This Eggless Lemon Tart is fresh, zingy, creamy, and super easy to make! The perfect addition to your party or really any occasion! The recipe includes step-by-step photos and lots of tips.

a sliced Eggless lemon tart over a round wired rack.

Eggless Lemon Tart Recipe Highlights

When warmer weather comes around, you need a delicious dessert that is simple to create and is served cold, and my Easy Eggless Lemon Tart will be a perfect addition to your outdoor party or really any occasion!

My family loves lemons. The fresh and zingy filling of my Eggless Lemon Tart is the perfect dessert flavor! 

The luscious egg-free lemon filling is poured in an eggless tart crust or even a graham cracker crust, and It’s super easy to toss together if you’re on a time crunch.

Top the tart with whipped cream or eggless meringue and some fresh lemon slices for a breathtaking dessert. You can also top it with some berries to add some different colors and flavors—either way, you’ll have a lovely and delicious tart to serve.

whole Eggless lemon tart decorated with lemon slices and whipped cream.

Ingredients Notes & Substitutions

Eggless Lemon Tart doesn’t require many ingredients, which is one of the best parts! Here’s a list of what you’ll need to gather (for a full list, scroll down to the recipe):

  • One Eggless Tart Crust
  • Unflavored Gelatin Powder: You can substitite for agar-agar for a vegetarian version. However, the texture might be slightly different. Gelatin can give a «creamy» texture whereas agar gives a firmer texture. Agar is much more powerful than gelatin. 1 teaspoon of agar powder is equivalent to 8 teaspoons of gelatin powder, so for this recipe, you will need about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of agar-agar powder.
  • Evaporated Milk: You don’t have evaporated milk? No problem!! Check out my post about How to Make Evaporated Milk at home. 
  • Heavy Cream: Make sure it has at least 35% of fat content.
  • Sugar: Regular white granulated sugar o caster sugar.
  • Lemons: You’ll need the zest and juice.
  • Vanilla Extract: For optimal flavor, reach for pure vanilla instead of imitation. Even better, try homemade vanilla extract!
  • Salt: I prefer kosher or sea salt. If you only have table salt handy, I recommend reducing the amount to half. 
  • Butter: I prefer to use unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter handy, you can use it. In this case, skip the salt called in the recipe.
Eggless lemon tart ingredients

STEP BY STEP RECIPE PHOTO TUTORIAL

Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).

1 – Make the Tart Crust 

To make the tart crust, follow the step in this recipe. Alternately you could use a store-bought or homemade graham cracker if you prefer. 

eggless tart crust for eggles lemon tart

2 – Make the Lemon Filling

First, combine the gelatin and the evaporated milk and let it set for 5 minutes.

Then combine the heavy cream, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and gelatin mixture in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a soft boil, over medium-low heat, and let it roll for a few minutes.

Then remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the butter, vanilla, and salt. Strain the lemon filling through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or a large measure cup. Let it cool for 30 minutes or until just slightly warm.

3 – Assemble

Pour lemon mixture into the crust. Let it cool for about 10 minutes, then cover it.

4 – Chill 

Place the covered tart in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours, or until chilled through and set.

set eggless tart crust over a cooling rack

5 – Decorate & Enjoy!

Decorate your tart as your heart desires. I topped it with whipped cream and some lemon slices. Eggless Meringue and fresh berries would be lovely too!

Eggless lemon tart over a cooling rack

QUICK TIPS & SUBTITUTIONS 

Make sure to use fresh lemon for the best results. Since we are using the zest of the lemon, try using organic lemons.

You can substitute gelatin for 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of agar agar powder. In that case, you don’t need to mix with the evaporated milk, just sprinkle over the liquids (step 2) and mix well until dissolved.

A 9 – 10-inch tart pan works best for this recipe.

You can make the tart crust a day or two in advance; just store it in an air-tight container until ready to use. If you are short of time, you can alternately use a store-bought or homemade graham cracker crust.

Make sure to refrigerate your lemon tart for at least 2 hours before slicing.

closeup view of a eggless lemon tart slice

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular milk instead of evaporated milk?

The evaporated milk helps the tart filling to set properly and have a creamy texture. For best results, I recommend following the recipe exactly. Check out my post about How to Make Evaporated Milk at home. 

Can I substitute gelatine for agar-agar?

Yes, you can. However, the texture might be slightly different. Gelatin can give a «creamy» texture whereas agar gives a firmer texture. Agar is much more powerful than gelatin. 1 teaspoon of agar powder is equivalent to 8 teaspoons of gelatin powder, so for this recipe, you will need about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of agar-agar powder.

Should lemon tart be served cold or at room temperature?

This Eggless Lemon Tart should be served slightly cold. I recommend taking it out of the fridge 5 minutes before serving it to get a creamier consistency. Don’t leave it out too long, especially in hot weather.

Storing & Freezing Instructions

STORE your Eggless Lemon Tart covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

FREEZE your tart well covered for up to two months. When you’re ready to eat your Eggless Lemon Tart, place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. I recommend waiting to add any toppings until just before you serve it.

slice of eggless lemon tart on a white plate

More Eggless Tart Recipes You’ll Love!

If you love my Eggless Lemon Tart, then you should definitely try one of my other recipes!

❤️ Love what you see? Subscribe to Mommy’s Home Cooking email list, so you’ll never miss a recipe! Follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more fun! 

overhead view of an sliced Eggless lemon tart

Easy Eggless Lemon Tart

Oriana Romero
This Eggless Lemon Tart is fresh, zingy, creamy, and super easy to make! The perfect addition to your party or really any occasion!
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Chilling time: 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 10 – 12 slices

Ingredients
 

  • 1 eggless tart crust (or graham cracker crust)
  • 1 tablespoon (10 g) unflavored gelatin
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
  • 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Important

Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!

Instructions
 

Make the Eggless Tart Crust:

Make the Lemon Filling:

  • Mix gelatin and evaporated milk in a bowl. Let the mixture rest for 5 – 7 minutes.
  • Combine the heavy cream, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and gelatin mixture in a large pot. Mix until well combined (NOTE: the mixture will look thick; that is okay! It will loosen up while cooking). Bring the mixture to a soft boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 3 – 5 minutes and then remove from the heat.
  • Whisk in the butter, vanilla, and salt. Mix until well combined.
  • Strain the lemon filling through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or a large measure cup. Let it cool for 30 minutes or until just slightly warm.

Assemble:

  • Pour the lemon filling onto the tart crust. Let it cool over the counter for 10 minutes. Then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
  • Decorate with whipped cream and lemon slices if desired. Cut and serve.
Oriana’s Notes
 
Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 
Freeze well covered for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Extra Tips:
  • Make sure to use fresh lemon for best results. Since we are using the zest of the lemon, try using organic lemons.
  • You can substitute gelatin for 1/4 – 1/2  teaspoon of Agar Agar powder.  In that case, you don’t need to mix with the evaporated milk, just sprinkle over the liquids (step 2) and mix well until dissolved. 
  • A 9–10-inch tart pan works best for this recipe.
  • You can make the tart crust a day or two in advance, just store it in an air-tight container until ready to use. If you are short of time, you can alternately use a store-bought or homemade graham cracker crust. 
  • Make sure to refrigerate your lemon tart for at least 2 hours before slicing.
 
If you’re going to make this recipe, please read the whole post content to see the step-by-step photo tutorial, get lots of tips, tricks, and variations. 
 
 Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
 
Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate, and it can vary depending on the products used.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!Recipe reviews on the website are extremely valuable to other readers online. So, please don’t forget to give it a 5-star rating below.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 5gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 20gSodium: 177mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18g

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 451
Keyword dessert eggfree Eggless lemon recipe tart

Eggless Baking Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve asked, and I’ve answered! Read on for a handful of answers to the most frequently asked questions about eggless baking.

5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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8 Comments

  1. Hi! Could I use cornstarch instead of the gelatin? I am making many tarts and I’m worried if I leave the mini tarts out at room temperature for too long that the gelatin will go back to its liquid form

    1. Hello AC! I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise.The texture will be definitely different if you use cornstarch. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.

  2. 5 stars
    The nicest Lemon Tart I’ve made without eggs. Smooth and creamy with the tart flavour of lemons and the right amount of sweetness. I added yellow food colour to give it the lemon tart look.

  3. Hi Oriana,
    I notice that several eggless (dessert) recipes on this site contain gelatin (like this one). As you may be aware, use of gelatin makes such recipes unsuitable for vegetarians. Can you suggest a vegetarian alternative to gelatin (e.g. agar-agar or china grass) that can be used in such recipes? And, if such substitutions are possible, it would be helpful to know the quantity/measure of such gelatin-alternatives so that vegetarians can also enjoy these yummy (dessert) recipes.

    Thank you.

    1. Hello Andy! Yes, you can use agar agar powder. However, the texture might be slightly different. Gelatin can give a «creamy» texture, whereas agar gives a firmer texture. Agar is much more powerful than gelatin. 1 teaspoon agar powder is equivalent to 8 teaspoon gelatin powder, so if using agar agar only use 1/8 – 1/4 of the amount called for gelatin. Thanks for your interest in my recipes. Please come back and let me know how you like it =)

      1. Hi Oriana,

        Great to know that one could use agar-agar powder instead of gelatin – to make this more suitable for vegetarians. And thanks for the gelatin-to-agar agar proportion conversion. A follow-up question though is: do we just use the 1/8-1/4 quantity of agar-agar in the recipe instead of gelatin with the same steps? Or do we need to follow slightly different steps (compared to the above recipe instructions) if using agar-agar?

        Thanks again.