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You are here: Home / Dessert / Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies

Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies

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Ooey, gooey, buttery, creamy, with a hint of bright tangy lemon, these Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies combine all your favorite flavors in one place!

spoon of lemon icing being drizzled on Lemon birthday cake batter cookies

These cookies are as delicious to eat as they are to look at! Using a yellow cake mix with a few simple ingredients and fresh lemon creates a Gooey Butter Cake and Birthday Cake combination that is simply irresistible.

What’s makes these cookies special:

  • A yellow cake mix plus 5 simple ingredients equals quick and easy.
  • The fresh lemon brings a bright splash of flavor to every bite.
  • Butter and cream cheese add richness and decadence.
  • The addition of sprinkles makes these cookies a delight to eat and look at.
  • The Lemon Drizzle at the end adds something unexpected to these gooey bites of heaven.
Jennifer drizzling icing on cookies

How to make Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies

Begin by creaming together cream cheese, butter, an egg, lemon, and vanilla.

Mix the ingredients until they are very light and fluffy.

ingredients for Lemon birthday cake batter cookies

Add a yellow cake mix to the wet ingredients.

Stir them together just until they are well combined.

Next, stir in half of the sprinkles.

Chill the batter for at least 30-60 minutes to decrease the stickiness when forming the cookies dough balls.

Finally, use a spoon or cookie scoop to collect the dough and pat it into a firm ball.

Roll the cookies dough ball in sprinkles and then powdered sugar.

step by step photos of rolling dough balls

Bake the cookies just until they are set. Ooey-gooey is the goal.

Are there flavor and color variations for these Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies?

Absolutely!

Skip the lemon icing drizzle.

Use a white or lemon cake mix instead of yellow.

Try them without the lemon for a standard Gooey Butter Cake flavor and substitute any cake mix flavor you like. ie chocolate or coconut.

Choose sprinkles suited for a specific holiday like Christmas!

Christmas colored gooey butter cookies

If you like these cookies, make sure to try my:

  • BUTTER PECAN COOKIES RECIPE
  • CHOCOLATE ALMOND CROISSANT PUFFS
  • BLUEBERRY LEMON SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE
  • ORANGE CRANBERRY POUND CAKE
  • RASPBERRY PUFF PASTRY TARTS WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE
lemon cake cookies on wire cooking rack

If you’ve tried my Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies or any other recipe on this website, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it came out in the comments below. I’d LOVE to hear from you!

Share a photo of your creation on my Facebook page, Instagram or save it to Pinterest and tag #SAVORWITHJENNIFER. I can’t wait to see your work!

Pinterest image for lemon gooey butter cake batter cookies
close up of one lemon birthday cake cookie
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies

Ooey, gooey, buttery, creamy, with a hint of bright tangy fresh lemon, these Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies combine all your favorite flavors in one place!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
1 hour hour
Servings 30
Calories 160kcal
Author Jennifer Grissom

Ingredients

  • 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix (1 box yellow cake mix)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup sprinkles, DIVIDED

Lemon Drizzle

  • 1.5 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

  • Cream together cream cheese, butter, egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until lighter in color and fluffy in texture.
  • Add the yellow cake mix and combine just until incorporated.
  • Stir in HALF the sprinkles.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more to reduce stickiness of dough.
  • Preheat oven to 350 minutes.
  • Using a standard size cookie scoop, roll dough into a ball and then sprinkle with sprinkles before rolling in the powdered sugar.
    step by step photos of rolling dough balls
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, just until dough is set and the bottom just begins to turn golden.
  • Cool for 10 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

Lemon Drizzle

  • Whisk together the Lemon Drizzle ingredients until smooth.
  • Drizzle over cooled cookies as desired.

Video

Notes

Do not overcook the cookies to retain the gooey butter texture. The cookies may appear slightly underdone when pulled from the oven, but will firm upon cooling.
 

Variations:

Skip the lemon icing drizzle.
Use a white or lemon cake mix instead of yellow.
Try them without the Lemon for a standard Gooey Butter Cake flavor and substitute any cake mix flavor you like. ie chocolate or coconut.
Choose sprinkles suited for a specific holiday like Christmas!
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 204IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.3mg

If you enjoyed the video for Lemon Birthday Cake Batter Cookies , please subscribe to my YouTube Channel (P.S. Click the BELL icon to be the first to know when we post a new video!)

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Jennifer Grissom

Mother, Gardener, Book Devourer, and Food Obsessor. I love being inspired with fresh, seasonal ingredients and relish every opportunity to elevate my home cooking. Join me!

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Comments

  1. CookiesNCake

    December 24, 2022 at 3:41 am

    5 stars
    The cookies look so tempting! Want to make the recipe with my kids during this holiday.

    Reply

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Jennifer Grissom

Mother, Gardener, Book Devourer, and Food Obsessor. I love being inspired with fresh, seasonal ingredients and relish every opportunity to elevate my home cooking. Join me!

Read more…

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