Lemon Sheet Cake is Pure Lemon Bliss in Every Bite

This no-fuss Lemon Sheet Cake is super moist and makes a wonderful spring or summer dessert that easily feeds a crowd. It may not be a fancy cake, but each slice is pure lemon bliss! 

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Nothing says Spring and Summer like a lemon dessert! Just the smell of lemon adds a spring to my step and puts me in a good mood.

A few weeks ago I shared the wonderful Meyer Lemon Pie I devoured made for my family.  Today I’m sharing a no-frills, no-fuss lemon sheet cake that is perfectly lemony. This lemon sheet cake is truly something special and it has nothing to do with the fact it starts with a box cake mix. 

Some bakers consider sheet cakes to be a lazy cake.  Sure there are no fancy layers or decorations, but what’s wrong with simple?  And, a sheet cake is perfect for feeding a crowd at pot-lucks, birthday parties, office parties or basically anywhere you need dessert for crowd of any size.

A sheet cake requires an 18×13 inch half sheet pan. If you don’t already have a rimmed half sheet pan, you’ll want to get one or two.  I use mine for baking cookies, oven baked buffalo ranch chicken, roasting vegetables and more!  You’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.

More Sheet Cake Recipes 

• Chocolate Sheet Cake
• Apple Sheet Cake with Maple Glaze
• Chocolate Chip Sheet Cake
• Cinnamon Roll Sheet Cake
• Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Caramel Frosting

This is not a “whoa, HELLO lemon” kind of cake. The cake its self it not super lemony, thanks to the French vanilla cake mix. But the lemon pudding in the mix definitely makes it a “hey, it’s lemon!” kind of cake.

The dreamy lemon spiked cream cheese makes the frosting a little zippy. If you want more punch of lemon, you can use a lemon cake mix instead of vanilla. It will kick that lemon flavor up several notches.

I like to call this a happy yellow sunshine cake 😉

There is just enough frosting to get the creamy tangy sweetness in every bite, but not too much to take away from the moist cake underneath.  All 24-36 pieces have the perfect cake to frosting ratio and are a slice of pure lemon bliss!

Watch the video to how this Lemon Sheet Cake is made (full recipe below)

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So if you’re looking for the perfect spring or summer dessert to serve a crowd (or just yourself, what’s better than left over cake!), you definitely need this Lemon Sheet Cake recipe.

It didn’t stand a chance in our home and it won’t last long in yours either. Enjoy!

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Lemon Sheet Cake

Yield: 36 slices

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes

Total Time: 37 minutes

It may not be a fancy cake, but each slice is pure lemon bliss!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 box French Vanilla Cake Mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
• eggs, water, and oil as directed on cake mix package
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 box (4  1/2 cup serving size) Lemon Instant Pudding Mix

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon Jell-O gelatin
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 teaspoon lemon juice
• zest of 1 large lemon
• 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (or milk)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flor 18" x 13" rimmed baking sheet (half sheet pan).
2. In a large mixing bowl add cake mix, eggs, water, oil, buttermilk and pudding mix. Using an electric mixer, beat one minute on low. Continue beating another minute on medium high, scrapping down sided of bowl if needed. (do not over mix)
3. Pour cake batter into prepared sheet pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan on a wire rack.
4. While cake is cooling, make frosting. Using an electric mixer cream butter and cream cheese until well combined and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, gelatin powder, vanilla extract, lemon juice, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of cream or milk. Beat until smooth. Add more cream/milk if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
5. Frost cake, garnish with berries and lemon slices if desired. Serve from pan and enjoy.