This 7UP Pound Cake is rich, dense, and perfectly citrusy. This semi-homemade cake is made with lemon cake mix, lemon pudding, and 7UP soda, then topped with a sweet lemon-lime icing.
I love semi-homemade desserts. I also love making 100% from scratch recipes, but sometimes we all need a shortcut. This 7UP pound cake is the perfect example of a great semi-homemade dessert. We’re basically taking lemon cake mix and kicking it up a notch with 7UP soda and a frosting made with freshly squeeze lemon and lime juice.
Ingredients
Lemon cake mix, lemon pudding mix, lime zest, 7UP, lemon juice, and lime juice work together to make this cake ultra citrusy!
7UP Pound Cake
- Lemon Cake Mix – the base and structure of our cake. Use your favorite brand, but be sure to check the back of the box — this recipe has been tested with a cake mix calling for 1 cup water, 3 large eggs, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil.
- Lemon Pudding Mix – provides a lightness to the cake, keeping it from becoming too dense. It also adds even more lemon flavor.
- Lime Zest – from one lime. You can quickly and easily zest a lime by using a microplane.
- 7UP – adds a light lemon-lime flavor and acts as a leavening agent in the cake, giving it a lighter texture so it’s not overly dense.
- Eggs – bind the ingredients together and also provides a rich flavor and texture.
- Unsalted Butter – provides moisture and adds a warm flavor to round out the tang from the lemon and lime juices.
- Vanilla Extract – adds depth of flavor and warmth.
- Salt – cuts the sweetness and enhances flavors.
Lemon Lime Icing
- Powdered Sugar – our sweetener to create an ultra smooth and fluffy frosting. Be sure to sift the sugar to avoid lumps.
- Lemon and Lime Juice – thin out the icing while also providing a delicious, fresh, tangy flavor! Use more or less depending on how thin and/or citrusy you want it to be.
- Unsalted Butter – provides a smooth, rich, buttery flavor and texture to the icing.
How to make
This pound cake takes 10 minutes to prep!
- Place cake mix, pudding mix, lime zest, 7UP, eggs, butter, vanilla, and salt together in a large bowl then beat until fully combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased bundt pan then bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack.
- Use a hand-mixer to beat together all glaze ingredients until combined.
- Glaze the cooled cake then cut and serve!
What does 7up do in cake?
7UP is a lemon-lime soda and the MVP in this pound cake recipe! It serves a few different purposes:
- Adds moisture to the batter.
- Provides a citrus-y flavor.
- Carbonation in the beverage serves as a leavening agent, which helps the cake rise as it bakes for a lighter, fluffier texture.
Can you substitute sprite for 7up?
Yes! You can substitute any kind of lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite, in place of the 7UP.
Can you use a regular cake pan
I don’t recommend using a regular cake pan. Traditionally, pound cakes are baked in either a loaf or bundt pan. Today’s recipe makes a lot of batter; you need to use a 12 cup bundt pan so the cake doesn’t overflow.
Why is my pound cake heavy?
Pound cake is supposed to be dense! It’s not light and fluffy like a “regular” cake. If it’s TOO heavy, there are a couple of reasons as to why:
- Your 7UP was flat. The carbonation is what acts as the leavening agent within the cake so make sure your soda is fresh.
- You over-mixed the batter. Stirring too much eliminates any air pockets within the batter which you don’t want to do. That will make the cake overly dense.
How to store
Leftover pound cake will last in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To enjoy again, serve straight from the fridge or at room temperature or thaw in the fridge if frozen.
– Jennifer
7UP Pound Cake
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
7UP Pound Cake
- 1 (15.25 oz) box lemon cake mix
- 1 (3.4 oz) package instant lemon pudding mix
- Zest of one lime
- 1 cup 7UP soda room temperature
- 5 large eggs room temperature
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice plus more if you’d like a thinner glaze
- 1 tablespoon lime juice plus more if you’d like a thinner glaze
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
Recipe Video
Instructions
7UP Pound Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 12 cup nonstick bundt pan generously with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Into a large bowl place cake mix, pudding mix, lime zest, 7UP, eggs, butter, vanilla, and salt.
- Beat until combined - it's ok if there are some lumps, that's the cake mix.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire cooling rack.
- Cool completely before topping with glaze.
Glaze
- Use a hand mixer to beat together powered sugar, lemon juice, lime juice, and butter until well combined.
- Spread glaze over cooled cake.
- Cut and serve!
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Notes
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
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