Easy Lemon Dream Cake starts with a boxed cake mix swirled with lemon pie filling. All topped with a creamy, lemony whipped topping!
LEMON DREAM CAKE
One of the biggest blessings for me since I started this website has been all the amazing people I’ve had a chance to get to know. Food. It really brings folks together, doesn’t it? Occasionally, I get emails from readers who would like to share a favorite family recipe with me. I love when y’all take the time to share special recipes with me. Especially when a special memory is attached.
HOW-TO VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
LEMON CAKE MIX AND LEMON PIE FILLING
Now, you would think looking at this recipe that this cake is on lemon overload. Let me assure you – it really isn’t. It isn’t crazy sweet or a big ole lemon bomb. It is the perfect balance of sweet and a little tart from the pie filling. My husband, who is not a lemon cake fan, really enjoyed this one if that gives you an indication.
lemon pie filling*
HOW TO MAKE LEMON DREAM CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare cake mix as directed on the back of the box. Pour batter into baking dish.
Originally published: July 2012
Updated & republished: July 2019
LEMON DREAM CAKE
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- ingredients needed to make cake: eggs, oil & water
- 1 (15.75 oz) can lemon pie filling
- 1 tub lemon flavored frosting
- 1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping (COOL WHIP) thawed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Prepare cake mix as directed on the back of the box.
- Pour batter into baking dish.
- Place spoonfuls of lemon pie filling all over the batter.
- Take a knife and swirl it all around to help evenly distribute it better.
- Bake at 350F degrees (in center rack) for about 35-40 minutes until cake springs back to the touch and isn't jiggly in the center.
- Let cake cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
- In a bowl, combine lemon flavored frosting with whipped topping.
- Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Spread frosting over cooled cake.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE LEMON RECIPES? BE SURE TO CHECK THESE OUT!
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Awesome cake!! Made this for my family at Easter and they loved it. I did use a lemon cake mix instead of vanilla and it was just the right amount of lemon for all the lemon lovers lovers like us😊
That is SO great to read Lois! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave feedback! I always love to hear about other options that worked out good. It also helps out other people that may wonder if they can switch out for other flavors. Thanks again!
Making this today for our Easter dinner with friends tomorrow. Can’t wait to have a piece. Will post a picture and tell you their feedback. I have no doubt it will be awesome. Luv your recipes.
Love it Nancy! Yes, please be sure to let me know what everyone thought!
Would this work for cupcakes with a dollop of pie filling in each cup?
Hi Virginia, I haven’t tried it. Possibly? If you give it a try, please let me know!
Can you freeze this cake once it has been frosted?
I haven’t tried it but it seems like it should freeze ok. 🙂
Can you freeze this cake after it has been frosted? Made this last night. Delicious!
Woo hoo! Love hearing that – thank you Pam!
This recipe was very simple and easy to follow!
Absolutely delicious and it was a hit with the family!
Definitely one of our favorite desserts and most requested!
Woo hoo!!! Thank you so very much! Absolutely thrilled that everyone loves it so much! 🙂
Loved it. I did make a change in the cake mix. Instead of the water I used one Meyer lemon and for the remainder of the water I used milk. This was a gluten free cake mix too. The mixing of the icing and cool whip made it seem lighter. I am sharing your recipe on Facebook for my lemon lover friends. Thanks for the great easy dessert.
Thank you so much JoAnn! I love how you took this recipe and really made it your own and to suit your tastes!!
I have made this cake several times and it comes out moist and tastes lemony and good.
Can a person use a lemon cake mix and add the ingredients to that and then spread lemon pie filling all through it ????
Do you think you could use dream whip instead of the dairy whip?
Hi Lois, I haven’t used dream whip before for this recipe but I’m sure it will work just fine. Let us know if you do use it and how it turns out for you.
Sure you can! That’s what I do!
wo what would happen if we pushed the envelope and added holes to the cake after it cooked and put in lemon jello?
Could I use lemon curd instead of lemon pie filling?
I don’t see why not.
Okay, I used the lemon curd instead of the lemon pie filling and everyone loved it. A few days later my granddaughter came with her boyfriend who she said hates anything lemon. Surprise surprise….he couldn’t stop eating what was left. He loved it!
And by the way, I had frozen the little bit that was leftover and it was perfect right from the freezer.
Thanks so much. Can’t wait to make it again.
Sounds delicious I’ll have to try this. Thank you
Thank you, I was concerned about using the lemon filling
Definitely making this this weekend
Wonder if using cream cheese instead of whipped topping would work?
I don’t see why not. I haven’t tried it but let me know if you do! 🙂
Would i be able to bake this in a metal cake pan or does it have to be a glass pan?
I LOVE YOUR RECIPES!!!
I made this lemon cake on Sunday (I used lemon cake, not vanilla), to celebrate my mother’s birthday, and also made your Ground beef Stroganoff recipe (To.Die.For!) They were both such a big hit!
Anyways, the cake is a creative idea, with pie filling. Whilst I was making it, I was thinking I wanted to try more flavors, and was thinking of all the pie filling flavors and cake combos I could do. Tonight, I used your idea, and made a chocolate box cake (devils food), the eggs, oil and water that it calls for, and cherry pie filling. I put it together just as you did with the lemon cake, and baked it for 35 minutes. For the frosting, I used chocolate store frosting and cool whip. SO DELICIOUS!!!
Keep doing what you’re doing! Your recipes are FANTASTIC. (Seriously though, that Stroganoff recipe you have… Possibly the best thing I’ve ever tasted.)
Thank you for sharing such amazing recipes!
Woo hoo! What an awesome comment!! Thank you so much!! I love that you got creative and made something fun with it. That sounds like a delicious black forrest cake (but so much easier to make – ha!) Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave such a sweet note!
I have a question, I’m baking this cake now and it’s done everywhere else but the center is still coming out like it’s got the lemon filling or the cake. I hate to cook it any longer. What should I do?