This Quick and Easy Lemon Truffle Recipe is a delicious dessert treat that also makes a lovely, semi-homemade hostess gift.
I love cake mix hacks, and this is by far one of my favorite. Using a simple lemon cake mix, you can create this truffle recipe in minutes. That means you have a perfect last-minute dessert that everyone will be crazy about!
Who doesn’t love a treat that is quick and easy to make? When it comes to dessert options, a truffle recipe always seemed daunting. This one totally changed how I view making truffles. This is literally 5 simple steps with only 5 ingredients. I can make this Easy Lemon Truffle Recipe in under 15 minutes!
You can use freshly squeezed lemon juice or packaged lemon juice if you do not have any lemons on hand. If you have fresh lemon, then grate some of the rind and add some fresh lemon zest. You can use regular granulated sugar to coat the lemon truffles, or you can use yellow sugar sprinkles.
How to Pasteurize Flour or Cake Mix:
There have been concerns about consuming raw flour. To pasteurize the cake mix, spread the cake mix on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
Easy Lemon Truffle Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 box of lemon cake mix
- 7 tablespoons butter, melted (plus a few extra to butter hands)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, optional
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided (add 1/4 cup to the batter, use the remaining sugar for coating the truffles)
Directions:
1. Pour the cake mix into a large bowl and add in the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir to combine the ingredients.
2. If the mixture is crumbly, add an extra tablespoon of melted butter at a time until the dough holds together.
3. Pour the sugar sprinkles into a large bowl or platter. Roll the cookie dough into 2″ balls and then in the sprinkles as shown. After the lemon truffles have been rolled in sprinkles, place in the refrigerator to set prior to serving.
While I usually like to cook from scratch, I love that I usually have these ingredients in my pantry, but also that I can make them at the last minute for any event. I keep imagining serving these at a grown-up tea party to my girlfriends! They are so bright and fresh! What an ideal treat for a baby shower, wedding shower, or birthday party!
Make this easy lemon truffle recipe for your family and impress them with how beautiful this dessert looks!
Printable Recipe for Lemon Truffles
Easy Lemon Truffle Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box of lemon cake mix
- 7 tablespoons butter melted (plus extra to butter hands)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar divided (add 1/4 cup to the batter, use the remaining sugar for coating the truffles)
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together cake mix, butter, lemon juice, and zest until the dough starts to form.
- Form dough into 2 inch balls.
- Roll in sugar sprinkles to coat.
- Refrigerate to set or until ready to serve.
More Truffle Recipes:
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Heather says
I plan to make these as Christmas gifts for work colleagues
Cathrine Collins says
Good day, I am gluten free and in South Africa we cannot get Lemon Cake mix in a box or any other cake mix. Is there a recipe to make our own cake mix to make the truffles.
Appreciate your help.
Lemon truffles sound amazing.
Henrietta Glowacz says
I don’t have an oven can a microwave be used instead of the oven in preparing the cake mix?
Maureen says
Isn’t it raw flour in the cake mix?
Alea Milham says
Usually, it is.
Lisa says
Can these be frozen?
Alea Milham says
Yes, they can.
Sandy Foskey says
I just made these a few weeks ago. They are wonderful. I’m now on
my 4th batch. I love the tartness of lemons so I’ve been adding a
lemon glaze to them after they set. Great!
Kimberly says
Have you tried this with chocolate cake mix?
Ts says
Hello, I really would like to try the recipe but what I can use instead of the lemon cake mix?
Thanks in advance!
Barbara says
I’ve made this several times. I usually add a little more sugar because I like sweet stuff. They’re a huge hit every time! I also like that my kids help me out as little family project together.
Lisa says
My husband bought lemon pound cake mix. Is this the same as the cake mix? Will it work the same?
Resh says
Hi ..would love to try them but would also like to try an orange or strawberry one…May sound silly but I just follow the same method and technique except for using the orange or strawberry or even chocolate cake mix.
Many thanks and appreciation
Alea Milham says
Yes, you can. Be sure to find an appropriate liquid to substitute for the lemon juice. And leave out the lemon zest.
Tina says
I love lemon. These sound amazing. I love new and fun summer recipes.
Susan says
I travel for the holidays and would like to take them a d give as gifts. Do they need to be refrigerated? How many days can they be unrefrigerated?
Gumbo says
Bake your flour…ok.
Dana says
Tried this recipe except I made strawberry truffles…DELICIOUS!
Vanessa says
Add a little bit of lemonade mix to powdered sugar to coat the truffle balls.
Stephanie Crouch says
Does this use salted or unsalted butter?
Cheri says
Would it be alright to make this a day or two ahead and store in the fridge? Will they hold their shape and still taste fresh?
Alea Milham says
Yes, they will be fine if you make them a day or two in advance. But I recommend waiting to roll them in sugar until before serving so the sugar doesn’t “melt” while sitting in the fridge.
Mary says
How about rolling them in dry lemon jello powder.
Christine AtchisonChrpinyrest says
I know eggs aren’t bring used, I eould love to mske the lemon truffles, but eating un cooked dough seems weird to me, can they be cooked in some way….its like eating something raw help please…
Alea Milham says
Adding eggs would be dangerous. There are instructions for baking the cake mix to ensure it is safe to consume if you have worries.
Fe says
Make cake balls instead. The ones people decorate… btw roll them in a butter and powdered sugar icing to have a hard shell.
[email protected] Manasco says
Is there a particular cake mix that is good to use?
Lynn Abernathy says
can you freeze them and then use them in a month?
Alea Milham says
I have never tried freezing them.
Kathryn Olson says
Here’s a tip all you lemon-lovers like me who buy way too many lemons because you love them…but end up having to throw some away.
Get yourself a cheap glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, fill it with lemons and/or limes, and cold water and store in refrigerator.
The cold water in the jar helps keep whatever it is that affects the breakdown of the lemon from happening, so if you change the water every so often, the fruit will stay amazingly well!
Rebecca says
I’ve made these twice now and have been a big hit. Very easy to make and I’ve even thrown a batch in freezer for spur of the moment guests. Thank you for the recipe.
Kami says
Has anyone tried dipping these in dark chocolate instead of rolling them in sugar? I am just curious.
Lesa says
I made these lemon balls and they were wonderful. I used the ground up lemon heads candy .. perfect lemony treats at holiday time.. I would make these little jewels again!
Amber Dingman says
Greetings! Looks like a perfect recipe for our “cooking club” at an Assisted Living. Since we typically make evening snack, I was wondering about how long it takes for them to set in the fridge. Would we be able to serve them within an hour?
Alea Milham says
I think they would be ready to serve within an hour – though I usually leave them in for 2, so they are really chilled. If you are concerned, you could place them in the freezer for 5 minutes. Then move them to the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
Lori Stillman says
I love anything lemon, so I am making these for Christmas, but I think I will play around with other cake mixes as well. I like that you don’t have to dip them in melted candy coating or chocolate, that just seems so messy 🙂
Angela says
I love anything with lemon and it looks so easy. I am going to make this very soon.
Norma says
I have made lemon sugar for rimming drink glasses. I’m pretty sure it would work here too. Take Lemonhead candies and pulverize in a food processor.
Alea Milham says
What a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing!
Paula says
Looks easy and delicious. I need to try this for Christmas. Thanks for sharing.
Marilee says
I often make dark chocolate truffles, but I like this idea. I am hosting a baby shower for a couple expecting twin girls and I’m wondering if I could make these with strawberry cake mix. Suggestions on added flavor, in place of the lemon juice and zest?
Alea Milham says
Yes, you could. You could add a few drops of strawberry extract (referral: http://amzn.to/2fX3I9A). You could also add a little bit of cinnamon – I have found cinnamon goes quite well with fruits. Since the recipe does not contain egg, you can add a small amount of the extract and/or cinnamon, then taste then add more as necessary to achieve your desired flavor.
Jen says
Might I also suggest a strawberry puree for flavoring if you plan to use a strawberry cake mix.
Nila says
Could these be frozen?
Alea Milham says
In theory, yes. However, if you froze them, I would do it before you rolled them in sugar as the condensation would melt the sugar as they thawed.
Jennifer says
Are these ok to leave unrefigerated? I’m thinking about shipping them as a gift.
Cindy says
Can I substitute cream cheese for some of the butter?
Alea Milham says
Yes, you can but the cream cheese has a more powerful flavor than butter.
Pam says
These look delicious! I have one question … it appears the sugar the balls are being rolled in is colored yellow. Did you color the sugar yourself, or did you buy colored sugar in a cake decorating store or Michaels?
Alea Milham says
I had colored sugar leftover from decorating Easter cookies. I bought it at a grocery store.
Christina says
Is it safe to eat uncooked cake mix? I’m not sure that flour should be eaten raw. They look really nice!
Alea Milham says
It doesn’t have egg, so it is safe to eat raw.
Dee says
Actually, it is best to toast the mix in the oven before consumption to reduce risk of E. Coli exposure.
Christy helms says
It says to put cake mix on pan and bake powder on 350 for 5 minutes
Angela says
I just made these. Did not use the sugar on the outside, but it was still good. Going to cut the batch with rice flour to make it less calories. I’ll try to let you know when I do that, and give you the results 🙂
Gloria Moore says
My husband is a truck driver, and he LOVES anything lemon. He likes to take special little sweets with him that he can just grab a couple and eat while driving. These look like the perfect thing for him. Pinning and trying them today to send with him.
Thank you for sharing such a “sweet” recipe!
Gloria Moore says
My and husband is a truck driver, and he LOVES anything lemon. He likes to take special little sweets with him that he can just grab a couple and eat while driving. These look like the perfect thing for him. Pinning and trying them today to send with him.
Thank you for sharing such a “sweet” recipe!
Marsha says
Looks good. I’m going to try rolling mine in powder sugar like those lemon cookies used to be.
Erlene A says
I love lemon desserts, so refreshing. I’ll have to give this a try. Pinned. Thanks so much for sharing on Merry Monday.
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
I love the bright, fresh flavor of lemon – especially when rolled up into a pop-able little dessert treat like these truffles! Yum!
Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says
I’m going to make this. I love lemon flavored desserts. This looks scrumptious!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Beverly says
I love anything with lemons and these look awesome. Pinning.
Bev