Lemon filling

Lemon filling is a sweet, tart mixture used to flavour and moisten baked goods and confectionery. It typically consists of lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and butter, often thickened with cornflour or flour. The ingredients are cooked together until the mixture thickens to a spreadable consistency.

Manufacturers add lemon filling for its distinctive sharp, citrus flavour and moist texture. It is commonly used as a filling for cakes, pastries, tarts, and Belgian buns, and as a component in confectionery such as lemon drops or fondants.

Lemon filling is primarily composed of common food ingredients and is not typically considered a food additive requiring an E-number. The main health considerations relate to its sugar content, as advised by the NHS and SACN, who recommend limiting free sugars. The individual components like lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and butter have been evaluated by various international bodies, but no specific health concerns are associated with the combination in typical food uses.