This Cake Is So Irresistible, One Reviewer Made It Four Times in Just One Week

Lemon-lime soda is not only a refreshing drink on a hot day, but it's also a secret weapon in baking. There are two standout Bundt cake recipes on Dinogo that use 7Up as a star ingredient. Light and citrusy, these cakes caught my attention and made me wonder if this highly-rated dessert could become my go-to contribution for summer potlucks.

The 7Up Bundt Cake shared by Dinogo user JJOHN32 has received over 250 reviews, with fans calling it “super easy to make” and “always a crowd-pleaser.” One longtime baker shared, “I’ve been making it for 20 years, and it’s always a hit.”

Then there’s the 7Up Cake from JSWERVE0712, with almost 130 glowing reviews. “So incredibly delicious,” one cake lover wrote. “Perfect for summer and as light as a feather.”

What Exactly Is a 7Up Cake?

7Up Cake is a rich, buttery dessert, typically baked in a Bundt pan. The original recipe, which dates back to the 1950s, was created by the soda company itself and has inspired countless variations. The ingredients closely resemble a traditional pound cake, with butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, but the addition of lemon extract adds a refreshing citrus twist. The real secret, however, is the lemon-lime soda, which intensifies the citrus flavor while its fizzy bubbles help the cake rise as it bakes. You can finish off a 7Up Cake with a simple powdered sugar glaze or leave it plain for a lighter option.

This soda-infused cake does take some time to make: creaming the butter and sugar is a bit of a process, and the baking itself takes over an hour. However, the end result is often praised as being well worth the wait, with hundreds of five-star reviews backing it up.

How to Make a 7Up Cake

While making a 7Up Cake does take some time, much of that time is spent letting the butter and sugar blend into a light, fluffy mixture and waiting for the 75-minute bake time. I tried making this cake myself, creating a combination of the two recipes on our site. The steps were easy enough, but it’s best to make this cake on a day when you have a few hours to dedicate to the process at home.

Tips for Baking a Perfect 7Up Cake

When it came time to taste my 7Up Cake, I was pleased to find that all the time spent in the kitchen paid off. The cake turned out beautifully buttery and dense, just like a classic pound cake, with the perfect balance of lemon flavor. I checked the cake’s doneness a few times after it had been baking for an hour, and after about 70 minutes, the cake tester came out clean, signaling that it was ready.

Reviewers have shared their own variations on this popular cake, including turning it into smaller cupcake-sized portions and swapping the lemon-lime soda with Mountain Dew. Some people reduce the lemon extract and add fresh lemon zest, which I’m thinking of trying myself to really amp up the citrus flavor next time.

7Up Cake Recipe

Ingredients List

For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups butter (3 whole sticks), softened at room temperature
• 3 cups white granulated sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 eggs
  
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• 3/4 cup 7Up (any lemon-lime soda will do)

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
2. Grease a 10-inch Bundt cake pan.
3. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 20 minutes.
4. Slowly add the flour, mixing until just combined.
5. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition.
6. Stir in the lemon extract.
7. Pour in the 7Up and mix until fully incorporated.
8. Transfer the batter into the prepared Bundt cake pan.
9. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
10. To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
11. Drizzle the glaze over the warm 7Up Cake.