Easy Lemonade Cake
Soft lemon cake made from a simple mix and finished with a sweet-tangy lemon glaze.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 40–45 minutes
Total Time: ~55 minutes
Yield: 12–16 servings
Ingredients
For the Cake
1 box lemon cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) box instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup water
Optional Add-Ins (Highly Recommended)
1 tablespoon lemon zest (for fresh lemon flavor)
1 teaspoon lemon extract (for extra brightness)
For the Lemon Glaze (Optional but Delicious)
1½ cups powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon melted butter (optional, for richness)
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat & Prepare Pan
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and flour a bundt pan, 9×13-inch pan, or two 9-inch round pans.
2️⃣ Make the Batter
In a large mixing bowl, add:
Lemon cake mix
Lemon pudding mix
Eggs
Vegetable oil
Water
Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
Fold in lemon zest or extract if using.
3️⃣ Bake
Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.
Bake:
Bundt pan: 40–45 minutes
9×13 pan: 30–35 minutes
Cake is done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
4️⃣ Cool
Let cake cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.
Turn out onto a wire rack (if using a bundt pan) and cool completely.
5️⃣ Make the Lemon Glaze
Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
Add melted butter if using.
Adjust thickness with more sugar (thicker) or juice (thinner).
6️⃣ Glaze the Cake
Drizzle glaze generously over cooled cake.
Let set for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serving Ideas
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Top with fresh berries
Dust with powdered sugar for a simple finish
Tips for Best Lemonade Cake
Don’t overmix—2 minutes is perfect
Fresh lemon juice makes the flavor pop
Glaze while cake is slightly warm for deeper flavor absorption
Variations
Lemonade Poke Cake: Poke holes and pour glaze over warm cake
- Strawberry Lemonade Cake: Add strawberry glaze or topping
Blueberry Lemon Cake: Fold in 1 cup blueberries (tossed in flour)
Lemon Cream Cake: Frost with lemon cream cheese frosting
