Lemons. One of my favorite fruits. So refreshing on hot summer days, lemons just make me happy. Stick them in desserts and you can’t go wrong. This recipe uses a boxed cake mix, but once you are done, it’s anything but boring. It also uses applesauce in place of oil, making it better for you. Bonus!
Ingredients
1 box (18-1/4 oz) lemon cake mix
1 1/3 c. water
3/4 c. egg substitute or 3 eggs
1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
3 Tbsp. poppy seeds ( I left them out this time)
Filling
1 pkg (8 oz) reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 can (15-3/4 oz) lemon pie filling
Topping
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. chopped pecans ( I left them out this time)
3 Tbsp. flour
4 1/2 tsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
4 tsp. lemon juice
How You Do It
In a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine lemon cake mix, water, eggs, applesauce, and poppy seeds. Beat on low 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray and dust with flour. Spread half of the batter in the pan. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in the lemon pie filling. Drop by teaspoonfuls and gently spread over the batter. Top with remaining batter.
Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over the batter.
Bake at 350 degrees F. 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over cooled cake. Refrigerate leftovers.
I love lemons too! The cake turned out great. Looks so delicious. Personally, I like the edges…
Yup, I could go for a piece of that, but I like the crunchy outside of a cake, brownies, etc!! Looks great Mandy!
I love that you cut the middle piece out:-) That is what I do too!!! This cake sounds super awesome!!! Oh, and I love your red polkadot baking dish! Very cute!!!
I love edge pieces. …and middle pieces… equally 🙂 <br /><br />This looks kind of like ooey gooey cake– is that what it tastes like?<br /><br />Great recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh YUUMMM – that looks sooo tasty. When it comes to cake, I want a middle piece…if it's brownies or cookies I want an edge. Thanks for sharing this delicious dessert.
nice pie! i want some… :)))) greetings from polish kitchen!
Mandy… this looks INSANE. And I agree with Ashton, I love middle and edge pieces equally, but that middle piece looks so perfect. And lemon IS so perfect. Can I have this for every meal of the day?
All of your recipes are so yummy looking! I'm and avid follower! I'd love for you to share one or more of your dishes on my linky party, Southern Sundays…it's going on right now. Hope to see you there! http://www.alisceofsouthern.blogspot.com
I found your blog from another blog and am so happy to have stumbled upon it. I am now your newest follower. This cake looks so moist and scrumptious. When you get a chance come by and check out my blog http://www.questfordelish.blogspot.com
This looks delicious. I love the middle pieces too – more gooey yumminess to enjoy! We'd love for you to link up with us for Tasty Tuesday over at aletteredlife.blogspot.com!
Dressing up box cakes is so much fun!
Wow, this is gorgeous! I love lemon SO much.
Thanks for linking this up to Weekend Potluck, girl! LOVE the pics! 🙂
Hi ya Mandy! Guess who got another feature on Weekend Potluck:<br /> It's YOU!!!!!<br /> Congrats, girl! Have an awesome weekend…<br />~Tonya from 4 little Fergusons<br /><br />http://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/kansas-cornbread-salad-oven-free-weekend-potluck-27/
Mandy,<br /><br />YUM! What a great recipe–I can't wait to try it!<br /><br />Mary<br />On Behalf of Chinet
This looks amazing. I always love your recipes, I think we have the same taste pallets 🙂 And I need to keep thinking spring, lemons should help!