Better Than Trader Joe’s Lemon Cake

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Trader Joe’s Lemon Cake

Our copycat recipe for Trader Joe’s lemon cake makes the ultimate cake that we believe could even be considered better than Trader Joe’s lemon cake. With our simple recipe, you can make this cake easily at home, with our step-by-step instructions below. 

Trader Joe's Lemon Cake

Easy Meyer Lemon Cake

Are you looking for the perfect easy Meyer lemon cake? If so, we have the best recipe for you! We are so excited to share this recipe with you, for our copycat Trader Joe’s lemon cake. It is so delicious! This copycat recipe is fresh from our test kitchen, and it is definitely one of our new favorite recipes. 

Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing

Our homemade version of Trader Joe’s Meyer lemon cake mix with lemon icing is amazing. We are excited to share with you our copycat recipe, that we think can rival Trader Joe’s original recipe. You will have to be the judge to see for yourself what you think. Although this cake is perfect for any time of year, or any gathering, it also seems like a taste of spring. 

Meyer Lemon

There is nothing like the hint of lemon, or lemon-flavored treats, to make you dream of spring or summer no matter what time of year reality says it is. The citrus flavor of lemon is just so delicious when paired with a sweet treat or dessert, it is hard to go wrong. We believe that our copycat recipe for a Trader Joe’s lemon cake is one of those sweet treats that you just can’t go wrong with. 

Ways With Meyer Lemons

We have included lemon in multiple aspects of our delicious cake. First of all, there is lemon juice in the batter, along with lemon zest. We also recommend including some lemon extract in the cake batter as well for those of you lemon lovers who want to be sure you get that taste. Our cake is then finished off with lemon frosting. 

To make our frosting, we chose a simple method, of combining powdered sugar with lemon juice and topping the whole cake off with lemon zest. This combination is so flavorful and delicious, my mouth is watering just thinking of this amazing-tasting cake.

Now, let’s turn our attention to all the ingredients you will need in order to make this amazing cake. 

Trader Joe's Lemon Cake top down no zest

The Ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Granulated sugar
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Milk
Lemon juice
Lemon zest
Lemon extract
Powdered sugar

How To Prepare:

To prepare your cake batter, place soft butter, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon extract into a mixing bowl, then once they are all added, stir to combine.

Pour your batter into a greased bread pan, or a 9 x 9 cake pan. Bake at 350°F for approximately 30-45 minutes (depending upon your oven), or until a toothpick inserted into the center of your cake comes out clean.

Allow your cake to cool. While your cake is cooling, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice and a small mixing bowl. Once your cake is cooled, drizzle your frosting on top of it, and add lemon zest. Then serve and enjoy. 

Trader Joe's Lemon Cake close up

Trader Joe’s No-Bake Lemon Cake Recipe

Tools:

Mixing bowls
Measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Mixer, recommended
Cooking spray
2 bread pan or 9 x 9 cake pan 

Ingredients

Cake Batter

½ cup butter, soft
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 ½ Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
½ tsp lemon extract 

Frosting

2 ½ cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp lemon juice 

Method

Step 1 

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, then add eggs and sugar. Stir to combine. Next, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, lemon juice, and lemon extract. Stir until mixed. Add lemon zest, and stir only until mixture is combined.

Step 2

Preheat your oven to 350°F

Step 3

Spray your baking dish with cooking spray, then pour your batter into the baking dish. Smooth out the batter, then place it into the oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes (depending upon your oven), or until a toothpick inserted into the center of your cake comes out clean. Once your cake is baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. 

Step 4

While your cake is cooling, mix together 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar, and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Your frosting should be kind of thick. Set aside until your cake has cooled. 

Step 5

After your cake has cooled close to room temperature, add your frosting on top of the cake, then zest your lemon to top the cake. Serve right away, or store in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Serve and enjoy!  

The Nutritional Information:

We have estimated the following nutritional facts for the above recipe based on the assumption that the cake is divided into nine slices. Therefore, one serving is equal to 1/9 of the above recipe. Please note that the following nutritional facts may change if any of the ingredients above are substituted. 

Nutrition Facts

We have estimated one serving to contain approximately 450 calories. We have also estimated that one serving contains approximately 12.3 g total fat, 71 mg cholesterol, 303 mg sodium, 81.3 g total carbohydrates, and 5.7 g protein. 

Trader Joe's Lemon Cake close up

Recipe Variations

Perhaps you would like to mix things up, instead of only having a lemon-flavored cake. The following are a few recipe variations for you, that are based on the above recipe but have a slight twist to them.

One-Skillet Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Berry Cake

You can easily adapt the above recipe to be a lemon and berry cake. To do this, simply prepare the above recipe as instructed, then before baking fold in your favorite berries such as blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries. Otherwise, prepare as instructed above. 

Meyer Lemon Blueberry Cake with Lemon Icing

One of the favorite variations to the above recipe is a lemon blueberry cake with lemon icing. To make this, you can simply prepare your cake as instructed above, before baking the batter.

However, you will want to fold in some fresh blueberries. Be careful to not mix them too much, only fold until they are just mixed in. Then transfer to your baking dish and bake according to the instructions above.

Lemon Basil Cake Recipe

To make lemon basil cake, you can easily do this by using the above recipe. Then, before baking, mix in 1/3 cup of finely chopped fresh basil. Otherwise, prepare as instructed above. 

Making Candied Meyer Lemon Peel

Candied lemon peels or lemons can also be made and included as a topping for this cake recipe if desired. For details on how you can make candied lemons, please check out our full article on candied lemon slices.

Bake Sale Sheet Pan Meyer Lemon Cake

This recipe also makes the perfect bake sale sheet pan lemon cake recipe. To fit into a sheet pan, or a 9 x 9 baking dish, you will want to double the above recipe. Otherwise, it can be prepared as instructed above. 

Trader Joe's Lemon Cake top down with zest

Meyer Lemon Cake Mix

Lemon cake is perfect for any and all occasions. The delightful citrus is a fresh taste that can make you dream of spring, or summer no matter what the real time of year is. This recipe makes the ultimate lemon cake, it is so delicious, you will definitely want more.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line for this recipe is that it is easy to prepare, and tastes absolutely amazing. We believe that this recipe can rival Trader Joe’s lemon cake. 

Meyer Lemon Cake Mix With Lemon Icing

Lemon cake with lemon icing is the perfect hint of spring or summer. This cake goes perfectly with any meal and makes a delicious dessert or even a side dish. This recipe is very simple to prepare and tastes delicious.

This cake is just so good, it’s hard to describe how good it actually is. You will have to give this recipe a try for yourself, to fully understand how great it really is.

Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Cake

We love this cake recipe, and we are so excited to share it with you, as we believe it makes a cake that some might consider to be better than Trader Joe’s lemon cake. You will have to judge for yourself, by giving this recipe a try. We hope that you enjoy it as much as we do, as it is one of our favorites! 

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Trader Joe's Lemon Cake Pinterest Image

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Faith
Faith Has been cooking and baking for many years! she loves to share her recipes with the world, and hopes you will enjoy them too!

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