Sunshine in Every Bite — If sunshine had a flavor, it would probably taste a lot like these Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies. They’re soft, fudgy, and bursting with bright lemon flavor thanks to a simple box of lemon cake mix. Then comes the best part—a creamy lemon frosting that tastes surprisingly like fresh lemonade.

These brownies are the perfect dessert for spring and summer, but honestly, they’re welcome any time you need a little burst of citrus. Whether you’re serving them at a picnic, baby shower, Easter brunch, or just because lemons were calling your name, they’re guaranteed to brighten everyone’s day.

Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies are soft and chewy , bursting with bright lemon flavor thanks to fresh lemons.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy using a boxed lemon cake mix.
Thick, fudgy texture instead of a traditional cake.
Lemon cream cheese frosting tastes just like lemonade.
Only a few simple ingredients.
Perfect for spring, summer, holidays, and potlucks.
Bright, fresh lemon flavor in every bite.

Delicious brownies shown in a checkboard pattern; lemon and strawberry flavor is always a hit.

Making Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang to lift the brownies out later. Lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and eggs.
Stir in the lemon cake mix. The batter will be thick.
Press the batter evenly into the prepared pan using your hand.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Cool completely before frosting.
Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt.
Mix in the powdered sugar on low speed until incorporated, then beat until light and fluffy.
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies.
Refrigerate until the frosting is firm before slicing.

Pro Tips

Zest the lemon before juicing it. It’s much easier that way.
Fresh lemon juice and zest make all the difference—skip the bottled juice if possible.
Let the brownies cool completely before frosting them.
Refrigerate the brownies for at least an hour before cutting for clean slices.

How to Store

Store the brownies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Because of the cream cheese frosting, they should stay chilled until you’re ready to serve them. You can also freeze unfrosted brownies for up to 2 months, then thaw and frost when needed.

Looking for More Easy Desserts?

If you love turning simple cake mixes into something unexpected, be sure to browse the dessert recipes here on Sweet Ordeal. You’ll find easy brownies, cakes, cookies, bars, and plenty of other sweet treats that taste homemade without requiring hours in the kitchen. Also, because I’m starting a brownie cake mix series, check out my Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Brownies. Super easy to make, easier to eat.

Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies is made with simple ingredients, plus some fresh lemon zest to give it that true lemonade flavor.

If you tried and love this recipe, please leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment below. Thank you so much.

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Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies

These fudgy Lemonade Cake Mix Brownies are packed with bright citrus flavor and topped with a creamy lemon frosting that tastes just like fresh lemonade. They're an easy dessert that's perfect for spring, summer, or whenever you're craving something sweet and refreshing.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Cooling Time30

Total Time1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 8 x 8″, cake mix, comfort food, cream cheese frosting, fresh lemon

Servings: squares

Calories: 198kcal

Author: Sweet Ordeal

Ingredients

Brownies:

1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 large eggs
15.25 oz. box lemon cake mix

Frosting:

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
juice of half a lemon (start with — use more if too thick)
pinch salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang to lift the brownies out later. Lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray.

Brownies:

In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and eggs. Stir in the lemon cake mix using sturdy spatula or wooden spoon. The batter will be thick. Press the batter evenly into the prepared pan using your hand. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Mix in the powdered sugar on low speed until incorporated, then increase speed and beat until light and fluffy. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies.
Refrigerate until the frosting is firm before slicing. Enjoy!