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
Jojo says
Hello, I made this cake and we loved it. Had to bake it about 15 minutes longer than what the instructions said. Regarding the icing, I did use melted butter as per the box and it came out like a glaze. I spread it on the top and let it drip down the sides. Very yummy. I refrigerated it and enjoyed it a bit more that way. Yes, it was dense, like a pound cake, but I prefer it like that. Will definitely buy again.
Susan M. says
I haven’t bought it again; I’ll leave it on the shelf for those who like it lol.
Jean says
I have made this two times. the first time the result was as described. the second time it did not seem like the center was done. I wanted to know why you went an extra 15 minutes? I am ready to go for the third cake and wondered if I too should go for the extra 15 or up the temperature, or go to cupcakes. I would like to hear your thoughts. Thank you. Jean
Narissa Yusuf says
Just made this yesterday and I wish I had saw your post before about the parchment paper ...instead of water, I use milk and for the glaze I used one tablespoon milk and melted butter, it came out as a glaze , drip it all over the cake but didn’t use all since my Hubby doesn’t like too much sweet...it was delicious...buying more soon..
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Narissa!
Hannah says
Excited to make this, curious if adding blueberries would be weird to add to this recipe?
becomebetty says
Blueberries and lemon compliment each other. So I say go for it.
Patti says
Parchment paper is highly recommended. I didn’t use it the first time and my loaf came out in 5 pieces (after cooling 45 minutes). It was still delicious 😋
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Patti!
Sue says
That cake is disgusting
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Sue!
Sue says
Not impressed at all. This was a big disappointment, Even after over an hour of cooking the top was overdone and the center was raw. Won’t be purchasing this again.
Jojo says
Hi Jean - I apologize, just seeing your question about why I baked the cake an additional 15 minutes. I did that because the cake wasn't done after the specified time listed on the box. I kept the cake in the oven and checked on it maybe every 5 minutes or so until it was finally done (which for my oven, it took an additional 15 minutes more than the box indicated).
I never rely totally on what the recipe says is the time it should be done baking. I find that depending on the type of pan I use (metal or glass) or even that my oven might not be calibrated correctly - that my cake or brownies, etc., might be done sooner or might need more time in the oven. Thank you, Jojo
Swcooks says
It was my time making this. Based on other reviewers comments about it being undone in the center, I decided to bake mine in paper lined cupcakes. I lost track of how long it took but followed the recommended temperature checking after 25 min until tooth pick came out clean. Yielded 16 cupcakes. Added 1-2 tsp of milk and 1 tsp melted to the frosting. It came out thick but pourable. Drizzled some frosting with a small spoon on top of each, and dumped leftover frosting. It came out pretty good. Was easy to make, would make again.
becomebetty says
Thanks so much for sharing!