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How To Make Yellow Cake Mix Into Lemon Cake In 4 Easy Steps

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Last Updated on December 7, 2022

This tutorial on how to make yellow cake mix into lemon cake mix is very easy. It’s loaded with refreshing citrus flavors that are easily adjustable.

For this recipe, you don’t need any special ingredients or tools. It’s very quick and the perfect cake for any occasion. We finished ours with a lemon glaze and candied lemon slices. But, you can essentially garnish it in whichever way you’d like.

Jump to Recipe

Taking A Look At What Yellow Cake Is

Today we will be looking at a couple of different ways you can turn a regular yellow cake mix into a lemon-flavored cake mix. But first, it’s important to understand what a yellow cake mix is. This will enable you to make the changes needed without altering the final outcome of the cake.

Now, a yellow cake mix will make a type of vanilla-flavored sponge cake. The reason the color of the cakes comes out yellow is that their recipes contain egg yolks.

When looking at many other vanilla-flavored sponge cakes, they are often snow-white in color. That’s because those cakes, even though they are almost exactly the same, have only been made with egg whites. The white vanilla sponge cakes don’t have any egg yolks in their recipes.

Another key difference between most white and yellow cake mix recipes is that yellow cakes require the use of butter. Many other cakes only use shortening or a combination of shortening and butter. By only using real butter, you are further adding a golden-yellow color.

Most sponge cake or vanilla cake mixes you buy today will be made with yellow cake recipes. Meaning they will contain egg yolks, which will give the cakes a slightly yellow color.

Can you add lemon juice to cake mix?

This is arguably the best way to incorporate an authentic lemon flavor into a regular yellow cake mix. The benefits of adding fresh lemon juice are endless.

It adds a real lemon flavor that can easily overpower the vanilla flavor in the mix. It also is easily accessible and affordable. And, you don’t need a lot of lemon juice to make a noticeable effect.

can you add lemon juice to cake mix

And, if you want to add more zesty flavors, incorporate some lemon zest as well. It adds a different type of refreshing citrus flavor than the juice.

In our tutorial for how to make yellow cake mix into lemon, we will be using lemon-flavored instant pudding mix with fresh lemon juice and zest.

How to make yellow cake mix into lemon without juice?

There are also many other, more creative ways to incorporate a lemon flavor into your cakes. But, keep in mind that none of them will work as well as lemon juice and zest.

You can add lemon extract, which is relatively easy to find these days. It’s also possible to add some lemon syrup or lemon-flavored cocktail syrup. Then, if you can get your hands on lemon cordial, it’s also an effective option.

But, if you still cannot find any of these options, you’ll have to look at some citrus alternatives. Naturally, fresh citrus fruits are the best option, even over some of the lemon-flavored alternatives mentioned above.

But, you can also look at something like grapefruit juice or orange juice. Naturally, they won’t add lemon flavors, but in a pinch, they will do.

So, without further or due, let’s have a look at this wonderful recipe for a lemon cake using a yellow cake mix.

What You Need – How To Make Yellow Cake Mix Into Lemon Cake

Ingredients for the lemon cake

  • 1 box (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
  • 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant pudding mix, lemon flavored
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional
  • Zest of 1 lemon

Ingredients for the lemon glaze

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Candied lemon slices, optional

Equipment

  • 10-inch cake pan
  • Non-stick cooking spray and baking paper
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Rubber or silicone spatula
  • Cooling rack

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the cake batter

To start, preheat the oven to 360ºF (180ºC). Line your cake pan with baking paper and cooking spray.

Then, add the cake mix and instant pudding to a large mixing bowl. Set it aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Then, slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Keep mixing until you have a completely smooth uniform cake batter.

Step 2: Bake the cake

Pour the cake batter into the lined cake pan. Then, bake your cake for roughly 40 minutes, or until a testing needle comes out clean.

Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature.

Step 3: Make the lemon glaze

For the glaze, simply whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice. Keep whisking until you have a smooth glaze.

Step 4: Assemble the yellow lemon cake

Finally, place the cooled cake over a wire rack. Then, pour the lemon glaze over the cake and allow any excess to drip off. Add candied lemon slices and serve the cake immediately.

Expert Tips And Tricks

  • You can use a variety of cake pans for this recipe. Always choose a pan that can hold about 12 cups of cake batter. This includes a 10-inch round cake pan, a Bundt cake pan, a 10-inch square pan, or two 8-inch loaf pans. You can have a look at this conversion chart to see what suits your needs best.
  • To best cool your cake, leave it inside its cake pan for 10-15 minutes. Then, remove it and cool it completely on a wire rack.
  • If you want to make your glaze thicker, add more powdered sugar. And, for a runnier sheer glaze, add more milk.

An In-Depth Guide On How To Make Yellow Cake Mix Into Lemon Cake

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our guide on how to make yellow cake mix into lemon cake. It is incredibly easy and is loaded with refreshing flavors. Let us know what you think about it in the comments below!

How To Make Yellow Cake Mix Into Lemon Cake In 4 Easy Steps

This tutorial on how to make yellow cake mix into lemon cake mix is very easy. It's loaded with refreshing citrus flavors that are easily adjustable. For this recipe, you don't need any special ingredients or tools. It's very quick and the perfect cake for any occasion. We finished ours with a lemon glaze and candied lemon slices. But, you can essentially garnish it in whichever way you'd like.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: can you add lemon juice to cake mix, how to make yellow cake mix into lemon, recipe for a lemon cake using a yellow cake mix, yellow lemon cake
Author: Cakedecorist

Equipment

  • 10-inch cake pan
  • Non-stick cooking spray and baking paper
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Rubber or silicone spatula
  • Cooling Rack

Ingredients
  

Ingredients for the lemon cake

Ingredients for the lemon glaze

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Candied lemon slices, optional

Instructions 

  • Make the cake batter
    To start, preheat the oven to 360ºF (180ºC). Line your cake pan with baking paper and cooking spray.
    Then, add the cake mix and instant pudding to a large mixing bowl. Set it aside.
    In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
    Then, slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Keep mixing until you have a completely smooth uniform cake batter.
    1 box (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix, 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant pudding mix, lemon flavored, 4 large eggs, room temperature, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup water, 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional, Zest of 1 lemon
  • Bake the cake
    Pour the cake batter into the lined cake pan. Then, bake your cake for roughly 40 minutes, or until a testing needle comes out clean.
    Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature.
  • Make the lemon glaze
    For the glaze, simply whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice. Keep whisking until you have a smooth glaze.
    1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Assemble the yellow lemon cake
    Finally, place the cooled cake over a wire rack. Then, pour the lemon glaze over the cake and allow any excess to drip off. Add candied lemon slices and serve the cake immediately.
    Candied lemon slices, optional

Notes

You can use a variety of cake pans for this recipe. Always choose a pan that can hold about 12 cups of cake batter. This includes a 10-inch round cake pan, a Bundt cake pan, a 10-inch square pan, or two 8-inch loaf pans. 
To best cool your cake, leave it inside its cake pan for 10-15 minutes. Then, remove it and cool it completely on a wire rack.
If you want to make your glaze thicker, add more powdered sugar. And, for a runnier sheer glaze, add more milk.
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