Trader Joe’s cake mixes are hit or miss—but when lemon is involved, I’m always curious. The Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing, priced at $3.99, comes with everything you need to whip up a bright and citrusy dessert without much effort. If you love lemon desserts but don’t want to squeeze or zest anything yourself, this could be your shortcut to sunshine in cake form.
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Review
I’ve baked my way through quite a few Trader Joe’s mixes, and this one ranks near the top for ease, flavor, and overall satisfaction. What stood out immediately was how strong the lemon scent was right out of the oven—it smelled fresh, like real citrus, not artificial flavoring.
The cake itself is moist and tender with a noticeable Meyer lemon flavor. It’s more mellow and sweet than your average lemon cake, which makes sense—Meyer lemons are naturally less tart and have a bit of an orange-like softness to them. The texture is fluffy but not dry, and it baked evenly in the time suggested on the box.
Now let’s talk icing. It comes as a powder packet that you mix with butter and water, and it delivers a sweet, slightly tangy finish. I personally found the icing a little sweet for my taste, but it balances out well with the lemony cake. You can adjust how thick you want it, or even use a little less if you prefer something lighter.
I loved how versatile this mix is. You can bake it in a loaf pan, turn it into muffins, or even make a lemon poke cake by adding a glaze or lemon curd drizzle. It’s a great option for spring and summer entertaining—or anytime you want something a little sunnier. You can also add berries for a refreshing twist.
What’s Included
- 1 package of lemon cake mix
- 1 packet of powdered lemon icing
You’ll need to add:
- 1 stick (½ cup) of butter
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup water
FAQs about Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing
The following are commonly asked questions:
No—Meyer lemons are naturally sweeter and milder than regular lemons, so the flavor is more delicate than sharp.
Yes, and honestly, it tastes great plain or with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Absolutely! Blueberries, white chocolate chips, or poppy seeds would all work beautifully.
While it often shows up in spring or early summer, it may not be available year-round.
You can find it in stores in early summer or through third-party sellers on Amazon.com
How to Prepare
Enjoy as-is, or customize with lemon zest or berries.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
- Combine the cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and water until smooth.
- Pour into the pan and bake for 50–55 minutes.
- Let it cool before mixing and drizzling the icing over the top.
Out of the package you get two packages: one icing, one mix:
Before going into the oven (and yes, parchment paper will prevent you from scrubbing those corners of a loaf pan):
After being cooked you get:
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing is one of those products that makes you feel like a better baker without much effort. It’s fresh, flavorful, and flexible enough to dress up or enjoy as-is. While the icing might be a bit sweet for some, the cake itself delivers on texture and taste. If you love lemon, you’ll want to stock up while it’s around.
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Trader Joe's Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing
Product Name: Trader Joe's Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing
Product Description: Trader Joe's Meyer Lemon Cake Mix with Lemon Icing is a returning seasonal favorite cake.
Price: $3.49
Summary
Trader Joe's Meyer Lemon Cake Mix is a seasonal favorite on store shelves.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Bright citrus flavor: Real Meyer lemon taste comes through
- Easy to make: Just mix, bake, and drizzle
- Moist texture: Bakes up tender and evenly
- Customizable: Works with add-ins, toppings, or in muffin form
- Great price: Only $3.49 for a full dessert
Cons
- Icing is very sweet: May be too sugary for some palates
- Limited availability: Not always in stock year-round
- Only one pan option listed: Could benefit from muffin or bundt pan directions
- Not gluten-free: Contains wheat and dairy ingredients
Fauzia says
I made this cake today and it came out gummy and thick. It looked like it was raw and I had baked it for almost 2hours? Can anyone explain?
becomebetty says
Hey Fauzia! Let me try to troubleshoot it for you. Did you pre-heat your oven first? Do you have an oven thermometer to make sure it is reading correctly? And what size pan did you use? Let me know so I can help.
susan miras says
I thought it was disgusting and thankfully I haven't seen it in the store since. Heavy and raw in middle. Made it three times in three different pans.
becomebetty says
Hey Susan! Sounds like yours might have been undercooked despite the fact you followed the directions. Next time (if there is a next time) use a toothpick to test the cake before removing it from the oven. If it comes out clean with no batter on it, then it is done. Sorry to hear yours didn't come out so good.
Lita M Poppenberg says
OIL instead of Butter it really does the trick AND it makes great cupcakes.....
becomebetty says
Hey Lita! Thanks for sharing about this product!
Joyce Levin says
I love this cake mix, Meyer lemon was a 5* for me. I was looking forward to buying This season and instead we have the covid-19..if ant trader Joe's still have some, I'm in Baltimore county.
becomebetty says
Hey Joyce! Thanks for sharing. Here is NY I saw it on shelves. Hopefully when you stop by a store they will still have it.
susan miras says
I tasted it in the store as a sample and their's was heavy too.
becomebetty says
Hey Susan! Thanks for sharing.
Sara M says
Thanks for this. I recycled the box while it was cooking and needed to know how to make the icing. Oops. Lol.
becomebetty says
Hey Sara! That's why I post everything on the box. I can't say that I haven't done the exact same thing. Glad I could help and thanks for stopping by!
Jill Nogle says
My son loves this cake, and I would like to make it for his birthday in two 8″ rounds (traditional round birthday cake). Any ideas how to adjust the recipe?
ABaker says
Did you notice any black or brown spots or specks in the batter? (I checked to make sure these weren’t bugs and they didn’t look like it at all – no legs/wings etc.) I saw the mix contains dried lemon peel and may have traces of almonds or walnuts. Just wanted to see what your experience was. Thanks!
becomebetty says
I did not notice that. If this were the vanilla cake mix my answer would be yes. There really aren't ingredients that I remember looking like that. So when in doubt throw it out. And TJs is very good about refunds. Just ask at the main desk. I hope that helps.
susan m. says
I was done with this mx long ago. Too heavy. Even their sample in the store was not good.
becomebetty says
Hey Susan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Jada says
I bought this for the first time a few weeks ago. I am pleased with the flavor but felt it was very dense. My oven is accurate and used the loaf pan suggested with exact dimensions. To me it was as though it didn't bake thoroughly but I knew better, it's just dense. Now, much by chance I found comments and suggestions. I usually bake from scratch but time was short so I gave it a shot. Not sure I'd make it again.
becomebetty says
Hey Jada! Thanks for sharing your experience here. By chance, did you mix it a lot? Usually, the more you mix a cake the denser or tougher it can be. Thanks again for stopping by!