So Easter is over…did it seem like the holiday that would never get here?
Although I had, what seemed like, endless time to prep of course there I sat at 9:30 Saturday night stuffing eggs for Easter egg hunts the next morning.
And I may or may not have told my husband he was stuffing them wrong…more than once.
I should never wait till the last minute.
It gets ugly.
So needless to say I meant to post this cake before Easter because it would have been the perfect accompaniment to any Easter lunch…but I ran out of time.
Hence the late-night egg-stuffing.
But, trust me ~ this cake isn’t bunny holiday exclusive.
It’s bright and tasty and yummy and delicious ~ perfect for whenever!
Plus, it’s really, really, really good!
My kids won’t eat lemon cake, lemon pasta, lemon cupcakes, lemon muffins…
they say they’re too sour.
Hmmm…this coming from children who can’t seem to get enough of Sour Patch Kids, Cry Baby Candy, Sour Skittles or Lemon Heads.
Explain that to me.
They will even drink lemonade.
Gah!
So, here I sit, staring at a giant Lemonade Cake with no one to share in it’s deliciousness with…except maybe you guys…you get it, right?
What would I do without you?
This cake isn’t hard…plus you can make it ahead until you’re ready to frost it…AND it all starts with a boxed cake mix and Frozen Lemonade from concentrate. Good stuff!
First bake your cakes…When the cakes are cooled level them off so they are flat on top.
Poke holes in cake that wasn’t cut using a fork.
Make your glaze. In a medium bowl combine powdered sugar, lemonade and water. Stir until smooth.
Pour equally over the top of the cakes..still in the cake pans.
Cover and let sit for at least an hour, but overnight is best in refrigerator.
When ready, make your frosting and get it going!
Ingredients
- 1 Lemon boxed cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate
- Glaze:
- 2 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp water
- Frosting:
- 8 oz block 1/3 less fat cream cheese
- 1/2 cup room temp butter (1 stick)
- 3 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
How to Make
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Spray 2 8" round cake pans generously with cooking/baking spray.
- In mixer beat all your ingredients on low for 30 seconds and then on medium for 2 minutes.
- Keep the remaining frozen lemonade concentrate in the freezer...you will need it again.
- Bake according to package directions (I baked for approx 30 minutes) until cake is set and toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in pan...about an hour. Do not remove.
- When the cakes are cooled level them off so they are flat on top.
- Poke holes in cake that wasn't cut using a fork.
- Next make your glaze: in a medium bowl combine powdered sugar, lemonade and water.
- Stir until smooth.
- Pour equally over the top of the cakes..still in the cake pans.
- Cover and let sit for at least an hour, but overnight is best in refrigerator.
- For frosting cream butter and cream cheese together until combined.
- With mixer on low add your lemonade and vanilla.
- Slowly add in your powdered sugar and then beat on medium for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- When ready to frost remove your cakes from the refrigerator.
- Loosen cake around the edges with a butter knife so they will release easily.
- Frost as desired.
If you like this recipe my friend Kristan over at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen made some Mini Lemonade Cakes last week that are super cute and I’m sure really yummy!
…AND I’m linking this up to the fun “I’m Lovin’ It” linky party over at Tidy Mom!
Check it out for some fun ideas from this week!
Hi! I’m Shelly and I’m an addict. Of the buttercream sort. I started this site a few years ago as a way to justify my sugary, buttery obsession with desserts. It has worked out well for me so far, because as it turns out you guys all love sugary, buttery desserts too! It feels good to know you are not alone, doesn’t it? 
I'm finally beginning to appreciate lemon flavored desserts and this looks wonderful! That lemon cream cheese icing and I would get along real well:-)
I love that this has glaze AND icing. That way, I don't have to feel like I'm doing without.
Lemon desserts are my absolute favorite! This looks so tasty, it's going on my must make list for once the Easter candy has subsided
Oh my goodness! That sounds SO fabulous, Shelly!
My son LOVES lemon, so this is going on my "must make" list. And I agree with Kristan….glaze PLUS icing? Winning.
oh I LOVE lemon, your cake looks wonderful.
I'm so glad my kids just moved past the stage of not liking lemon pasta, they love it now….funny think about the sour candy..LOL kids are so funny.
My kids have never had trouble when it came to the lemon desserts though, they always seem to get devoured.
Maybe I should call all dinners..dessert. That'll get them to try more dinners
I love short cut cakes and this recipe is a keeper for sure!
Lemon is my new favorite flavor so I can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!
I love lemon. I might make this while my family is out of town so I don't have to share!
I love, love, love, love, love all things lemon lately and know I'd scarf down this entire cake. It looks absolutely scrumptious, Shelly!
I'm in the same situation. nobody wants to eat it.I give it my neighbors. I hope they like the cake. Sorry about my english, because I'm brazilian woman.
my husband wrote it.
Yum! I also made a lemon-cream-cheese cake for Easter, so we must be on the same delicious cake wavelength!
sin palabras … es que se me hace la boca agua…
http://mtcupcake.blogspot.com/
I make a very similar sheet cake that is missing your yummy frosting. We make it all summer for cookouts, and with your frosting, I bet it will be an even bigger hit! Thanks.
Pretty sure that if you swapped out the lemonade for limeade and a little of the liquids with tequila… you'd have a Margarita Cake. Mmmm.
Make one, sprinkle some sea salt on top and mail it to me for Cinco de Mayo, k?
I'm definitely trying this one – even if I'm the only one in the house who'll eat it. I LOVE lemon!
I do love baking from scratch but I am all for using a cake mix at times. In fact, I think I prefer the texture of cake mix cakes most of the time! They are kind of no fail. This lemon cake sounds delicious. I have 3 young kids and I know they do not appreciate a good lemon dessert but I certainly do. I will have to wait for a special ocassion to arise where I can make this cake to share with others. If I made it and kept it at home, I would be the only one eating it and that just won't work! The lemon glaze I'm sure adds some wonderful moistness & tanginess to the cake. Thanks for this recipe. I can't wait to try it. Your photos are so good it just makes me want to eat a piece right now!
Haven't had this in YEARS- thanks for the reminder!
Sending you a blog award- you can collect it here:
http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/makin-me-hungry-this-easter-vacation.html
I love lemony desserts. This even reminds me of a tres leches cake with the soaking process. Putting the two together tastes great I bet!
See I felt like Easter seemed like it would take FOREVER to get here because it was so cold outside until the bitter end! How could it be Easter when we're wearing winter jackets?!?!? Craziness.
I think this cake brought in the sun, though. Looks delicious!
I love anything lemon….except lemon cleaning products. Can't stand the smell.
I also drink coffee by the gallons but can't stomach coffee-flavored ice cream or candy.
Weird, huh?
Can't wait to try the cake….I'm thinking it sounds like a great Mother's Day idea!
I have to make a lemon cake very soon for a garden cake! LOVE this recipe! Thanks so much! Can't wait to try it!
This sounds so bright and Springy. I can't wait to try this cake. Bookmarked!
Looks delicious!!
I just made a lemonade ruffle cake too! Don't know how the inside came out since I gave it away but it SMELLED delicious!
I adore lemon cake, it's soooo damn tasty! I definitely give this recipe a go
Oh man my mouth is totally watering right now!!!:)
Lemon cake – one of my favorites! You've outdone yourself with the glaze and the frosting. YUM!
way to amp up a cake mix! i never felt the desire to have a lemonade stand, but a lemonade cake stand, well, that's a different story.
I'd share it with you! We'll just pig out and let the kids drink lemonade!
I gave up trying to figure out children's tastes ages ago.
my MIL LOVES lemon and this is her kinda cake . . . of course she'd have to wrestle me for it!!
Oh … I need this … now!
Oh!My! This looks so moist and delicious… I love lemon cake and this is bookmarked to try!
New to your blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Did you make this cake for me and forgot to ship it to Princeton? It looks so good, perfect for my pregnancy cravings!
Hello, I happened to stumble on your blog && that cake looks very delicious… I've been looking through your other tasty creations, && I honestly gotta say I have major props to you :]] I'm new to blogging and just start to create one… stop by if you have the chance, thanks hope you dont mind that i grabed a button
Jasmine
I love the thought of this cake. It looks so good.
Mmmm, my mouth is puckering in anticipation for the zippy zing of that delicious lemony cake!
YUM-O.
This looks delicious! And Lemonade Cake sounds so much more fun that plain old lemon cake!
I love anything with cream cheese frosting. Delicious!
I'd love to have you share this recipe on my weekly link-up, Sweet Tooth Friday. I hope to see you there. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/04/28/mint-infused-plum-tarte-tatin/
So. 36 people have already commented on this. I'm gonna have to be number 37! Your cake sounds amazing. The glaze before the icing…yum!
Thank you so much for sharing.
I saw you at Tidy Mom's link party. Hope you can come say hi at my friendly little blog sometime.
~TheBargainBabe
Love the idea of using lemonade concentrate. That sounds so refreshing! Your kids don't know what they are missing! (more for us! hehe)
Oh my!! I just found your blog at Tidymom and I LOVE it. We have the same lemon dilemma at our house but I make them anyway even if I have to eat them all myself. I just made some lemon curd cupcakes and would love you to stop by and see. By the way, I am also a new follower
The Farm Girl Recipes
What a great looking recipe! Looking forward to trying it!
Thanks so much for linking up this week Shelly!! I featured your post on my wrap up! http://tidymom.net/2011/im-lovin-it-wrap-up-5-1-2011/ Have a great weekend!
Finished making this cake yesterday and dug right in – it's amazing!! So sweet and delicious – a very small piece goes a long way. Thanks!
Wow that cake looks so yummy, i will try to make it this weekend for mothers day.;-)
wow, all I can say is YUM!!! That cream cheese frosting looks incredible. I can't wait to make it!
Featuring this today! Looks so yummy and screams summertime!
Jen
Ok, my mouth actually started watering when I saw this! I'm begging you to come link up this, and other recipes too to my recipe linky/contest?
http://www.bigklittlea.com/2011/05/concours-dcuisine-may-edition.html
And of course, I have to follow!
~K
bigklittlea.com
I can tell just how amazingly moist your cake is!!!! I am a sucker for anything lemon!!!
Oh my oh my! I LOVE cake and cupcakes and cookies…a definite sweet tooth (more than one) in my mouth! I am following you now (#2019), so I can see what other treats you share!
Blessings & Aloha!
I searched for a lemon cake to make for my mom today, for Mother's Day. Of the recipes I perused…I decided to try this one! My mother likes lemon desserts and she loved this! I served the cake on (off?) a cake stand and garnished the edges with strawberries. Pretty AND tasty–thank you! I DID have one question though. Is there a reason why you used 4 eggs vs. the 3 included in the package instructions? Just wondering for when I make it again…
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A LEMONADE CAKE LIKE THIS! whoops, caps lock. keeping it because my excitement was caps worthy i guess. i have seen the kind with the mixes and some with just lemons… this seems like a win! thanks so much for sharing, love you and your blog
-meg
@ http://clutzycooking.blogspot.com
So excited about this recipe! Looks delicious!
this was DELICIOUS! it tasted just like the Costco lemon ice box cake, which everyone knows is FANTASTIC! give this recipe a try if you have not already!
Do you think you could do cupcakes? Just alter the baking time? This looks so yummy!
I think absolutely!
yes! i used this recipe for cupcakes, and they turned out amaaaaaaaaazing. i added a smidge more lemonade to the frosting, because i am a sucker for lemony things. oh, also, this recipe makes a lot of frosting if you’re not doing a cake, so i had a bunch left over. i put it in the fridge in a tupperware container and pulled it out a week later to make a whole second batch of cupcakes. i had to fight off the people at work, who all loooooved them.
this recipe is awesome!
That’s so good to know!! YAY!
I am making this for my son’s sixteenth birthday tomorrow! Found it on Pinterest. It looks so wonderful. Thank you!
Awesome! Let me know how it comes out! Post pics on my facebook page if you want ~ I would love to see it!
I bet it’d be even BETTER with chocolate icing. I LOVE chocolate/lemon!
It would be awesome to do a filling of seedless raspberry jam too, then cover it with the chocolate icing.
You could do the same thing with ORANGE concentrate….. the possibilities are endless!
Oh, my goodness, this cake is incredible. It was a HUGE hit at the party tonight! The birthday boy was ecstatic. Shelly, thank you SO much for the amazing recipe and the gorgeous photo that caught my eye on Pinterest. Here’s a less gorgeous picture of what’s left of mine … not much.
[IMG]http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k468/kearnine/DSC_0029.jpg[/IMG]
I’m not sure if I did that right, so here’s a link:
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k468/kearnine/DSC_0029.jpg
fun! great pic!
Made this cake for my husbands birthday. It’s TOO rich! Next time I’ll just skip the glaze. Let it soak in overnight like it says and it made the cake all spongy and really dense – maybe it’s just too much glaze? It didn’t turn out like the picture where the cake still looks like it has a cake texture. Also, the lemonade concentrate doesn’t make it taste like lemonade to me. Next time I’ll just use lemon juice.
Sorry it didn’t come out as you would have hoped. I have made this cake multiple times and haven’t had the cake get too dense, but I am sure it is certainly a matter of preference. Yes, it is a rich, cake for sure.
Oh wow I’m making that right now i can’t take it anymore lol?
Yummy! I made this cake because it sounded so good and I just love lemon. I wasn’t disappointed.
chocolate cake recipes
chocolate cake recipes recently posted..Neapolitan Bundt Cake
This looks delicious ! Is the butter unsalted or not ? Can you use original cream cheese instead of reduced fat ? Would like to make for Easter !
i always use salted, but that’s a personal preference! And yes, of course you can use regular cream cheese instead of reduced fat!!
Shelly,
I made this cake for Easter this weekend and everyone loved it. Thanks for posting on Pinterest. My question to you is, how did you frost it like the picture? I made the cakes the day before so I could refrigerate over night and frost the next morning. My frosting was room temperature when I frosted, but the frosting seemed to crumb the cake up. How did you get the frosting so clean and smooth in the picture? Mine had crumbs in it and looked messy, although didn’t change the yummy flavor. I would just like to know for future.
I always crumb coat my cakes. WHat that means is icing the cake with a thin layer of frosting, crumbs and all. Let it set up and then go over it with a nice even finish of frosting. The crumb coat seals all the crumbs so they won’t be visible. There are some great tutorials on the internet, just Google, “how to crumb coat a cake”, that’s how I learned!
Hi, I’m an Aussie cook and I have no idea what lemonade from concentrate is??? Is it frozen lemonade? frozen lemon juice???? I’d really love to make this cake, it looks divine!
It’s frozen lemonade that’s concentrated. When you thaw it out, you have to add water before drinking…