Recipes » Lemon 7up Cake

Lemon 7up Cake

Name: The Best Lemon 7-up Cake (from scratch)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 115 min
Ingredients: 5 eggs; 3 cups self rising flour; ¾ pound butter; 3 cups sugar; 2 tablespoons lemon extract; ¾ cup carbonated lemon-lime beverage (any brand); 3 cups powdered sugar; 3 tablespoons lemon juice or 1 tsp lemon extract; 3 tablespoons 7-up; ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

by Melissa Burnell | 1 Comment This post may contain affiliate links, see Disclosure.May 8, 2023March 15, 2021

Lemon 7-up cake is a super moist lemon cake that has been decadently drizzled with tangy lemon icing. It’s a favorite for sharing at family gatherings and is always the first dessert to disappear! It’s aptly named 7-up cake because the recipe uses the famed lemon-lime soda.

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Below, I’ll share two very simple recipes for lemon 7-up cake. The first, entirely from scratch, for those that prefer not to use a box mix. The second, a quick and easy time saver recipe for those that prefer less measuring or who may not have fresh lemons on hand. Both recipes are tried and true and deliver amazing lemon flavor.

Lemon 7-Up Cake from scratch: A delightful dessert made from scratch with fresh ingredients instead of using a boxed cake mix. This cake recipe calls for flour, sugar, butter, eggs, lemon extract, and 7-Up soda. The result is a moist and flavorful cake with a superb lemon flavor, glazed with sweet icing, to make it an extra special treat. A perfect summertime dessert for any occasion!

What’s the point of adding 7-up to a Cake?

The carbonation of 7-up provides additional rise, giving the cake lift. It works much like traditional leaveners such as baking soda or baking powder and can be used in place of one or both.

Sprite or 7-up, Which is better?

There main distinction between the two brands is that 7-up utilizes potassium citrate in it’s formula while Sprite utilizes sodium citrate. While any lemon-lime soda will technically work in this recipe, 7-up has a stronger lemon flavor and more carbonation than Sprite.

The Best Lemon 7-up Cake (from scratch)

You’ll Need
5 eggs
3 cups self rising flour
3 sticks of butter, softened (for those of you across the pond, 3 sticks of butter equals 3/4 of a pound)
3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon extract
3/4 cup carbonated lemon-lime beverage, any brand

Lemon 7-up Cake from Scratch Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the lemon extract, mixing well.
Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg is added in.
Add in flour and mixing lightly to incorporate.
Fold in the lemon-lime soda, mix for 1 minute.
Transfer the mixture into a 12-cup bundt pan that has been well-greased and lightly floured.
Bake the cake at 325°F for an hour, or up to an hour and 20 min (or until the cake is fully set).
Remove from oven and transfer to wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.
Overturn the cake on to a serving platter, then drizzle with lemon glaze.

The Best Lemon 7up Cake Using Box Mix

Lemon 7-Up Cake: A refreshing and easy-to-make dessert consisting of a lemony cake cooked with 7-Up soda. The cake batter usually contains lemon cake mix, lemon Jell-O powder, eggs, vegetable oil, and 7-Up. The result is a moist, fluffy and tangy cake that’s perfect for any occasion. Often served with a sweet glaze, the Lemon 7-Up Cake is a simple yet delicious dessert that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

You’ll Need:
1 box of yellow cake mix OR 1 box lemon cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
1 4-ounce box of instant lemon pudding
3/4 cup of carbonated lemon-lime soda of your choice/any brand

Lemon 7-up cake Directions using Box Cake Mix

Preheat the oven to 325°F
Grease a 12-cup bundt pan, then lightly flour it, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl combine the cake and pudding mix and mix until combined and there are no lumps. Add the eggs and oil and mix until combined. Fold in the lemon-lime soda until combined.
Transfer the mixed batter into the prepared bundt pan.
Bake for about 45 to 55 minutes or until set
Remove from oven and transfer to wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.
Overturn the cake on to a serving platter, then drizzle with lemon glaze.

7up Lemon Glaze

You’ll Need:
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice or 1 tsp lemon extract
3 Tbs 7-up
3/4 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make the Lemon Glaze

Both of the above listed recipes use the same easy, delicious lemon glaze. To make the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and 7up with a mixer until smooth. To serve, drizzle icing on the cooled cake.