Lemon Blondies with Raspberries are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. These delicious and easy blondies are a spring and summer staple.
Lemon desserts are so refreshing and perfect for summer. Two favorites are my Frozen Lemonade Pie and my Lemon Poppy Seed Scones.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Why this Lemon Blondies with Raspberry Sauce Recipe is a Keeper
This perfect treat is full of bright, lemony flavor, they’re super soft and they’re great for spring or summer potlucks.
- Bright flavor: Lemon and raspberry create a fresh, balanced taste.
- Easy to make: Simple steps with no complicated techniques make this so easy.
- Soft texture: Tender, brownie-like consistency every time, without it being a chocolate dessert. The raspberry sauce makes Lemon Blondies extra special.
- Great for sharing: Perfect for gatherings, bake sales, or family treats.
- Serve With: Serve this recipe with Mixed Berry Smoothie (2 Ingredients) or Iced Caramel Macchiato.
What is the Difference Between Lemon Bars and Lemon Blondies?
Usually, lemon bars have a graham cracker or shortbread crust. Lemon blondies are similar to a chocolate mixture brownies, but don’t include any chocolate.
Pro Tip to Make Raspberry Sauce for Lemon Blondies
Strain it while it’s still warm. Warm berries pass through a fine‑mesh sieve so much more easily, and removing the seeds gives you that silky, glossy, restaurant‑style finish. It instantly makes the sauce feel intentional instead of rustic.
Ingredient Notes for Lemon Brownies
All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but some of the ingredients may be around the kitchen already.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Lemon Cake Mix: Use your favorite brand of lemon cake mix.
- Raspberries: I prefer to use fresh raspberries over frozen raspberries in these blondies.
- Lemon Juice: Grab a lemon while you’re at the store to have fresh lemon juice for your glaze for these tempting lemon blondies.
Variations for Lemon Brownie Dessert and Topping
This lemon bars with raspberries recipe is super easy to customize. I like to take it to the next level by using different berries for different flavors.
➡️ Swap Berries: Use fresh or frozen blueberries or blackberries instead of raspberries.
➡️ Chocolate: Add in chunks of white chocolate.
➡️ Make It Extra Lemony: Add additional zest for stronger citrus flavor.
➡️ Use Frozen Fruit: Toss lightly in flour before adding to batter to prevent excess moisture.
➡️ Different Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix to turn this into a chocolate raspberry brownies dessert recipe. Fudgy raspberry brownies with melted chocolate bars is one of my favorite decadent chocolate flavor desserts.
Kitchen Tools To Make Lemon Blondies Easier
The only major piece of equipment you’ll need is a baking dish. And a small saucepan over medium heat to create the sauce.
- 8×8 Inch Baking Dish: An 8×8 inch dish makes these blondies the perfect size.
How to Make Lemon Brownies with Raspberry Sauce
This is one of the best simple to make recipes ever. It comes together in 3 steps, and is perfect for a party or get-together.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat Oven & Mix Batter: Preheat the oven and grease a 8×8 inch baking dish. Beat together the lemon cake mix, vegetable oil. eggs and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the batter into the baking dish. Press the raspberries into the top of the batter, then use a spatula to even it out. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Make the Glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk in a small bowl. Pour all over completely cooled blondies, and use a spatula to help smooth it out.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips for Blondies with Cake Mix
To streamline your baking process, there are some ways you can prep these raspberry flavor chewy brownies in advance.
➡️ Prep Ingredients Early: Measure everything before mixing.
➡️ Line the Pan: Use parchment for easy removal and clean cuts.
➡️ Make Ahead: Bake a day in advance for best texture.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Brownie Recipe
You can make this Valentine’s Day recipe another way by making them thicker.
- Smaller Batch: Use a smaller square pan and adjust baking time
- Thicker Bars: Use a smaller baking dish to thicken the bar size.
Why Are my Blondies Cakey Instead of Soft?
If your lemon brownies ended up cakey instead of soft and fudgy, you probably didn’t add enough oil. The eggs and oil will really make the cake mix nice and gooey not a cakey brownie.
Can I Make A Chocolate Raspberry Brownie?
Yes, you can use cocoa powder to make a raspberry chocolate brownie, add chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate to make a super fudgy brownie.
How to Store and Use Leftover Lemon Blondies
If you store your leftovers the right way, they can be just as good as they were fresh.
- Storing: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Reheating: Serve at room temperature or warm slightly for a softer texture.
- Using Leftovers: Crumble over yogurt or serve with whipped topping for a quick dessert. Drizzle sauce over ice cream to make chocolate raspberry sundaes.
Expert Tips for Making Lemon Raspberry Brownies Recipe
➡️ Don’t Overbake: Centers of lemon brownies look slightly soft when removed from oven.
➡️ Use Fresh Lemon: Bottled juice won’t give the same flavor.
➡️ Handle Gently: Fold raspberries carefully to avoid breaking them too much.
➡️ Cool Completely: Bars firm up as they cool, making slicing easier.
➡️ Line the Pan: Prevents the lemon brownies from sticking and helps lift bars out cleanly.
➡️ Raspberry Seeds: If you don’t want any seeds at all, smush the raspberries through a fine mesh strainer.
We Recommend You Try These
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Lemon Blondies with Raspberries
Equipment
- Toothpick
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.
Ingredients
Blondies
- 15.25 ounces Lemon cake mix, 1 box
- ⅓ cup Vegetable oil
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, optional
- ½ cup Raspberries, as needed
Optional Glaze
- ½ cup Powdered icing sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons Milk, as needed
Instructions
Blondies
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 8" x 8" casserole dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract for 2 minutes until well combined and fluffy.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Press the raspberries into the batter, then use a spatula to even out the top of the batter and slightly cover the majority of the raspberries.
- Bake for 20-24 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Glaze
- Allow the blondies to cool completely before adding the glaze.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all glaze ingredients.
- Pour the glaze all over the blondies and smooth over with an offset spatula until blondies are completely covered.
- Allow the glaze to set for at least 1 hour before cutting the blondies to store or serve.
Christina’s Notes
- Raspberry Jam: Don’t have any fresh or frozen raspberries? No problem, just use raspberry jam or jelly. You can add gobs it the top and use a knife to swirl into the blondies.
- Other Berries: You can absolutely switch in any other berries such as blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries.
- White Chocolate Chips: For some extra creamy and richness, fold in white chocolate chips to batter.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.