Lemon Bundt Cake With Cake Mix

This buttery, zesty dessert is incredibly delicious and easily prepared in just a few steps. Even your grandma will be asking for the recipe!

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When you see a Bundt cake, you may immediately think of a 1960s housewife or recall a dessert you enjoyed at your grandparents’ house. But just like every trend, the lemon Bundt cake has come back around! Actually, the Bundt pan itself is making a comeback from the vintage scene. I attended a 5-year-old’s garden-themed tea party, and the mom used a Bundt pan filled with frozen fruit in the punch bowl. It looked gorgeous and kept the punch cold!

The term Bundt originates from the German word Bundkuchen, meaning “gathering cake.” The Bundt pan was invented in the 1950s with the goal of creating a pan that was neither too fragile nor too heavy, suitable for making coffee cakes and similar European pastries. The inventor of the pan, H. David Dalquist, famously placed second in a Pillsbury cake contest, which helped spark the Bundt pan craze in the U.S.

This lemon Bundt cake with cake mix recipe features fresh ingredients, such as lemons, eggs, and milk, along with convenient shortcuts like boxes of cake mix and instant pudding. This gives you a simple, moist, and sweet cake with a delightful zing. While this cake is pretty comparable to traditional recipes, you can make it in a snap with fewer ingredients and less measuring!

Is Lemon Bundt Cake With Cake Mix Healthy?

Tasty delights like this lemon Bundt cake with cake mix should be enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat due to their high sugar content. However, making this cake at home, as opposed to buying a premade cake at the grocery store, allows you to use wholesome ingredients or make healthier substitutions. My daughter is allergic to eggs, so I have become accustomed to using chia eggs as an alternative. This small change can make your lemon Bundt cake a bit more nutritious by adding fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and even protein. This substitution works amazingly well with this recipe in particular, as the chia seeds remind me of poppy seeds, which are an everyday staple in other lemon desserts, like these Baked Donuts with Lemon and Poppy Seeds.

If you are replacing the eggs to make this cake vegan, you’ll need to sub in nondairy milk as well. Be sure to check the ingredients on your boxed cake mix and instant pudding. Most common store brands contain milk, but there are certainly options available that do not.

Why Add Pudding To The Mix?

I grew up with a family of bakers, so having several boxes of instant pudding in my pantry is normal. Not many people make and serve pudding like their parents did in the ’90s—and my kids, who are 2 and 5, do not appreciate it. However, if you have never used instant pudding in a cake recipe, you are in for a real treat with this lemon Bundt cake with a cake mix. Even though instant pudding is a dry ingredient, it adds moisture and richness to your cake like nothing else can. I also dislike the taste of fake lemon, but the pudding mix in this recipe enhances the tangy, fresh flavor!

FAQs & Tips

How Do I Store Leftovers?

At room temperature, your lemon Bundt cake made with a cake mix will last for a day or two. Alternatively, you can store your cake in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. Be sure to keep your cake covered and, if possible, wait to add the glaze until you are ready to serve and enjoy.

Can I Use Bottled Lemon Juice Instead Of Lemons?

If you are in a pinch and have no lemons, you can certainly use bottled lemon juice. However, it will have a different taste than with a real, fresh-squeezed lemon. Also, you don’t want to skip the zest. Go ask your neighbor if they have a lemon you can use—and bring them a slice of cake as a thank you!

What Size Bundt Pan Do I Need? Can I Use Other Pans?

This recipe is designed for a standard 10- to 12-cup Bundt cake pan. If you don’t have a Bundt pan, you can use a 9×13 pan, two 9-inch cake pans, or a 24-count cupcake pan.

Serving Suggestions

The freshness of this lemon Bundt cake with cake mix reminds me of the brightness of sunny spring days. Set the outdoor table and serve this cake with fresh strawberries, the Perfect Mimosa, or a fancy coffee like this Homemade Caramel-Vanilla Iced Coffee.

You can also pack a picnic and bring a Mediterranean Salad, this creamy Pecan Chicken Salad, and this Delicious Lobster Roll Recipe for a perfect day. These recipes perfectly complement the citrus in your lemon Bundt cake.