Easy Lemon Bundt Cake

Your regular Bundt Cake just got a bite better: This Buttery Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe is such an delicious dessert. It’s soaked in homemade lemon syrup for a fresh and bright flavor that’s so good! It’s a semi-homemade bundt cake that starts with a cake mix and it’s totally foolproof. Why This Recipe Works Foolproof…

The post Easy Lemon Bundt Cake appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Your regular Bundt Cake just got a bite better: This Buttery Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe is such an delicious dessert. It’s soaked in homemade lemon syrup for a fresh and bright flavor that’s so good! It’s a semi-homemade bundt cake that starts with a cake mix and it’s totally foolproof.

sliced bundt cake on a grey plate covered in powdered sugar.

Why This Recipe Works

Foolproof using cake mix: We start this recipe with lemon cake mix, but no one will know because we’re going to doctor it and add a delicious lemon butter soak.

Tested: I’ve tested this recipe several times and it’s been made by loads of readers who love it too! It has moist crumbs and the best burst of lemon flavor – you’re going to love it. My secret ingredient is the lemon butter sauce that soaks into the cake!

If you want a from scratch cake, try my lemon pound cake with lemon glaze!

ingredients in lemon bundt cake laid out on a white marble counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Lemon cake mix: makes this recipe so easy, but don’t worry, it’ll still taste 100% homemade. I’m using duncan hines cake mix for this recipe.
  • Butter: We’ll use unsalted butter to make the cake and in the butter sauce.
  • Milk: any kind you like – I love using whole milk in cakes.
  • Extracts: I love adding butter extract to the cake because it pumps up the butter flavor. You can swap vanilla extract if you prefer.
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix: or use lemon pudding mix to triple the lemony flavor. Pudding mix in cake mix recipes keeps the cake extra moist.
  • Lemon juice: fresh lemon juice from about 1-2 lemons – always use fresh juice!
  • Lemon Zest: Lemon zest holds all the lemon flavor, so don’t skip it.

How to make Lemon Bundt Cake

  1. Use a electric mixer or bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment to beat the cake mix, butter, room temperature eggs, milk, extract, and pudding mix until a thick batter forms. Pour into the prepared pan.
  2. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. Remove the bundt cake from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes but keep it in the pan.
  3. While the cake is baking, make the sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice, zest and salt and cook until it just simmers (bubbles around the edges). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
  4. Poke several holes in the cake using a long skewer and pour the butter sauce over the cake. Cool in pan completely, then remove to serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
sliced bundt cake on a grey plate covered in powdered sugar.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to grease and flour the bundt cake pan really well. That’s the secret to easy release and a pretty cake.
  • If you can’t find lemon pudding mix, you can use vanilla or even cheesecake flavor.
  • Be sure to let it cool completely before removing from the pan so the flavor soaks into every single bite.
  • The cake is sweet enough because of the sauce so it doesn’t need frosting; just a dusting of powdered sugar will do! 

Storage & Making Ahead

  • Make ahead: This cake is very forgiving and can be made up to 24 hours ahead.
  • Store cake loosely covered on the counter.
  • Wrap cooled cake well with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
sliced bundt cake on a grey plate covered in powdered sugar.
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Easy Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe

Easy Lemon Pound Cake starts with a cake mix and has the perfect lemon flavor. The warm cake is soaked with a lemon butter sauce!!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 227kcal
Cost 8

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 (approx 15 ounce) box lemon cake mix
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon butter extract optional; it pumps up the butter flavor of the cake
  • 1 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix (or lemon)

Sauce:

  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice from 1-2 lemons
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray (the kind with flour) or butter and flour it.
  • Use a hand or a stand mixer to beat the cake mix, butter, eggs, milk, extract, and pudding mix until a thick batter forms. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. Remove the cake from the oven and cool for 10 minutes but keep it in the pan.
  • While the cake is baking, make the sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice, zest and salt and cook until it just simmers (bubbles around the edges). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
  • Poke several holes in the cake using a long skewer and pour the butter sauce over the cake. Cool in pan completely, then remove to serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Be sure to grease and flour a bundt pan really well. That’s the secret to easy release and a pretty cake.
  • If you can’t find lemon pudding mix, you can use vanilla or even cheesecake flavor.
  • Be sure to let it cool completely before removing from the pan so the flavor soaks into every single bite.
  • The cake is sweet enough because of the sauce so it doesn’t need frosting; just a dusting of powdered sugar will do! 
  • To achieve a thicker textured cake, replace the milk with a cup sour cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Other Bundt Cake Recipes

The post Easy Lemon Bundt Cake appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Chocolate Bundt Cake

This Chocolate Bundt Cake is a fudgy cake recipe with the best chocolate flavor. It’s totally from scratch with a tender moist crumb – we absolutely LOVED this cake – even the non-cake lovers couldn’t stop eating it. Why You NEED This Recipe I’m not exaggerating when I tell you how much we loved this…

The post Chocolate Bundt Cake appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

This Chocolate Bundt Cake is a fudgy cake recipe with the best chocolate flavor. It’s totally from scratch with a tender moist crumb – we absolutely LOVED this cake – even the non-cake lovers couldn’t stop eating it.

slice of chocolate cake on a white plate with a chocolate glaze on top.

Why You NEED This Recipe

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you how much we loved this cake – we could not stop going back and sneaking bites! I love all kinds of bundt cakes because they are easy to make and so pretty. This recipe is a classic chocolate bundt cake recipe that is totally from scratch. It has the most decadent chocolate flavor, with the best fudgy texture!

Not only is it homemade but it’s rich and sweet enough plain or you can add a chocolate ganache frosting on top – your choice! Don’t sleep on this recipe – you’re going to love it.

ingredients in chocolate bidet cake laid out on a white marble counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter: The recipe starts with melted unsalted butter.
  • Sour Cream: Sour cream mixes well with the baking soda to give this cake the perfect texture and the acid helps to activate the baking soda.
  • Hot Coffee: You can use instant coffee or regular leftover – but it needs to be hot. You can substitute hot water if you prefer – but the coffee just brings out all the chocolate flavor. The hotness also blooms the chocolate – this cake is rich!
  • Cocoa Powder: Because this recipe uses baking soda, I used unsweetened cocoa powder (natural). This recipe has not been tested with dutch-process cocoa powder.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream and Chocolate Chips: Gives the chocolate glaze the best taste! I use semi-sweet chocolate chips. Cream cheese frosting would also be fantastic, like Nothing Bundt Cake!

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make Chocolate Cake

process shot of chocolate bundt cake being made.

1. I love this recipe because you do not need a stand mixer! Whisk all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including the sugar.

process shot of chocolate bundt cake being made.

2. Whisk all the wet ingredients in a large measuring cup or bowl.

process shot of chocolate bundt cake being made.

3. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour into a bundt pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

overhead shot of chocolate bundt cake with powdered sugar on top.

4. After 15 minutes turn the cake out onto a serving platter – this helps the cake not stick. Decide on a topping: frosting or just a dusting of powdered sugar.

slice of chocolate cake on a white plate with a chocolate glaze on top.

Expert Tips

  • Grease your pan properly so the cake doesn’t stick. Bundt cakes are notorious for sticking – so use a baking spray with flour or grease and flour it well – in every nook and cranny of the bundt pan.
  • Avoid the cake sticking in the pan by making sure it’s completely done – a toothpick will come out clean when it’s done baking. And be sure to remove it from the pan after only 15 minutes of cooling.
  • Your cake should be fully cooled before putting the frosting or powdered sugar on top.

FAQs

Can you freeze this cake?

Yes you can! Slice this cake and then freeze in and individual airtight container so they are easy to pull out and reheat!

slice of chocolate cake on a white plate with a chocolate glaze on top.
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Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe

This decadent chocolate cake has the best fudgy flavor and texture! It is topped with the best chocolate glaze!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 558kcal
Cost $8

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • cup (54g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (237ml) hot brewed coffee
  • ½ cup (115ml) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5ml
  • cup (113g) chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a (10 to 12-cup bundt pan) bundt pan or spray with nonstick baking spray (the kind with flour in it).
  • Whisk sugar, cocoa, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and flour in a large bowl.
  • Melt butter in a medium bowl or large microwave safe measuring cup. Add hot coffee to the melted butter. Whisk in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until smooth and no lumps remain. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. There may be a gooey ring around the center that, when performing a toothpick test, it comes out with a crumb or two, but it will be clean from the outer edges and center.
  • Allow cake to sit in pan for 15 minutes. Then place serving plate or wire rack on top and invert the pan to release the cake carefully and let the cake cool before frosting.
  • To make frosting: add chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream to a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat 45 seconds then whisk until smooth. Pour over cake and use a knife to spread. It will dry hard. Alternately, dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

  • The cake is delicious with just powdered sugar dusted on top – no frosting needed.
  • You can substitute hot water for the coffee, but make sure to use hot water so as to bloom the cocoa. The coffee doesn’t make it taste like mocha or coffee, it’s to intensify the chocolate flavor.
  • This recipe has only been tested with natural unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • Store loosely covered at room temperature. Wrap well with plastic wrap and freeze if desired (slices or the whole cake).

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 558kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 313mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 601IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 4mg

Other Bundt Cake Recipes

The post Chocolate Bundt Cake appeared first on Crazy for Crust.