor from lemon zest. If you don’t have fresh lemons, you could add natural lemon oil or lemon extract for additional flavor.

Like this homemade lemon pudding? Here are more lemon recipes to try:

To choose the best lemons , look for ones without blemishes. You want firm lemons that feel heavy for their size and have no green areas, which indicates that they are over ripe.

Avoid very pale lemons since those are probably old and will contain less juice. The best lemons for this homemade pudding have smooth, thick skin to provide lots of lemon zest.

Homemade Lemon Pudding From Scratch with fresh lemons in the background

How to Make Homemade Lemon Pudding From Scratch:

I highly recommend using whole milk or even half and half for this lemon pudding. Yes, it is higher in fat, however, homemade pudding tastes SO much better with full fat milk products.

Top your homemade pudding with some real whipped cream and enjoy a little bite of heaven after your next meal! It is so much better than boxed pudding mix!

Looking for more classic dessert recipes made from scratch? Check out my pound cake recipe! Or use this lemon pudding in my lemon and raspberry parfait recipe.

homemade lemon pudding in a glass jar with fresh lemons behind it

In a large saucepan, combine your sugar and corn starch. Give it a little stir with a fork or whisk to combine it slightly. Then, pour in cold milk (whole!) and beaten egg yolks. Toss in the salt and lemon zest and you are ready to start cooking!

pot of pudding cooking and wooden spoon showing thickness of contents

In addition to watching this constantly, you want to STIR constantly to avoid lumps. Be patient! Making lemon pudding from scratch is an art! Cook over medium heat until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon easily. Check out Lynn’s Cooking Adventures for tips on how to NOT make lumpy lemon puddings!

pudding in a white bowl

Remove the pudding from the burner. Add in fresh lemon juice and butter. Then, stir until it is well mixed and smooth. If your homemade pudding is lumpy (which does happen unfortunately), push it through a fine wire strainer. Chill for a few hours and enjoy with some homemade whipped cream!

Yield: 4 servings