April 25, 2011

Lemonade Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

 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!
 Cake:
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

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.
 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.
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!
Tidy Mom
Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!



52 comments:

Lauren at Keep It Sweet said...

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:-)

Cookbook Queen said...

I love that this has glaze AND icing. That way, I don't have to feel like I'm doing without. :)

Unknown said...

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 :P

bridget {bake at 350} said...

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.

Diane Schmidt said...

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!

Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust said...

Lemon is my new favorite flavor so I can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!

Meghan said...

I love lemon. I might make this while my family is out of town so I don't have to share!

Robyn | Add a Pinch said...

I love, love, love, love, love all things lemon lately and know I'd scarf down this entire cake. It looks absolutely scrumptious, Shelly!

ELIZABETE said...

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.

TheresaSea said...

Yum! I also made a lemon-cream-cheese cake for Easter, so we must be on the same delicious cake wavelength! ;)

maura trujillo said...

sin palabras ... es que se me hace la boca agua...
http://mtcupcake.blogspot.com/

*Just Fran* said...

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.

Mad in Crafts said...

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?

CuteStuffInside said...

I'm definitely trying this one - even if I'm the only one in the house who'll eat it. I LOVE lemon!

Heidi said...

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!

bless their hearts mom said...

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

Sherry G said...

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!

Joanne said...

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!

Mindy said...

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!

Emily P said...

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!

Megan'sCookin' said...

This sounds so bright and Springy. I can't wait to try this cake. Bookmarked!

Jennifer said...

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!

Yeti said...

I adore lemon cake, it's soooo damn tasty! I definitely give this recipe a go :)

Holly said...

Oh man my mouth is totally watering right now!!!:)

Kristen said...

Lemon cake - one of my favorites! You've outdone yourself with the glaze and the frosting. YUM!

grace said...

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. :)

Barbara said...

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. :)

SMITH BITES said...

my MIL LOVES lemon and this is her kinda cake . . . of course she'd have to wrestle me for it!!

Amy | She Wears Many Hats said...

Oh ... I need this ... now!

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

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

Pink Little Cake said...

Did you make this cake for me and forgot to ship it to Princeton? It looks so good, perfect for my pregnancy cravings!

Anonymous said...

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

Unknown said...

I love the thought of this cake. It looks so good.

Wenderly said...

Mmmm, my mouth is puckering in anticipation for the zippy zing of that delicious lemony cake!

YUM-O.

Rachel @ Simple Girl said...

This looks delicious! And Lemonade Cake sounds so much more fun that plain old lemon cake! :-)

Allison @ Alli 'n Son said...

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/

~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* said...

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

Unknown said...

Love the idea of using lemonade concentrate. That sounds so refreshing! Your kids don't know what they are missing! (more for us! hehe)

The Farm Girl said...

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

Stephanie said...

What a great looking recipe! Looking forward to trying it!

TidyMom said...

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!

Wendy said...

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!

Cakes by R.C./Sweet creations by R.C. said...

Wow that cake looks so yummy, i will try to make it this weekend for mothers day.;-)

www.StarHughes.com said...

wow, all I can say is YUM!!! That cream cheese frosting looks incredible. I can't wait to make it!

Jennifer said...

Featuring this today! Looks so yummy and screams summertime!
Jen

Anonymous said...

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

Leslie said...

I can tell just how amazingly moist your cake is!!!! I am a sucker for anything lemon!!!

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

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!

Jill said...

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...

Meg Luby said...

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

Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke said...

So excited about this recipe! Looks delicious!

BS Recipes said...

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!

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