Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 26, 2026 ~1 min source read

‘Wonderful, full-fat indulgence’: the best (and worst) supermarket lemon cheesecake, tasted and rated

We sift through the sweet and the sour of the creamy citrus dessert, but which ones are overloaded with additives and which are more generous with the juice? That's eight ingredients max, yet the average for today's store-bought versions is 24.

‘Wonderful, full-fat indulgence’: the best (and worst) supermarket lemon cheesecake, tasted and rated

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We sift through the sweet and the sour of the creamy citrus dessert, but which ones are overloaded with additives and which are more generous with the juice?

That's eight ingredients max, yet the average for today's store-bought versions is 24.

Every cake in today's test falls firmly into the ultra-processed food category and typically contains at least five ingredients that aren't found in domestic kitchens.

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The useful part

We sift through the sweet and the sour of the creamy citrus dessert, but which ones are overloaded with additives and which are more generous with the juice? That's eight ingredients max, yet the average for today's store-bought versions is 24. Every cake in today's test falls firmly into the ultra-processed food category and typically contains at least five ingredients that aren't found in domestic kitchens.

How it works

  • Although real lemon juice or concentrate features in every one, lemon oil and acidity regulators are used to ensure that tart, lemony flavour.

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