Mom’s easy lemon bundt cake with cake mix and pudding is light, moist, and finished with a sweet lemon glaze. It’s a simple dessert that’s perfect for any occasion!
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If you love lemon recipes, be sure to try this lemon cream cheese pound cake, these old-fashioned lemon squares, this old-fashioned lemon buttermilk pie, this lemon poppy seed loaf, and these easy no-bake lemon bars with graham cracker crust, too!
Have made this several times now and it always comes out perfect!
– Morgan
Everyone Loves this Easy Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe
This is my mom’s lemon bundt cake recipe, which she made regularly throughout my childhood — and continues to make today. It’s easy to whip up, it looks and tastes impressive, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser! Serve the bright, citrus-infused cake with a cozy Sunday supper, offer it on the Easter dessert buffet, or take it to your next church potluck. With a handful of basic pantry ingredients, this is a simple and delicious cake that you can mix together in minutes for all of your last-minute dessert needs!
The Bundt Pan Makes it Special
The Bundt pan was invented by H. David Dalquist, the owner of Minnesota’s Nordic Ware company, in 1950. The unique ring-shaped pan allows more of the cake to be in contact with the edges of the pan, and therefore the heat is transferred more evenly. This allows the inside of the cake to cook through without burning the outside, creating a crisp, golden brown crust on each slice.
Bundt cakes are also special because, unlike traditional sheet cakes or layer cakes that are baked in shallow pans, a Bundt pan has decorative sides and tops. It’s typically used for pound cake, coffee cake, and other dense, moist cakes like this old-fashioned lemon Bundt cake. Since more of the cake’s surface is exposed to high heat in a Bundt pan, you achieve a nice golden brown crust on the outside of the cake, while keeping the inside perfectly moist.
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- My mom always uses Duncan Hines lemon cake mix, but any similar boxed lemon cake mix will work.
- You’ll need the small (3.4 ounce) box of instant lemon pudding mix. The dry mix goes directly into the cake batter. You do not need to prepare the pudding.
- The gelatin component in the pudding mix makes the cake super moist. It’s the secret ingredient to make your cake more fluffy, too! When baking a cake in a Bundt pan, a very moist batter is necessary so that the cake doesn’t dry out. Don’t omit the pudding, which is a key ingredient.
- Fresh lemon juice is best if it’s available, but you can use bottled lemon juice in this cake, too.
- The cake gets better as it sits, so this is a nice dessert option to prepare the day before you plan to serve it.
How to Make Lemon Bundt Cake using Cake Mix
This easy cake strikes a perfect balance with rich, moist flavor and a light, tender crumb. It’s not as dense as a classic lemon pound cake, and it’s finished with a delicious lemon glaze for maximum citrus flavor. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Mix together the batter ingredients in a large bowl on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes.
- Transfer the batter to a Bundt pan. Grease the Bundt pan really well by coating with butter and then dusting with flour. Alternatively, you can use a nonstick baking spray. These options will ensure that your cake pops right out of the pan when it’s done!
- Bake in a 350°F oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Bundt cakes require a longer baking time than most other cakes since the Bundt cake batters are dense and the pans are so large.
- Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, and then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely before glazing. Don’t leave the cake in the pan for too long after baking. After about 10-15 minutes, condensation will start to form and the moisture will negatively impact the crust.
- Whisk together the confectioners sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to create a thick yet pourable glaze. Drizzle the glaze on the cool cake.
- Give the glaze a little while to set, then slice and serve!
Preparation and Storage Tips
Covered loosely or stored in an airtight container, this cake will keep at room temperature for about 2-3 days. To extend the life of your cake, store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
The lemon bundt cake freezes really well. Allow the cake to cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. If possible, wait to glaze the cake until it’s thawed, just before serving.
I love lemon cake and this is the best I’ve ever tasted!! I made it without any machines, just a spoon. (Just for fun!) It was beautiful and delicious!
– Jan
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Lemon Bundt Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box lemon cake mix
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant lemon pudding mix (just the dry mix — not prepared into pudding)
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
FOR THE GLAZE
- 1 ¼ cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan or spray with nonstick baking spray. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat together the cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, lemon juice, oil and eggs for about 2 minutes.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan; tap on the counter once or twice to release air bubbles. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and the vanilla extract until a thick, pourable glaze comes together. If the glaze seems too thick, add more lemon juice, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. If the glaze is too thin, gradually add more confectioners' sugar.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
- Once the glaze sets, slice the cake and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Add 1 ½ tablespoons of poppy seeds to the batter for a lemon poppy seed bundt cake.
- If you don’t have a Bundt pan, you can bake this cake in two loaf pans. The cooking time will be about the same or slightly shorter, typically 30-40 minutes in a 350°F oven.
- Gently fold 2 cups of fresh or frozen raspberries or blueberries into the batter. If using frozen berries, do not thaw.
- For a stronger lemon flavor, add a little bit of lemon zest to the batter.
- Dust with powdered sugar instead of drizzling with the lemon glaze.
- You can make a bundt cake from cake mix in so many other flavors. Try this strawberry bundt cake, an apple bundt cake, this easy cinnamon coffee cake with cake mix, a maple walnut cake, this rum cake recipe, and this orange juice cake, too.
More Bundt Cake Recipes Using Cake Mix
Chocolate Bundt Cake {Using Cake Mix!}
3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Whiskey Cake Recipe
3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Originally published in March 2021, this post was updated in March 2025.
Love this cake. And the lemon drizzle over the top.
Thanks, Pat! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Absolutely
No more guessing This recipe is a keeper!
It turned out very moist and very tasty.
So happy to hear that!
I have seen on other lemon bundt cake recipes, that some have had the cake deflate after cooling for about 10 minutes. Has that ever occurred with this recipe? I want to try it out and have it as one of the desserts for a baby shower. Thanks in advance
Hi, Elinor! I have never encountered that problem, nor I have heard from others with that issue. Hope it works perfectly for you! 🙂
Can sugarfree cake mix work with this recipe?
Hi, Diane! I’ve never tried that, but I think it should work fine. 🙂
My cake mix is 375 g and pudding is 85g. How do I adjust amounts for oil, water etc.
What a fantastic lemon cake! I might be biased; this was the first time I got a cake to come out of a Bundt pan in one piece, haha. Wonderful flavor and just the right density. I let it sit for ~12 hours and it was amazing. Thanks for posting!
Thank you, Casey! I’m so glad that it worked well and that you enjoyed the cake. Thanks for taking the time to come back here and leave a note! 🙂
I made this with my boyfriends 6 year old and it was so easy. She took on e bite and said, “This is the best thing I have ever made”. This is definitely a keeper recipe as it is so moist and delicious. Yummy!!!
Oh, good! I love to hear that, Sherri. Thank you for letting me know!
I’m baking in the
Oven now. Using Avocado oil. Thoughts?
I considered Olive oil as well.
Hi, Kim! I hope you enjoyed the cake! I think avocado oil should be a good substitute, since it’s a neutral-flavored oil. Olive oil can have a stronger taste that actually flavors the cake, so that wouldn’t be my choice.
I only have cake mix that ‘ has pudding in the mix’. Do I just delete adding the pudding mix or add it anyway??
Hi, Donna! I’d add the pudding mix anyway. 🙂
I added frozen cranberries to the mix. Loved it.
Thanks, Sandy!
I love lemon cake and this is the best I’ve ever tasted!! I made it without any machines, just a spoon. (Just for fun!) It was beautiful and delicious!
That’s great, Jan! I’m making one tomorrow — my son’s birthday request. 🙂 So glad that you enjoyed it!
I’ve made a similar recipe in the past and have had great luck!
This time I added frozen blueberries, folded them in, and baked the cake. It took a LONG time to bake and after baking I discovered why. All the blueberries had settled to the bottom of the batter/pan. (Cold blueberry mass which didn’t allow cake to heat up properly.) It was like a cake covered with blueberry mush – very disappointing. And the mushy part stuck to the pan. It tasted okay but looked horrible and one couldn’t take a forkful and get the mix of blueberry and cake. I will probably make the lemon cake again but not with any fruit.
I couldn’t find lemon pudding so I used vanilla pudding instead and I folded in 2 cups of grated zucchini after I let it drain on a paper towel 1st. It did take longer to bake but it came out good with the lemon glaze. So I made a Zucchini Lemon Bundt cake with your recipe. Next time I want to add 2 cups Raspberries. I’ll toss them 1st with flour so the won’t sink to the bottom. Thanks!!! ☺️
Sounds good, Ruth! Thanks for your tips and new ideas. Glad that it was a hit!
Have made this several times now and it always comes out perfect !
Thank you, Morgan!
Hi, I am making your lemon Bundt cakes recipe today. What do you think about adding zest of lemon to batter and glaze? If I can how much would you put in the batter and how much for glaze? Thank you for the recipe, I know my daughter and I will love it!! Will let you know!
Hi, Tammy! The lemon zest will work well, but it can be a very strong, overpowering flavor…so I would add a small amount, taste, and go from there. It’s really a matter of personal preference. You’ll get a lot of lemon flavor from the lemon cake mix, lemon pudding, and lemon juice, so I don’t personally think it needs anything more. If you want to give it a stronger lemon taste, I would try about 1/2 teaspoon – 1 teaspoon in the cake, and then maybe 1/4 teaspoon or so in the glaze. You can always add more if you want it stronger, but you can’t take it out. 🙂
Hope you enjoy the cake!
My husband loves lemon anything! Our neighbor happily shared 4 small lemons, which produce a few more tablespoons of juice. that I felt i could use. I did however zest all of the lemon rinds, which produced about 1/4 of a cup of zest. As it was my first time making it, I filled the pan with about half the batter and sprinkle about 2/3 of it all over the batter. I then added the other batter over it and baked it. The remaining zest, I sprinkled over on the icing as I glazed it! My husband said it was the best lemon “anything” he has ever eaten!
Yay! So glad that it was a hit!
My cake mix is 375 g and pudding is 85g. How do I adjust amounts for oil, water etc.
Hi Robyn! Unfortunately, we don’t recommend using different measurements for the cake and pudding as we can’t say for sure how the cake would turn out or how to exactly adjust the quantities.
Sounds great but any special instructions if I want to make only half the cake? Using a 6 cup bundt pan, would I just cut the ingredients in half and shorten the baking time?
Thanks
Hi, Barb! I haven’t tried making half of the cake, but the prep instructions should be the same. You’ll need to decrease the baking time to account for a smaller cake, but I don’t know what the exact timing will be. Just keep an eye on it, I guess! 🙂 If you want to make the full recipe, you can divide it between two loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Freeze one of the loaf cakes for a later date, or share one with a friend.
Couldn’t find lemon cake mx, is using a yellow cake mix ok?
Hi, Diane! Yes, that should work fine. The cake will obviously have a different flavor, but you could add some fresh lemon zest to the batter if you’re worried that you’ll miss some of that lemon taste.
Thanks for sharing this simple, but absolutely scrumptious recipe!!!! Just bought Bundt muffin pans and am going to try making them tomorrow morning! Thinking I will keep 6 out and freeze the rest…to slow down our consumption!
Oh, yum. I bet the mini Bundts will be delicious!
Tastes delicious but mine completely flattened. Not sure what i did wrong. Will make again.
Hi, Tamara! I’m sorry to hear that the cake fell. Sometimes that can happen if you open the oven door too soon, or if you jostle the cake too much while pulling it in and out of the oven before it’s totally done. It could also be something as simple as accidentally not adding enough eggs, etc. Hope you get it to work next time!
My son asked for lemon cake for his birthday. Every adult in the room went nuts over this super moist, lemony cake!
That’s great to hear, Margaret. Thank you!
EXCELLENT!! Made it for Christmas Dinner dessert, and making it again for New Year’s Eve celebration!!!! Yummy
Thank you, Cathy. I’m so glad that it was a hit! Happy New Year!
I made this cake for my husbands birthday, he loves anything lemon. It was a big hit! Thank you so much.
I love this recipe! I’ve made it a few times and this time I subbed the eggs with chia seeds. It doesn’t rise as well and comes out a bit chewy, but taste-wise it’s good. My family loves it!
Thanks for that tip, Lisa. So glad that your family enjoys it!
Easy to make but not very much lemon flavor in the cake. The cake was moist but kind of spongy! The icing had a lot of lemon flavor.
I can’t wait to make this for Easter dessert! Blair, thoughts on using coconut oil instead of veg/canola oil? Wondering if it would taste good with the lemon and work well in the recipe. Thanks!
Hi Mari! Coconut oil will work, but it will add a coconut flavor to the cake.
I made it and Loved it Thank You
Thank you, Mack. I’m so glad to hear that!
Hi Blair,
This is the best lemon bundt cake! I have made it several times for family, co-workers and my card making group. Everyone raves about how moist and delicious and always requests that I make it for them! I have made several different versions of it according to your suggestions. First I made it with lemon only, 2nd time with raspberries and 3rd time with blueberries which I picked at my local farm. All versions were really good. Next time I am going to make it with poppy seeds.
Thank you for a great bundt cake recipe! I would give it more than 5 stars!!
This made our day, Annette! Thank you for trying it out and taking the time to leave such a lovely review.
I had my son follow the directions and he baked this cake today. Our whole house smells amazing! We won’t be cutting into it until tomorrow but I can’t wait! Something tells me this will become a repeat for us! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for trying it out, Kristina! We hope you enjoy it.