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The Best 7-Up Cake (+Video)

This 7-Up Cake is a moist lemon cake that is made with a jazzed up boxed cake mix and topped with a delicious homemade lemon icing drizzle!

 A DELICIOUS LEMON-LIME CAKE!

Recently I shared my recipe for Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake and then I realized, I couldn’t share the Coca-Cola Cake without also sharing the 7-Up Cake. The 7-Up Cake is similar to the Coke Cake in that you don’t really taste the soda as a separate ingredient. It adds flavor and makes it super moist. You could eat this bundt cake without any icing, it is just so incredibly flavorful and moist but I think the slightly tart icing gives the sweet cake a nice pop of flavor.

a slice of 7Up cake on a small round white plate with a fork that has removed a small portion of the cake.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Can this be made in a 9×13-inch baking dish?

Yes. I would just use the recommended baking times for a 9×13-inch baking dish that is shown on the back of the cake mix box.

My bundt cakes always stick, what do I do?

Bundt pans need to be greased really well. A lot of people recommend greasing the pan the coating it in flour. While that works well, I find it easiest to use a nonstick baking spray that has flour in it (like Baker’s Joy – see my image below from another recipe.) I just make sure to spray it really well into all the nooks and crannies and it works beautifully. Pam also makes a similar version.
Baker's Joy nonstick cooking spray

How do I store leftovers?

You can store it in a covered container on the counter for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can 7Up cake be frozen?

Yes! Just make sure you wrap it very well to protect against freezer burn and it will freeze for up to 3 months.

a bundt cake shown on a plate with a slice removed with cans of 7Up soda in the background.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • yellow cake mix – you could also use a lemon cake mix, butter cake mix or even a French vanilla cake mix if you prefer.
  • instant lemon pudding – you want to look for the instant pudding – you do not need to use the Jell-O brand, it can be a store brand instant pudding.
  • 7 Up – you can use diet soda (although that would not be my top choice) or maybe even try Sprite or Mountain Dew with this – I don’t think Ginger Ale would be a good flavor for this.
  • eggs – try to make sure your eggs are at room temperature for baked goods – it helps to produce a lighter, fluffier cake.
  • vegetable oil – you can substitute for the same amount of melted butter but this will produce a more dense and heavier cake.
  • lemon juice – I always prefer fresh lemon juice – the bottled stuff just tastes fake and I personally don’t like it but if you love it then go for it.
yellow cake mix, lemon instant pudding, 7Up soda, eggs, oil, lemon, sour cream.

HOW TO MAKE 7UP CAKE:

Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Spray a 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick baking spray that has flour in it. In a medium bowl, combine all the cake ingredients (cake mix, instant lemon pudding, eggs, oil and 7up). Mix until thoroughly combined.

cake mix, instant lemon pudding, eggs, oil and 7up shown in a large clear bowl.

Pour batter into bundt pan.

7up cake batter shown in a bundt pan.

Bake for about 35-45 minutes (until inserted toothpick or fork comes out clean). Allow to cool completely, then remove from bundt pan and place on a cake plate.

fully baked 7Up cake shown in a bundt pan on a wooden surface.

Start preparing icing. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest (if using). Add milk in slowly until you’ve reached desired consistency. I personally like it a bit on the thicker side.

powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and milk whisked together in a large measuring cup.

Pour icing over cake. Allow it to sit for a bit to set up (it won’t harden up fully like a frosting).

pouring icing over 7up bundt cake on a white plate.

Then slice and serve.

fully baked 7Up cake on a white cake plate with lemon icing drizzled on top and cans of 7Up shown in the background.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? 

Originally published: January 2012
Updated & republished: May 2023

7Up Cake recipe from The Country Cook.

The Best 7-Up Cake (+Video)

This 7-Up Cake is a moist lemon cake that is made with a jazzed up boxed cake mix and topped with a delicious homemade lemon icing drizzle!
4.88 from 82 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
  • 4 ounce small box instant lemon pudding
  • ¾ cup 7-Up soda (or similar lemon lime soda)
  • 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil

For the frosting:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • lemon zest from one lemon (optional)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Spray 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray (that has flour in it) or grease and flour bundt pan.
  • In a medium bowl, combine all the cake ingredients (cake mix, pudding, 7up, eggs and oil).
  • Mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Pour batter into bundt pan.
  • Bake for about 35-45 minutes (until inserted toothpick or fork comes out clean). Allow to cool completely, then remove from bundt pan and place on a cake plate.
  • Start preparing icing. In a small bowl, combine sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest (if using).
  • Add milk in slowly until you've reached desired consistency. I personally like it a bit on the thicker side.
  • Allow it to sit for a bit to set up (it won't harden up fully like a frosting) then slice and serve.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • Please refer to my FAQ’s and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 394mg | Sugar: 43g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




122 Comments

  1. Wow…. This is a game changer! I grew up baking 7-up pound cakes from scratch. This recipe taste almost like the made from scratch cake. This is my go to easy way to make 7-up cake! THANK YALL SO MUCH!❤️

  2. I can’t leave a rating yet, because i didn’t make the cake yet. There is a request for me to bring it to work, I was thinking of an easier way then plates, knives, and forks. So my question is, can these be made into cupcakes?

  3. 5 stars
    I will say between my partner and myself this is excellent and so easy to make. Right now I’m in the process of making it again. Sometimes I like to tweak recipes just to see what this or that does it taste like… so I add a little lemon juice to the mixture and then I use zest and lemon juice for the icing … oh yeah and 2 boxes of pudding… I bet before tonight this whole thing will be gone just between 2 people lol… tha ks a bunch❤️❤️❤️❤️

  4. 5 stars
    I have made this several times since discovering this recipe. My family, friends and coworkers ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ this cake!!!! They ask me to make it. I made an adjustment with the drizzle; I use 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 to a tablespoon of milk. Thank you so much this is a keeper and not to mention so easy. Thanks a million!!!!!

  5. 5 stars
    Thanks for this recipe. I love everything lemon and this is going on my favorites list. I added the zest from the lemon to the frosting and made it a little thinner. More like a glaze. Super.

  6. 5 stars
    I am very glad I find you! I can’t wait to share this with my family! Thank you I look forward to more of your recipes. Thank you

  7. 5 stars
    Thanks for this recipe! I remember it from my younger days (in the 70s I think) it was very popular. I had forgotten all about it till I saw it at my local Aldis market. My hubby loves it and now I can make it whenever he wants. Such an easy recipe! Thanks so much! My hubs thanks you too.