Easy Lemon Jello Cake Recipe

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50 minutes

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This easy lemon Jello cake recipe is a sweet and flavorful dessert that’s ideal for spring. Easy to make and bursting with sweet lemon flavor, this cake is the perfect addition to your Easter brunch.

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Lemon Jello Cake on white plate

If you love lemon desserts, this lemon Jello cake will be your new favorite treat. It’s a poke cake that’s made for lemon lovers – and if you’ve never made a poke cake, you need to try it. They’re incredibly moist and flavorful, and this one is no exception.

Start with a convenient boxed lemon cake mix. Then you’ll poke holes in the top of the cake and pour over a lemon gelatin mixture. The holes in the cake allow all that great flavor to soak in. Finally, you’ll top it with an easy lemon glaze made with fresh lemon juice.

From its incredible flavor and texture to its pretty yellow color, there’s a lot to love about this delicious cake! Try this easy dessert next time you need a quick and simple recipe that’s sure to wow your guests.

Lemon Jello Cake with blue napkin

Why We Love This Recipe

It’s Easy – This recipe uses a boxed cake mix as the base, so it’s simple to prepare and still has that amazing homemade taste.

Great for Spring – We love the bright and fresh flavor of lemon during the warmer months. This light and fluffy cake is a perfect spring treat.

Pretty Presentation – With its vibrant yellow color and thick creamy glaze, this cake looks just as delicious as it tastes.

Ingredients

Ingredients for lemon jello cake
  • Lemon cake mix + ingredients from the back of the box (water, vegetable oil, eggs)
  • Lemon Jello mix
  • Hot water
  • Powdered sugar
  • Lemon juice
  • Heavy cream

How to Make Lemon Jello Cake

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick spray.
Step 2: Combine cake mix, oil, water, and eggs in a large bowl and whisk until well mixed. Continue stirring until there are no lumps.

Lemon cake mix batter in bowl

Step 3: Pour into a 9×13 pan and bake according to box directions. When it’s finished baking, allow the cake to cool to room temperature.

Lemon cake in glass baking dish

Step 4: Mix the lemon Jello mix and boiling water until the mix has dissolved.

Lemon jello and water in saucepan

Step 5: Using a fork, poke holes all over the top of the cake. Pour Jello mixture over top, then cover tightly with foil and move to the refrigerator to chill overnight.

Rectangular cake with holes poked in it

Step 6: Before serving, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and lemon juice in a small bowl.

Sugar, lemon juice and heavy cream in glass bowl

Step 7: Pour the mixture over the top of the lemon cake. If desired, sprinkle a bit of lemon zest on top.

Lemon glass on jello cake

Step 8: Cut into squares and top with a lemon slice. Enjoy

Lemon Jello Cake on white plate

Tips & Tricks

  • If you’re short on time, you can skip the lemon icing and top the cake with Cool Whip or sprinkle it with powdered sugar instead.
  • This basic cake recipe can be adapted to make other Jello poke cakes. Try using strawberry or orange cake mix with the corresponding Jello flavor or use a plain white or yellow cake mix and any flavor of Jello that you like!
  • For best results, don’t skip chilling the cake overnight. It’ll taste better when it’s cold and the Jello has had a chance to set. Frost the chilled cake immediately prior to serving.
Lemon Jello Cake with icing drizzling down
How Do I Store Lemon Jello Cake?

Cover your leftover cake with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It should keep in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Can I Freeze Lemon Jello Cake?

Yes. This is a good cake to make in advance and freeze, but it’s best do so after you’ve adding the Jello and chilled the cake, but before you add the glaze. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and it should keep in the freezer for a month.

Lemon Jello Poke Cake topped with lemon slice

More Poke Cake Recipes

Lemon Jello Cake recipe card
4.85 from 46 votes

Lemon Jello Cake


Course Dessert, Desserts & Sweets
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Not only is this Lemon Jello Cake one of the easiest cakes you'll make, it's also one of the tastiest! Filled with delicious lemon flavor, it's the perfect dessert for any occasion!

Ingredients
 

  • 1 box lemon cake mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 box lemon jello mix 3 ounce size
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • lemon slices for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick spray.
  • Combine cake mix, oil, water, and eggs in a large bowl and whisk until well mixed. Continue stirring until there are no lumps.
  • Pour into a 9×13 pan and bake according to box directions, then allow the cake to cool to room temperature on a wire rack.
    1 box lemon cake mix, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3 eggs
  • Mix the lemon Jello mix and boiling water until the mix has dissolved.
    1 box lemon jello mix, 1 cup boiling water
  • Using a fork, poke holes all over the top of the cake. Pour Jello mixture over top, then cover tightly with foil and move to the refrigerator to chill overnight.
  • Before serving, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
    2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp. heavy cream, 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • Pour the mixture over the top of the lemon cake. If desired, sprinkle a bit of lemon zest on top.
  • Cut into squares and top with a lemon slice. Enjoy
    lemon slices for garnish

Notes

  • Short on time? Skip the lemon icing and top the cake with Cool Whip or sprinkle powdered sugar over the top instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’ve had coconut poke cake before but I love lemon! Thanks so much for sharing!

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