Clicky

Lemon Better Than Sex Cake

5 from 39 votes
Jump to RecipePinSave to Favorites

Site Index Cake Lemon Vintage recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. See my privacy policy for details.

Hold on to yer horses, this Lemon Better Than Sex Cake is BETTER than the original Better than sex cake! You can have the chocolate, give me all of the lemons, please!  Lemon cake, lemon pudding, whipped cream, and lemon cream cookies combine to make this dessert a lemon lover’s dream come true!

Table of Contents
  1. Lemon Cake is Definitely the Best Better Than Sex Cake
  2. Tips & Tricks For Making This Lemon Cake
  3. If you are looking for some more decadent dessert recipes, try these:
  4. Pin This Recipe To Your Desserts Board and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!
  5. Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Recipe
A Slice of Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Topped with Whipped Cream and Crushed Lemon Cookies in Ruffle Plate

Lemon Cake is Definitely the Best Better Than Sex Cake

I’m not sure if using “the best better” was proper grammar in the header above, but as a lemon cake lover let me tell you, this is your dessert. Period. It combines everything lemony in one pan and it’s not overwhelming. It’s a great twist on the normal or classic Better Than Sex Cake that I whipped up two weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong, that is one helluva good cake my friends, but I am a lemon lover through and through.

Close up Slice of Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Topped with Whipped Cream and Crushed Lemon Cookies in Ruffle Plate

This cake is also called Better than Robert Redford Cake or Better Than Anything Cake but really, those crazy 1970s mom’s LOVED to name their desserts with slightly risque names back then. Sex in a Pan, anyone? That classic is also a layered dessert which is on my list to make! That one will wait for summertime however as it’s perfect for a BBQ. Or maybe not, I tend not to be the patient type.

Close up Slice of Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Topped with Whipped Cream and Crushed Lemon Cookies in Ruffle Plate

Tips & Tricks For Making This Lemon Cake

  • I find that instant lemon pudding is harder to source here in Canada, so if you can’t find it go with the lemon pie filling in the box that you have to cook. Make sure NOT to add in the egg yolks! That is what will turn that into a very firm pie filling and not a more smooth and liquid-like lemon pudding. However on the other hand if you would like to make a lemon layer on top of the cake, then make the pie filling firm according to the package directions.
  • You can use any lemon filling that you want to. The beauty of this cake is that you can sub in whatever you want to for the lemon pudding. You can even use a jar of lemon curd if you want super tangy!
  • Let this dessert sit for an hour or two for sure. It’s better when the cookies get soft.
  • You can use real whipped cream or cool whip, the choice is up to you!
Top down shot of Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Topped with Whipped Cream and Crushed Lemon Cookies

If you are looking for some more decadent dessert recipes, try these:

  1. Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Dream Bars
  2. Seven Layer Bars
  3. Blueberry Pie Bars 
  4. Black Forest Cake Trifle 
  5. Hazelnut Cream Pie using Frangelio

Happy baking! Or in this case, not baking!

Love,

Karlynn

Pin This Recipe To Your Desserts Board and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!

Hold on to yer horses, this Lemon Better Than Sex Cake is BETTER than the original better than sex cake! You can have the chocolate, give me all of the lemon cake please! #lemon #dessert #nobake #betterthansexcake #cake #pudding #recipe #cookies #whippedcream
EMAIL YOURSELF THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email to get this recipe emailed to you, so you don’t lose it and get new recipes daily!

Lemon Better Than Sex Cake

Hold on to yer horses, this Lemon Better Than Sex Cake is BETTER than the original better than sex cake! You can have the chocolate, give me all of the lemon cake please! 
5 from 39 votes
Close up Slice of Lemon Better Than Sex Cake Topped with Whipped Cream and Crushed Lemon Cookies in Ruffle Plate
Prep Time
30 minutes
Total Time
30 minutes
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Servings
16
Calories
255
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients
 

  • 1 18.25 ounce package lemon cake mix
  • 2 cups lemon pudding ( instant or cooked pie filling, canned pie filling, lemon curd)
  • 2 cups of broken lemon cream filled cookies
  • 1 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed

Instructions
 

  • Bake the cake according to package directions for a 9×13 inch pan. Remove from the oven and poke small holes in the top ( making sure not to poke all the way through to the bottom.
  • Prepare the lemon instant pudding according to package instructions.  If you are using cooked lemon pie filling only use ONE egg yolk to prepare it. You don’t want it too thick! You can even skip the egg yolk if wanted and just cook the pudding without if you want it more liquidy. Cook it until it thickens slightly. 
  • Slowly pour the lemon pudding or pie filling over the top of the warm cake, letting it sink into the holes in the cake. Take 1 cup of the cookies and sprinkle them over the top.
  • Let the cake now cool completely, then top with whipped topping. Decorate the top of the cake with some more lemon cookie chunks.
  • Refrigerate for an hour or two if you can then serve!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Sometimes Instant Lemon Pudding is hard to find in Canada. Simply use the cooked pie filling that is in the box. Be sure NOT to use all of the eggs! You don’t want it to set like a pie filling – unless of course, you would like a layer that sets like that. It’s all up to you. It will soak into the poked cake holes better if it’s more liquidy, but a nice layer of lemon filling is nice too!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 255kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 342mg, Potassium: 51mg, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 1.2mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Made this recipe?

Share a photo of what you made on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thekitchenmagpie or hashtag it #thekitchenmagpie.

Please rate this recipe in the comments below to help out your fellow cooks!

Learn to cook like the Kitchen Magpie

A Very Prairie Christmas Bakebook

Cookies, Candies, Cakes & More: Vintage Baking to Celebrate the Festive Season!

Learn More

a copy of Flapper Pie cook book

Flapper Pie and a Blue Prairie Sky

A Modern Baker’s Guide to Old-Fashioned Desserts

Learn More

The Prairie Table

Suppers, Potlucks & Socials: Crowd-Pleasing Recipes to Bring People Together

Learn More

Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Cake Lemon Vintage recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Lois Hoover says

    I can’t wait to make this!!! Which brand of lemon cookies do you use?

  2. Jillian says

    Love this cake, better than sex, I’ll never tell. HeHe5 stars

  3. Beverly says

    I love love love poke cakes, but I hadn’t thought about lemon. Great idea. I think I’ll use the canned lemon pie filling ( or make my own), as I think it will taste brighter. Does that make sense? Canned lemon pie filling is very close to my homemade but way quicker.
    Thanks for the idea.5 stars

    • Meredith says

      I picked up the instant no-cook pudding by mistake. Do you think that’d be ok to use or should I get the cook and serve instead? I’m making this for my Mom’s birthday. She loves lemon.

    • Natalie says

      This is definitely a typo, I could not find any cake mix in that size. I just used the 13 ounce box and it worked out great.

  4. Linda says

    I was wondering if I use the cooked pudding if it needs to cool before adding to the poked holes?

    • Karlynn says

      No, if you use warm pudding it will spread even better and soak into the cake!5 stars

  5. Jody says

    Can you make this a day ahead of time or will it get soggy?

  6. Terri says

    Has anyone ever tried freezing the better than sex or Robert Redford cakes?

  7. Pia says

    Looks delicious. I think I’ll make it for Easter dessert. Can you tell me though, what is Lemon Food Cake? Thanks.5 stars

  8. Erin Dee says

    Mmm, I love lemon too! This is a must make dessert! Looks so incredibly delicious!

  9. Monique says

    The only lemon pie filling we have is in a can. May I just use that right out of the can?

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      You bet, it’s one of the options! It’s a very easy recipe!5 stars

  10. Monique says

    The only lemon pie filling we have is in a can…can I just use that right out of the can??

  11. Katerina @ diethood .com says

    I have to make this cake real soon!! It’s absolutely ahhmaazing!!5 stars

  12. Amanda says

    Oh my goodness, this is a fantastic lemon dessert!!

  13. Dee says

    Total lemon lover here, and this is my dream dessert!5 stars

  14. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

    I love the toppings and layers of this dessert! Plus it’s the PERFECT bright color for spring!

  15. Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says

    This cake! I have to make it soon!5 stars

    • sesch@fairview.k12.mi.us says

      Can I use soft lemon cookies in place of the lemon cream?

Leave a Comment or Recipe Tip

Recipe Rating