Two of my favorite things – lemon and frosting. I actually am not a huge cake fan, I am a frosting fan. I eat cake so I can eat frosting and I have been known to skip the cake and just eat the frosting. Lemony Lemon Cake includes two of my favorite things – lemon and frosting.
If you are a lemon lover you will love this lemony lemon cake!
Today’s Lemony Lemon Cake recipe is one that has been in my binder of family favorites for years and originally came from my friend Cathy. We had dinner guests last week and I was stumped as what to fix for dessert and I was having a bit of a lemon craving despite the fact that it is almost fall and I should be craving apples and cinnamon. I think my taste buds are confused. That is what happens when the calendar says September but the temperature is in the 80’s!
I was in the mood for lemon frosting -ooops – I mean lemon cake with lemon frosting.
I was hoping my dinner guests were in the mood for lemon cake too. This lemon cake recipe is an easy one. It uses a lemon cake mix and I just doctor it up a bit by adding in an extra egg and instead of water I use buttermilk. Like I said, the reason you make this cake is not for the cake it is for the frosting. But the cake is nice and lemony and moist too.
The frosting makes a lot so if you eat cake because you like cake and not the frosting you could probably get away with cutting the frosting recipe in half but if you are like me you will want to make it just the way it is.
With lots of frosting! It is a fairly simple cake. You just make it in a 9 x 13 pan and then load on the frosting. It is easy and quick to make but don’t be deceived by it’s simplicity and its unassuming appearance .
So if your taste buds are a bit confused and think it is still spring and lemon season like mine you are going to love this cake. Even if your taste buds aren’t confused and they are craving apples and cinnamon give it a try – refresh your taste buds with some lemony lemon cake goodness.
Lemon Cake Recipe
- 1 lemon cake mix
- Ingredients from back of box
- Buttermilk to substitute for water in cake mix
- 1 egg in addition to eggs required for cake mix
- 3 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1/2 C butter softened
- 4 C powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 tsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- Mix together cake mix according to directions on back but add in one additional egg and substitute buttermilk for water.
- Bake according to directions in a 9 x 13 pan.
- Cool.
- Beat together butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, lemon peel and lemon juice until fluffy and spreading consistency. If necessary add some additional lemon juice to get the right consistency.
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Ok! This is totally mouth watering! The 4th photo down…the pic of the cake almost frosted…makes me want to scoop that frosting with a spoon and eat a huge dollop! I will have to remember this for future picnics or family gatherings!
Bonnie – the frosting for this cake is so good and totally the reason to make the cake! I eat it by the spoonful and ended up scraping the frosting off the last of the cake and just eating it!!
Yum! I am having a girls lunch next week and I’ve been thinking a lemon cake would be the perfect dessert. Perfect timing! Thanks!
Enjoy and have fun at your girl’s lunch!
Anything lemon is a hit at our house. We are going to a Steeler party on Sunday and this will be perfect. The cake is “gold” and I’ll serve it on black plates. Black and Gold. Go Steelers. Enjoyed your carnival posts.
Love the idea of using it for the Steeler gold – my husband lived in Pittsburgh for two years so he is a Steeler fan!
This looks SO good! I am huge fan of lemon. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
~FringeGirl
Hope you enjoy it as much as this lemon fan did!
Made this today. The frosting is SO GOOD!! I want to try it on cupcakes. Thanks for sharing!
Ok, I’m not a huge cake fan, but I am pinning this and making it. Hopefully Sunday. It looks amazing, especially the frosting. Loverly photos ps. Just gorgeous
Thanks Carrian! The frosting is really what makes this. Enjoy.
This cake was fabulous!…One of my dinner guests ate the leftover frosting!
so glad it’s one of my favorites!
Any reason not to make this a layer cake and put a thick layer of frosting in the middle?
I am sure that would be fine – just a bit more work 🙂
Thanks! Can’t wait.
Made this for hubby birthday today. It was smashing frosting! Not shy at all, but not overpowering. Just the right amount of tickle to keep you interested. Thank you so much Leigh Anne!
I was hoping for a cake from scratch but your plates are beautiful!