Description
Zesty lemon cake embodies Mediterranean sunshine with its tangy, refreshing profile. Citrusy layers promise pure delight when you savor each delectable crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 box instant lemon pudding mix
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 pinch lemon zest
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter for seamless cake release.
- Mixing: Combine cake mix, lemon pudding mix, vegetable oil, eggs, water, vanilla extract, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Blend ingredients using an electric mixer until smooth and well-integrated, taking care not to overmix.
- Baking: Transfer batter to the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, rotating the pan midway through cooking. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean without any raw batter.
- Cooling: Let the cake rest on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes, allowing it to stabilize and prepare for glazing.
- Glazing: Whisk powdered sugar, melted butter, heavy cream, and fresh lemon juice to create a silky glaze. Adjust liquid or sugar to achieve a perfect pouring consistency. Lavishly drizzle the glaze over the warm cake, ensuring complete coverage. Allow the glaze to set for 15-20 minutes before serving at room temperature.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently combine ingredients to maintain a light, fluffy texture and avoid a dense, tough cake.
- Zest Matters: Use fresh lemon zest for intense, vibrant citrus flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
- Toothpick Test Technique: Check cake doneness by inserting a clean toothpick – no raw batter means perfectly baked cake.
- Glaze Consistency Control: Adjust glaze thickness by adding powdered sugar or lemon juice to create a smooth, drizzle-perfect topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg