This homemade 7UP Pound Cake recipe is an old-fashioned southern recipe that is as yummy as it is flavorful.
Indulge in the timeless delight as this classic dessert combines the refreshing citrus twist of 7UP soda with a rich, moist pound cake.
With its buttery texture and zesty flavor, this cake is a true crowd-pleaser.
Whether served at special occasions or enjoyed as a delightful treat, 7UP Pound Cake is a must-try dessert that will leave you craving for more.
Where did 7up pound cake originate?
This lemon-lime cake, made with real 7up flavor, dates back to the early 1950s when the 7-Up company included it in a promotional recipe booklet alongside another one of their equally popular recipes for 7-Up Salad.
The 7-Up used in the recipe for 7-Up Cake serves as the substitute for baking soda. What a genius idea to substitute carbonation for a leavening agent. Additionally, 7-Up is used for the liquid and flavor agent in the glaze ingredients.
This easy, lemony bundt cake recipe is moist and delicious. A classic party and potluck favorite because it tastes best when made in advance and allowed to meld together.
How do you make a 7UP Pound Cake recipe from scratch?
Ingredients That Make a Difference: Key Components of 7UP Pound Cake
CAKE:
- 3 Sticks Unsalted Butter (softened at room temperature)
- 3 Cups Sugar
- 5 Large Eggs
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Cake Flour
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Extract
- ¾ Cup 7-up soda
GLAZE:
- 1 â…“ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
You can also make a glaze using 7up instead of milk. It makes the glaze have a slight hint of citrus lemon-lime flavor too. To make this glaze you can use...
- 3-¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp. lemon juice
- ¼ cup cold 7UP
How to make a moist 7up cake!
CAKE:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease your bundt pan (or tube pan) taking extra care in the corners.
- In a large bowl, cream your butter and sugar together, for approximately 10 minutes.
- Add in your eggs, beating them in one at a time.
- Add your flour (a cup or so at a time) and lemon extract.
- Fold in your 7UP.
- Pour your mixture into your bundt pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Depending on your oven you may have to bake a little longer.
- While the cake bakes you can make your glaze.
7up Pound Cake GLAZE:
- In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk together and beat until smooth. (or the other optional ingredients if you choose that glaze)
- Allow the cake to completely cool on a wire rack before drizzling with glaze.
Store at room temperature for 4-5 days.
It is that time of the year when we are all beginning to think about bikini weather so substituting some of our favorite dishes like 7UP pound cake for something a little more weight conscious is always a plus.
Here is an easy substitute for a skinny 7UP pound cake that is just as delicious.
7UP Pound Cake Using Cake Mix
Ingredients you will need:
- 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 Can 7UP TEN
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray your bundt pan, greasing well.
Mix together the 7UP TEN and cake mix until smooth.
Pour your cake batter into the bundt pan, and cook for approximately 1 hour or until the cake comes out clean.
You can dust this cake lightly with powdered sugar for a little extra sweetness.
What I love about both of these cakes, the traditional southern version or the skinnier version is that you can use 7UP TEN in both which is a great less calorie option but tastes just as full-flavored as regular 7UP.
This delicious pound cake is great served with ice cream, sherbet, or topped with fresh fruit.
How to Store this Pound Cake Recipe
The 7UP cake will stay fresh when covered at room temperature for 4-5 days. It does not need to be refrigerated but you can extend the life in the fridge for up to a week.
Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can I substitute Sprite for 7UP?
Yes, you can substitute any kind of lemon-lime soda brands in place of the 7-Up like Sprite, sierra mist, etc.
What can I use if I don't have lemon extract?
If you don't have lemon extract you can substitute 1 teaspoon of freshly grated lemon peel per teaspoon of extract.
You can also substitute the extract for lemon juice. Lemon extract is certainly more concentrated so you will want to use 2 tablespoons lemon juice per 1 teaspoon lemon extract.
What's the best flour for pound cake?
We recommend using cake flour. It is all-purpose flour that is much lighter than your traditional flour making it the best use for a pound cake recipe.
Want to print or save this 7UP pound cake recipe?
7UP Pound Cake
Ingredients
CAKE
- 3 Sticks Butter softened
- 3 Cups of Sugar
- 5 Eggs
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Extract
- ¾ Cup 7UP
GLAZE:
- 1 â…“ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
Instructions
CAKE:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease your bundt pan taking extra care in the corners.
- Cream your butter and sugar together, for approximately 10 minutes.
- Add in your eggs, beating them in one at a time.
- Add your flour (a cup or so at a time) and lemon extract.
- Fold in your 7UP.
- Pour your mixture into your bundt pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Depending on your oven you may have to bake a little longer.
GLAZE:
- Mix powdered sugar and milk together.
- When the cake is completely cooled, dribble with glaze.
Alpana Deo says
Melissa, this cake looks so inviting...I am going to make it over the weekend for sure. I would like to go for the Cake Mix version..it's faster right?..:) Just have one question...cake mix calls for Butter/Oil and Eggs. So, will we be using eggs and butter for this cake or just the cake mix plus 7up?
Melissa Coleman says
Nope just the mix and 7up and yep it is definitely faster.
Alpana Deo says
Thanks, will try it very soon.
Dina says
that looks so yummy. I just made a sundrop cake that is similar.
Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy says
My grandmother used to make this when we would go to her house each summer. I loved it then and it has been years since I have had 7up poundcake. We need to make this!! 🙂
Melissa Coleman says
I love recipes that bring back memories. 🙂
Amber K says
I grew up on 7Up cake! I had forgotten all about it until now - so yummy.
Chelsea says
I've never thought of putting soda into a cake..but this looks really really good and I can kind of imagine what it'd taste like- yum!
Janeane Davis says
I have never had 7 Up cake. However, I have heard many great things about it and want to try it.
Prototype Mama says
This is one of my favorite cakes! Thanks for taking me back--now I need to make this
April at Two Chic's Blog says
This cake looks really great, loving that you made it out of 7Up TEN! Lower calories!
Desiree M. says
THANK YOU for including a skinny version! I only eat low calorie so it's always nice seeing "skinny" versions of stuff. This pound cake looks delicious!
Raya says
This looks so tasty! This will be on the menu for the weekend for sure.
melinda says
that looks very good. Im sure the soda adds a great sweetness
Elizabeth Norton says
This looks delicious and beautiful. 🙂 I have never used 7up in the kitchen like this before.
katherine says
This looks so delicious! I'm totally in love!
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
I don't think I've ever had a 7up pound cake. It sounds so yummy and moist!
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
The glaze is always the best part. More, please!
Melissa Coleman says
Yes! A lot of people like to do lemon juice in replace of the milk but I find that it is just a little to much lemon for me.
Alesha @ Full Time Mama says
I've never even heard of 7up pound cake, let alone tasted it! Looks like I've been missing out on a majorly delicious treat! Can't wait to try this recipe!
Krystal says
You are so creative! I would never have thought to use soda in a cake recipe!
Melissa Coleman says
It is an old recipe so I can't take all the credit. My mom use to make this cake. 🙂
Christina S says
I've heard of it, but never made it. Looks great!
Jamie Rippy (@MamaMommyMom) says
I've never had a 7Up Pound Cake, but we used to make Sundrop and Cheerwine Pound Cake all the time!
Laura says
oh my gosh! I just ate dinner and I was full, but I'm dying over how delicious that looks!
Paige says
I've heard of a similar cake with coke before...definitely sounds interesting!
Jenn @ The Rebel Chick says
I love pound cake! Yours looks absolutely delicious, I could go for a slice now!
Karen says
This looks delicious! I love pound cake and this is so easy to make. Going to have to try this out soon!
Dawn Lopez says
Oh yum! That looks so thick and moist, it's unreal! I've made baked goods with soda before and still can't believe how amazing they come out. Hard to believe! Thanks for this idea, yummy!
Alissa says
This looks delicious! I've never tried adding 7Up to the mix, but I bet it would help keep the cake very soft.
Liz Mays says
That sounds so yummy, and I love that you can do it skinny too. Oh my goodness, I want a slice right now!
Tracey says
Yumm this sounds good. Never would have thought to add 7 Up!
Betsy Mitchell says
Yep, that looks AMAZING. Thanks for sharing. I know what I'll be making this weekend!
Melissa says
Oh, this looks delicious! Two of my favorite things mixed together!
amber.m says
Are you serious?
That's it? Just mix the cake mix & soda together & you create that delicious looking cake?! Pinning this for later! Oh my goodness, I love simple recipes and this just looks delicious!
Melissa Coleman says
The pictures are with the original version. The skinnier version is the cake mix and soda, though it still does look very similar and definitely tastes just as yummy.
Sue says
They look super yummy! I love that you added a skinny version too! Sometimes you just get so sucked into a recipe that you forget all about calories. But you offer a way back out! Thank you!
Melissa Coleman says
I love the original but sometimes I fix the skinnier version not because it has less calories but because it takes way less time. haha
Louida says
Your post brings back memories! It has been a long time since I've had 7UP pound cake. My grandmother use to make it.
Chelsea says
Yummy! What a brilliant idea! I loooove 7-Up, but I would've never thought to put it in a dessert!
LeleR says
This looks amazing, I'm just wondering if 7up would work with any boxed yellow cake mix? In the uk, our basic sponge cake is a Victoria sponge, or sandwich, and I'm trying to figure out if this would work with that, instead of adding the milk and eggs like directed? And if it won't, do you have the weights and measures, other than cups, for the original recipe for your basic yellow pound cake? Gotta admit I thought it was called a pound cake because the ingredients weights' were all a pound, but I've seen so many different weights in recipes that I'm now not sure anymore. Thanks for any advice you can offer í ½:-:-)
Melissa Coleman says
The skinnier version that I mentioned is mixed with just boxed cake mix. It is just as yummy too. I don't have any other measurements but I bet a quick Google search could find you what they would revert over too.
You are right about the pound cake weights in pound. That is originally how it came about but because measurements aren't really weighed in pounds anymore it is just a 1:1:1:1 ratio of all the ingredients of flour, butter, eggs and sugar.
Carly says
Oh YUM! Yes please!
Laura MyNewestAddiction says
GURL!!! You don't even know how you just spoke to my kid self! I used to eat "soda pound cakes" every weekend! I definitely will be making this recipe!
Regina says
I just died and went to pound cake heaven. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this Melissa..definitely going to try this during the Easter/Mother's Day season.
Melissa Coleman says
Haha! You are welcome Regina. 🙂
Ange says
I'm going to *try* and recreate this over the weekend! Looks delish!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
I have never heard of such a thing, but my goodness does that ever sound good!!
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
Holy cow this looks delicious, Melissa!! What a great recipe. Pinning!
Danielle says
This looks and sounds delicious! I would have never thought to add soda to cake mix!
Melissa Coleman says
Yep, soda actually makes it really moist. 🙂
kendall says
Oh my goodness! This looks DELICIOUS! I love pound cake!!