Lemon Squares
Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines moist deluxe lemon cake mix
1 cup buttermilk
1 3 oz lemon instant pudding mix; dry
ICING:
4 cups Confectioners Sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice; bottled
3 T Vegetable oil
3 T water
Directions
In large bowl, stir together dry cake mix and pudding mix. In another bowl, combine all wet ingredients and eggs that the cake mix calls for plus the buttermilk.(where your box reads the amount of water (1 1/3 cup usually), put in 1 cup water and 1/3 cup lemon juice to make the cake even more lemon tasting, if you like) Beat with mixer until blended. Add to dry mixture and beat until combined.
Bake in a greased 9x13 baking pan in a preheated 350 degree oven for the time the cake mix box calls for...depending on your oven. It will require a couple minutes longer baking time than cake mix box calls for because of the extra moisture produced by the milk. Stick a toothpick in the center to check for doneness.
ICING: Combine water, oil, powdered sugar and lemon juice with a mixer until smooth. Add one more tablespoon of water if consistency isn't saucy. "Glaze" the cake when just a little cooled. Do not over glaze it because the icing is sweet. Just a THIN layer is required.
I have found that using a lemon cake mix combined with lemon instant pudding really enhances the citrus flavor of these lemon squares. One tip I discovered is to replace part of the water called for in the cake mix with lemon juice as suggested, which boosts the lemon taste without making the cake soggy. Also, adding buttermilk to the batter adds extra moisture and richness to the texture. For baking, I often find that these squares need a bit longer in the oven than the box instructions suggest due to the extra wet ingredients. Checking with a toothpick is essential to avoid underbaking or overbaking. The glaze icing is crucial here—it's sweet and tangy, but a thin layer is best to keep balance. If you like a more intense lemon punch, you can also add a little lemon zest to the icing. From personal experience, these lemon squares make a great dessert for summer picnics and gatherings because they are both refreshing and satisfyingly sweet. They store well in the fridge for several days and even taste better the next day after the flavors meld. Overall, this recipe is a great way to enjoy a classic treat with minimal effort and big flavor.