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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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.
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. 
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.
Yes! Just make sure you wrap it very well to protect against freezer burn and it will freeze for up to 3 months.
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.
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.
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 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.
Pour icing over cake. Allow it to sit for a bit to set up (it won’t harden up fully like a frosting).
Then slice and serve.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: January 2012
Updated & republished: May 2023
The Best 7-Up Cake (+Video)
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
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
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.
I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My kids and throw lines from the movie at each other all the time. When my sons and his wife go home I always say "why you want to leave meeeee?" too funny. I've been looking for this recipe for awhile. Thanks for posting.
"look whose back again"
I made this today using Mt Dew instead of 7UP. Quite tasty! Hubby really liked it (all he drinks is Mt Dew). Thank you for a great recipe! 🙂
I LOVE 7-UP-CAKE, but our old family recipe has a pineapple/coconut mixture for icing and I have a fairly new coconut allergy, so eating it makes me wheeze and short of breath (unless I just eat the insides, which takes the fun out of it).
The lemon/sugar mixture sounds better anyway, so I look forward to trying this (very) soon!
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know!! I'm SO happy you liked it!!
I made this cake over the weekend and it is soooooo good. My family really enjoyed it. The recipe is so simple and quick. Thank you!
I made this cake yesterday and it was wonderful…
Thank you so much! I'm so happy you liked it!!
So happy to hear you liked this one Joan. That's why I love baking with soda, it adds a bit of flavor but it makes cakes so moist too!
Super moist and love the light citrus taste!
Looks gorgeous! LOL Love the movie My Big Fat Greek wedding. I also always remember that episode with bundt cake:-)
That looks amazing. I wish I could try that cake.
Oh Brandie – you are always so entertaining. And such a cake queen too huh? :-} Thank you for sharing another wonderful easy dessert to try from your collection. Your photos are always sooo nice! And mouth-watering too!!!
I love 7 up cake but have never made a shortcut version. Love it!
Lol, I was laughing all through reading that dialog– we LOVE that movie!! I also think of it when I see one, too!
Both of these cakes look so moist and delish, but I enjoy all of the recipes you put up on here!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Blessings,
Leslie
"Oh…It's a caeke!!!"
Remember when I was trying to eat healthier and then I saw this and obsessed over it and dreamt about it and ate the entire cake?
No?
Oh.
😉
I've never cooked a cake with soda before but this looks so delicious I'm going to give it a try! I hope mine comes out half as beautiful as yours.
What a awesome recipe…Delicious dear..Aarthi
Brandie,
I love all of your cake creations with soda. They make the cake very moist. I also love My Big Fat Greek Wedding:)
Please stop by my blog. I have an award for you.
Just make sure you keep potted plants around to put in the middle! Go Rodney and Harry, watch out for ouzo
This looks absolutely delicious! I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding, as well, so maybe I'll go make this and just sit myself down and watch that funny movie!:)
Toula's whole family is a hoot! And your boont cake looks fantastic! Come visit us soon.
HAHA I love Toula's mom in the movie, her expression of horror over the 'hole in the cake' is priceless!
Great recipe!
I make this cake using Mountain Dew. It's super moist and people love it. I've never used a glaze, but may make one the next time. Thanks for posting.
This looks so moist. I've never tried a cake recipe using soda before, but now I have to! Thanks for sharing.
I'd love to try out this recipe but your ingredients are American, can you translate them into UK ones for us over here please.
Thanks Lovina
try googling to find similar ingrediants as i have done in australia