Bursting with lemony flavor, these Lemon Cake Mix Cookies are soft, chewy, and delicate with the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
The citrusy bright taste of these lemon cookies is about as close to tasting spring as you can get. And if a cookie can be considered refreshing, then these certainly are. Our 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars and Sour Cream Lemon Pie are more easy and delicious recipes where lemon is the star.
This just may be the easiest lemon cookie recipe around with only 3 simple ingredients that even the novice baker can make perfectly. Plus there’s the added bonus of a homemade treat without all the extra measuring cups and spoons.
Lemon cake cookies are perfect when you need to whip up a dessert in a hurry. But maybe make a double batch because they’re so light and pillowy, you may end up eating more than you planned.
Recipe Ingredients
- Box lemon cake mix — we used Duncan Hines, but any brand will do like Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, or your favorite store brand.
- Eggs — Large or extra large and allow them to come to room temperature.
- Oil — Vegetable oil or any other mild tasting oil will do.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One — Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil to a large mixing bowl.
Step Two — Mix everything together until the batter is combined. Scrap down the sides of the mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer will yield delicious chewy cookies.
Step Three — Scoop about two tablespoons and create cookie dough balls. (A cookie scoop works well, or so does a large melon baller or an ice cream scoop about halfway full.)
Step Four — Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet making sure to leave room between each ball as the cookies will spread out while baking.
Step Five — Bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven if you see them browning. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer cookies to a cooling rack.
Variations
These lemon cake mix cookies are delicious as is, but it’s always fun to play with flavors.
- White baking chips — add up to a full package to the batter but a half package is sufficient.
- Crushed hard lemon candies — crush lemon drops or Lemonheads and sprinkle on top of the cookies when they first come out of the oven before they cool completely.
- Powdered sugar — after forming the dough balls, roll them in powdered sugar until completely covered for added sweetness to make lemon crinkle cookies.
- More lemon flavor — add a teaspoon of lemon extract or a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the batter; a teaspoon of lemon zest can be added to the batter as well. You can also add lemon zest as a garnish for lemon cookies with a tarty bite.
- Lemon glaze — make a quick glaze by combining powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Spoon lemon glaze over the cookies after baking.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can, the cookies will be even chewier.
Yes, press the dough into a small greased baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
We recommend you place them in an airtight container individually with a layer of wax or parchment paper over each layer to avoid them sticking together. Since they are soft and chewy, they may stick together.
Store them in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature; up to a week in the refrigerator.
After baking and cookies cool completely, place them into a freezer bag or container and store up to one month.
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Lemon Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 15.25 oz. box lemon cake mix
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Add the cake mix, oil and eggs to a medium-sized bowl. Mix with a spoon until a cookie dough forms.
- Take two tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball, and place on to the sheet pan, repeat. Don't crowd the cookies. I only cook about 10 at a time.
- Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes. You want the cookies to bake until set but not golden brown, once you see them start to change, take them out.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet pan for five minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack with a spatula.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Cake Mix Cookie Recipes:
- Butter Pecan Cake Mix Cookies
- Angel Food Cake Cookies (made with white cake mix)
- Autumn Spice Cake Mix Cookies
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies from Family Fresh Meals
- Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies from Eating on a Dime
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