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Bright Lemon Sheet Cake with creamy lemon buttercream frosting is a sunny dessert perfect for feeding a crowd!

Of all the Lemon Cakes I have recipes for, this Lemon Sheet Cake just might be the easiest of them all! It’s moist just like our Lemon Buttermilk Cake and has a delicious frosting like our Lemon Bundt Cake.

Moist Lemon sheet Cake served on a white plate.
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a lemony dessert for spring & summer

Spring makes me think of fruit and lemons and the dessert we are sharing today – Lemon Sheet Cake!

This Lemon Pudding Cake with Lemon Frosting is one of the easiest Lemon Cake Recipes you will ever make! It’s similar to our Chocolate Sheet Cake, kind of a Lemon Texas Sheet Cake!

We started with a lemon cake mix from a box – so simple! It also has a pudding mix in it, which makes it so good. Because of the added pudding and buttermilk mixture, the texture will be more dense and moist than a regular cake, and a bit fudgy like a brownie.

The best part is the lemon buttercream frosting on top. This Lemon Sheet Cake Recipe is SO delicious and creamy!!

The lemon flavor is a perfect dessert for Spring and Summer!!

Pudding boxes and cake mix boxes for lemon sheet cake.

Lemon cake from a mix

The reason this is an EASY Lemon Cake is that it’s not made totally from scratch.

You actually use a box mix plus some instant pudding and buttermilk to make it even more scrumptious!

PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.

DRY INGREDIENTS. Add lemon cake mix and pudding mix to a medium bowl.

WET INGREDIENTS. Add buttermilk plus the ingredients on the back of the cake mix box to the cake mix and pudding mixture and beat until well combined.

BAKE. Pour the cake batter into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 23-35 minutes (or for more slices and thinner cake, use an 11×15 pan and bake for 18-20 minutes).

COOL + FROST. While the cake is cooling, make the cream cheese frosting by creaming together butter and cream cheese.

Add powdered sugar, vanilla, Jell-o mix (gelatin), lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk. Whisk until smooth.

Frost the cake and ENJOY!

Lemon sheet cake mix poured in bowl.

Recipe Tips

Lemon zest. Making lemon zest is very simple. Wash the lemon. Zest before juicing.

Using a grater or a traditional zester, simply rub the lemon against the blades of the grater or zester, making sure to only grate the outermost peel of the lemon. Zesting adds great citrus flavor!

Cake mix. I used a 15.25 box of lemon cake mix. The ingredients on the back included 1 cup water, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 3 large eggs. Purchase a cake mix that is similar in size and purchase the ingredients that are listed on the back of the box.

Pudding. Substitute the white chocolate pudding mix with a vanilla-flavored instant pudding mix. Sugar-free pudding also works just fine! Be sure that it is the instant kind and only use the pudding powder in the recipe, DO NOT make the pudding.

Toppings. 

Lemon sheet cake batter mixed in glass bowl.

Sheet cake tIPS

A traditional sheet cake is a rectangular single-layered cake. It can vary in length and width, but it is usually about 2 inches in height. Easily make a double-layered sheet cake. 

The ingredients of a sheet cake are often the exact same as round cakes or layered cakes.

Different-sized pans. A half sheet cake is 9×13 inches, a medium sheet cake is 11×15 inches, and a large sheet cake is 12×18 inches.

One trick to make a larger sheet cake is to bake 2-3 smaller cakes, place them side by side on a serving tray, and frost them as if it is one large cake. 

  • Large sheet cake. Make the cake a little thinner and use an 11×15 pan to get more slices out of it. The estimated cook time is 17-20 minutes.
  • For smaller-sized pans and circle pans, adjust the cook time to about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. The cake may have a rounder top. As it cools it will flatten as seen in the recipe video.

Sheet cake servings are usually cut party size 1½x2 inch, or wedding size 1×2 inch.

Spreading frosting onto cooled lemon sheet cake.

Storing Info

Make ahead of time. Assemble the cake completely and cover the top with a lid or plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge 2 hours before it’s served to let it come to room temperature.

  • To avoid the cake from drying out, store it (without frosting) covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature.
  • Make the Lemon Cake Icing right before serving. If made beforehand, store the frosting in the fridge in an airtight container. Take it out 2 hours before frosting the cake so it can come to room temperature and go on smoothly.

STORE leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 5-6 days. Take it out of the fridge an hour before serving to give the frosting time to get to room temperature.

Do not store this cake at room temperature for longer than 8 hours because of the cream cheese in the frosting.

FREEZE the Lemon Sheet Cake before or after frosting it.

  • To freeze unfrosted. Wrap the cooled cake with plastic wrap and again with foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Unwrap before thawing. The frosting can be frozen in a separate container for 3-4 months. Thaw before using.
  • Freeze the frosted cake whole, or in slices. Place the cake in the freezer until the frosting has hardened, then wrap it with plastic and foil. The cake is best when eaten within 3- 4 months, but can last for 5-6 months. 
Homemade lemon sheet cake with lemon frosting on a white plate.

Recipe FAQ

What size box of cake mix should I use?

I used a 15.25 box of lemon cake mix, specifically Duncan Hines. Purchase a box of cake mix that is similar in size and make sure you also have the ingredients that are listed on the back.

What should I use if I can’t find white chocolate pudding?

If you can’t find white chocolate flavored pudding, I would use vanilla or lemon flavored. Make sure it’s the instant pudding!

Why did my cake fall? Why is it dense/soupy?

One of the main culprits is buying a cake mix that already has pudding in it. Make sure your box of cake mix does NOT already have pudding. Or, if it does, omit the instant pudding mix when making the cake batter.

And for more lemon treats:

4.87 from 61 votes

Lemon Sheet Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Bright Lemon Sheet Cake with creamy lemon buttercream frosting is a sunny dessert perfect for feeding a crowd!
Servings: 24
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

Cake

  • 1 box lemon cake mix plus ingredients on box
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 oz white chocolate instant pudding mix

Frosting

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon jello mix
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice you can use more if you want more lemon taste
  • 2-3 tsp lemon zest
  • 1-2 tbsp milk

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Add lemon cake mix and pudding mix to a medium bowl.
  • Add buttermilk plus the ingredients on the back of the cake mix box and beat until well combined.
  • Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 23-35 minutes (or for more slices and thinner cake, use an 11×15 pan and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  • While the cake is cooling, make the frosting by creaming together butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, jello mix, lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk. Beat until smooth.
  • Frost cake and ENJOY!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 225mg, Potassium: 30mg, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 140IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

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4.87 from 61 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




112 Comments

  1. Kay Severson says:

    I don’t understand TB in your recipes – is that Tablespoon?

    I don’t know what you want when you ask for website?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yes, TB or T is tablespoon 🙂

  2. C says:

    1 star
    My cake fell too, as others reported. I followed the recipe exactly with all fresh ingredients.
    Running out now to buy a back up cake for my daughter’s birthday 🙁

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am sorry it did 🙁 I’m not sure why that happens??

  3. Vicki says:

    Hi.
    I am in the process of making the lemon butter frosting. Help!!!
    Please!!! It is not creamy, it is coming out more soupy. I don’t know what to do to make it more creamy. I followed your directions and used all of the ingredients. Any advice/suggestions???
    If not, I’m on my way to buy store bought frosting :-0

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am sorry I did not respond sooner. I hope it turned out! I like to add more powdered sugar, if it is too runny.

  4. Sandy P says:

    Just have a quick question on the lemon sheet cake recipe: You mention the white chocolate pudding mix in the cake batter. Then you mention the lemon Jello mix for the icing. I want to make sure that I bought the correct mix for each. Do you just use the Jello lemon mix and not the lemon pudding mix for the icing?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      The pudding mix is for the cake & the jello mix is for the icing 🙂 Hope you like it!!

  5. Jack Smith | BBQRecipez.com says:

    5 stars
    I love lemon cakes and this sheet cake looks simply delicious and perfect for the weekend!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      It is seriously so good!! I hope you give it a try! I’d love to know what you think 🙂

  6. Linda says:

    Can’t wait to try this on my “Elderberries” at church! Love to try out new recipes and they love to try them too!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Let me know what they think & you 🙂 Hope you all like it!

  7. Cindy Skinner says:

    I cant find the white chocolate pudding in my area, is there a substitute? Thinking cheesecake pudding but would appreciate your thoughts please. Love your site and recipes.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I would just use vanilla 🙂 Good luck & thank you so much!!

    2. Linda says:

      Is the white chocolate pudding an INSTANT or COOKED mix?

      1. Kristyn Merkley says:

        Instant 🙂

      2. Cathy says:

        Can you leave the cream cheese out, or substitute something else for it,?

      3. Lil'Luna Team says:

        Ooh I haven’t tried substituting it for anything else or leaving it out, so I’m honestly not sure how it would turn out or taste if you did that. I do know that substitutes for cream cheese are sometimes mascarpone or even a combination of ricotta and heavy cream (for a frosting). You could probably google some substitutes. You’ll have to let us know what you use and how the cake turns out.

    3. Madeline says:

      I found Lady Godiva brand at walmarT. You might als try amazon.

  8. Danielle Owen says:

    I was wondering do you think I could double the recipe and bake it in a 12 x 18 inch pan?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      That should work 🙂 Or, 11×17? Hope you like it!

    2. Liz Riley says:

      Danielle I have the exact same question and was wondering if you had tried this yet. I need to bake a sheet cake and this recipe sounds absolutely perfect

  9. Debbie D'Auria says:

    I just love the way you think,
    love your ideas

    Now….anxious to try some of them out!!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you 🙂 Let me know what you think of ones you try!

  10. B says:

    Can you use a jelly roll pan instead of a 9×13 pan for lemon bars?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I haven’t tried, but I’m sure you can. The baking time would be a little different. I would try to use one close in size. Good luck!