This Homemade Lemon Cake Mix can be thrown together in no time! Use the mix right away or make it in advance and simply store it in your refrigerator until you’re ready to bake a 2-layer cake or 24 cupcakes.
I can’t tell you the last time I bought cake mix.
Making my own cake mix has turned into one of my favorite hobbies. It might not be as fast as opening up a box, but it’s pretty close. Not to mention the ingredient list is much shorter and without any additives and preservatives!
Since starting this blog, I’ve grown quite the collection of homemade cake mixes! There’s chocolate, white, yellow and funfetti, and all are linked above the recipe printable down towards the end of the post.
Today, I’m sharing my favorite flavor of all… lemon.
Simple ingredients with specks of lemon zest, as it should be.
To Make This Homemade Lemon Cake Mix You Will Need:
- sugar
- lemon zest
- cake flour
- baking powder
- fine salt (sea or Himalayan)
- unsalted butter (softened)
Zest 2 lemons and add that to a bowl with 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar.
Use your fingers to massage the zest and the sugar together.
It should resemble coarse, wet sand.
In a large mixing bowl, add the lemon sugar, 2-3/4 cups cake flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon fine salt.
Note: If using all-purpose flour, you’ll want to use 2-1/2 cups. You may notice a difference in crumb texture as well.
Whisk well to incorporate.
Drop in 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter.
Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Keep going until the butter is in very small pieces and nearly undetectable in the dry ingredients.
How To Store Homemade Lemon Cake Mix:
Store in an air-tight jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use!
How Long Will Homemade Lemon Cake Mix Last?
If stored properly, this cake will last for up to 1 month.
Give Homemade Cake Mix As A Gift:
If you want to give homemade chocolate cake mix as a gift, omit the butter and store all the dry ingredients in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Write out the remaining ingredients (include the butter!) and then recipe instructions (start by creaming the butter, vanilla, eggs and adding the dry ingredients, water, oil etc.) out onto a note card and tie it around the jar with string.
Make The Cake:
The recipe for making the cake is below, however if you want to see a step-by-step for the cake and frosting, click here!
Other Homemade Cake Mixes:
Homemade Lemon Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 medium lemons, zested
- 2¾ cups cake flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine salt, sea or Himalayan
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Combine sugar and lemon zest in a bowl. Use your fingers to massage the sugar and zest together until it resembles coarse wet sand.
- In a large mixing bowl, measure and add flour, lemon sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Use a pastry cutter (or a couple of knives or a fork will do) and cut the butter into the flour. Keep going until the butter is no longer detectable in the dry ingredients and it’s a super fine crumb.
- Store this cake mix in a air-tight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
- If refrigerated, remove and let come up to room temperature for about 30 mintues before using.
Notes
Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
FOR THE LEMON CUPCAKES (OR CAKE):
- 1 recipe lemon cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup grapeseed oil, or other neutral tasting oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
FOR THE LEMON BUTTERCREAM:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 pinch fine salt, sea salt or Himalayan (optional)
Instructions
MAKE THE CUPCAKES or CAKE:
- Preheat your oven to 350° and line a standard muffin pan or alternatively, line and grease 2 (9-inch) cake pans. (see notes for lining cake pans)
- In a mixing bowl or bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, add the lemon cake mix, water, oil, eggs, vanilla and lemon extracts.
- Mix on low to medium speed until incorporated.
- IF MAKING CUPCAKES: measure 3 tablespoons of the batter per liner.Bake the first batch of cupcakes on the middle rack for 14 to 16 minutes or until a tester comes out clean with only a few crumbs attached. Rotate the pan halfway through to ensure even baking. Remove and repeat with second batch.
- IF MAKING A 2-LAYER CAKE: divide the batter (about 2¼ cups) per 9-inch cake pan.Bake both cake pans on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 22 to 24 minutes or until a tester comes out clean with only a few crumbs attached. Rotate halfway through to ensure even baking.
- Remove and let cool completely before frosting.
MAKE THE LEMON BUTTERCREAM:
- Add softened butter to a mixing bowl or bowl of your stand mixer. Cream butter until smooth, about 2 to 3 mintues.
- With your mixer on low, gradually add in the sifted powdered sugar. Scraped the sides and bottom of the bowl before each addition. Increase the speed if necessary until incorporated.Sifting powdered sugar beforehand, insures a creamy smooth buttercream.
- With the mixer on low to medium-low speed, add in the lemon juice, milk, vanilla and lemon extracts.Mix until incorporated.
- If you need a stiffer frosting, simply add more sifted powdered sugar. If your frosting is too stiff, continue adding a little more milk.
- The frosting should be soft yet hold it's shape well.
Notes
Buy the Cookbook: Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy Now available on Amazon »
THANK YOU in advance for your support!
How long does this keep in the Refrigerator please?
What is the expiration for the mix? How long does it stay fresh and when should you use it by?
If stored in an air-tight container and refrigerated, it should last up to 1 month.
How would you make this recipe gluten free? Would the measurements have to be adjusted if using a gluten free flour ?