1. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.

2. Prepare the Bottom Cake Layer:

• In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix with melted butter and mix until crumbly.
• Spread half of the cake mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish, pressing it down lightly to form a base.

3. Add the Lemon Filling:

• Evenly spread 1.5 to 2 cans of lemon pie filling over the cake mix base to ensure every bite bursts with citrusy goodness.

4. Make the Cheese Layer:

• In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until smooth.
• Spoon or spread this mixture over the lemon pie filling, ensuring even coverage.

5. Top with Remaining Cake Mix:

• Sprinkle the remaining cake mix mixture over the cream cheese layer. It doesn’t need to cover completely—this creates a delicious crumble topping.

6. Bake:

• Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cream cheese layer is set.

7. Cool and Serve:

• Allow the cake to cool for at least 45 minutes before slicing to help the layers firm up.
• Dust with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect dessert experience!