Cake Mix Lemon Oreo Cookies made easy with a handful of ingredients & sandwiched with a delightful lemon cream cheese filling!
To make homemade Oreos, some of the ingredients you need are a box of cake mix, cream cheese, lemon zest, and powdered sugar. The cream cheese filling is mixed with the lemon zest to create a tangy and refreshing flavor that complements the lemon Oreo cookies. The powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the filling, making these cookies a perfect balance of flavors.
Make Oreos at Home
In my house, Oreo cookies are a common staple. Whether they are stored in the pantry, or in the freezer, they are devoured quickly. I believe my love for this classic cookie is a direct inheritance from my grandpa. They are his favorite cookie and still his go-to after dinner dessert. Obviously, I can buy a package at the store, but I thought it would be so fun to create a homemade Oreo cookie recipe! One of the great things about this recipe is there is minimal effort that is required. With their easy preparation and delicious taste, this cookie recipe is a must-try for any dessert lover!
Why you’ll love this easy Oreo cookie recipe
- Easy to make: This recipe is incredibly easy to make and requires only a few simple ingredients. With just a few steps, you can have delicious homemade Lemon Oreo cookies ready to enjoy in no time.
- Unique flavor: The combination of the lemon cookie and cream cheese filling creates a unique and delicious flavor that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. The tangy lemon flavor perfectly complements the rich soft cookies.
- Perfect for any occasion: Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to enjoy on a lazy afternoon or a unique dessert to impress your guests, these homemade Lemon Oreo cookies are the perfect choice. They’re also great for bake sales, potlucks, and other events.
Ingredients for Lemon Oreo Cookies
Cake mix: To make the cookies easily, you will need one 15.25-oz box of lemon cake mix. Any brand will work well and taste great.
Eggs: Add in 2 eggs, room temperature, to help bind the dough together well and give it great texture.
Oil: Using ½ cup of vegetable oil will give the cookie dough the fats needed to stay moist.
Food coloring (optional): For a fun pop of color, add in 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring if desired.
Cookie filling
Butter: You will need ¼ cup of butter, softened to room temperature, to create a wonderfully rich tasting filling.
Cream cheese: Using 4 oz of cream cheese, softened to room temperature, to make the filling delicious and creamy.
Vanilla extract: Help enhance the incredible flavors in this frosting by adding 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
Powder sugar: You need 2 cups of powdered sugar to make the frosting perfectly sweet.
Lemon zest: For a lovely citrus taste, use 2 tsp of fresh lemon zest.
Food coloring (optional): To make the frosting a festive yellow color, add in 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring. This is optional, you can skip this addition if you want.
How to make Homemade Lemon Oreo Cookies
Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, oil and eggs and mix thoroughly. Stir in the food coloring if you’d like.
After that, cover the bowl and chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is an optional step, but it helps to keep the cookies from spreading too much while baking and is recommended.
Prep
About 20 minutes into the dough chilling, start preheating the oven to 350℉. Then line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set them aside.
Bake
Once the dough has chilled, use a small cookie scoop to drop 1 tablespoon sized balls onto the baking sheets. Space them a few inches apart to leave room for the cookies to spread slightly.
Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 8-9 minutes. After that, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Lemon filling
While the cookies bake, you can prepare the frosting. In a medium mixing bowl, using an electric handheld mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Then add in the vanilla extract and lemon zest, mix until combined.
Next, add the powdered sugar, a little at a time, and mix again until all the sugar has been combined and the frosting is smooth.
Assemble
Once the cookies have cooled, you can use a piping bag or an icing spatula and put the icing on the bottom of a cookie. Then grab another cookie to place on top and you have a cookie sandwich! Repeat with the rest of the cookies.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Alternative Variations For Homemade Oreos
Gluten-Free Adaptation: For those with gluten sensitivities, it is possible to adapt the Lemon Oreo Cookies recipe to be gluten-free. Simply use a GF cake mix for the cookie base, and make sure that all other ingredients used are also gluten-free. It is important to note that the texture and taste of the cookies may be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
Vegan Alternatives: For those following a vegan diet, there are a few substitutions that can be made to the Lemon Oreo Cookies recipe to make it vegan-friendly. Replace the butter with a vegan butter substitute, and use a flax egg or other egg substitute in place of the egg. Make sure that all other ingredients used are also vegan-friendly. These substitutions will result in a delicious vegan version of the Lemon Oreo Cookies.
How long are these cookies good for?
If stored properly, these homemade lemon Oreo cookies can last up to a week. It is recommended to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What do I do if I don’t have a piping bag?
If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a plastic sandwich bag instead. Simply fill the bag with the cookie dough and cut a small hole in one corner of the bag. Squeeze the bag to pipe the dough onto the baking sheet.
How do you soften cream cheese quickly?
To soften cream cheese quickly, place the unopened foil wrapped cream cheese in a zip locked bag. Push all the air out of the bag before sealing it. Then, fill a large bowl with warm water and place the bag in it. Submerge the cream cheese for about 10 minutes or until it is soft.
Do I have to chill the cookie dough before baking?
When recipes request that you chill your cookie dough it is usually for a good reason. That reason is that the flavor gets a bit more time to develop and the cookies taste even more incredible. But the biggest reason is because of the butter/fats in the dough. By chilling the dough we allow the fats to solidify which means your cookies will not spread out as much while baking, so the texture turns out perfectly. This is especially important on warmer days or when your butter is warm or softened.
Need more lemon cookie recipes? Try more of our favorites here:
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- LEMON RASPBERRY COOKIE CUPS
- LEMON COOKIE RECIPES
- EASY LEMONADE COOKIES
- LEMON CUT OUT SUGAR COOKIES
- LEMON CURD COOKIES
- WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP LEMON COOKIES
- FROSTED LEMONADE COOKIES
- LEMON OATMEAL NO BAKE COOKIES
- SPRING LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES
Homemade Lemon Oreo Cookies have a lovely flavor and easy preparation, they are sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection. These lemon cake mix cookies are perfect for any occasion, whether it be a family gathering or a party with friends.
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