7UP Pound Cake

7UP Pound Cake is a sweet, creamy, and buttery classic bundt cake recipe that includes a little lemon-lime soda and a few other simple ingredients. It's the perfect cake to bake and share with family and friends.

If you love dessert recipes with citrus flavor, definitely try my recipes for SunDrop Pound Cake, Lemonade Pie, and Glazed Lemon Loaf.

This pound cake recipe has been a favorite in my family for years and for good reason. 

It's made with basic ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. But comes together to create the most moist and delicious cake with a little bit of lemon-lime flavor. 

Let's get started!

Why You'll Love 7 UP Pound Cake

• Easy to Make - Pound cake is an easy cake recipe to make because it only requires a few simple ingredients. It was the very first cake that I ever made from scratch as a kid because of the ease of making it. The most difficult part is measuring out the ingredients and preparing the cake pan. 
• No Baking Powder or Baking Soda  - This tender cake does not need any baking soda or baking powder to make because the 7up soda acts as the leavening agent to make the cake rise and become moist and tender. 
• Old-Fashioned Southern Recipe - Classic 7-up pound cake is a dense cake that's slightly crispy on the outside, but soft and buttery on the inside with a tender crumb. Pound cake is a staple soul food dessert recipe that is perfect to share at family gatherings. 

Ingredients for 7up Pound Cake 

1. Butter - Use any brand that you prefer, but try to select the best butter possible. It can be salted or unsalted. Allow the butter to come to room temperature before combining it with the other ingredients to make the pound cake. 
2. Shortening - Pairs well with the butter for a helping of additional fat to make the cake moist and give it that dense pound cake texture. 
3. Granulated Sugar - Granulated or cane sugar adds sweetness to the cake. For this recipe, you will need 3 cups of sugar.
4. Eggs - This cake requires five large eggs. Try to remove the eggs before using them and allow them to come to room temperature.
5. All-Purpose Flour - Check to make sure it’s plain all-purpose flour with nothing added to it. You may whisk or sift it before using to remove any large lumps. You may use cake flour as a substitution.
6. 7UP Soda - Adds acid and leavening agent to the cake to give it rise and make it light and fluffy with a lemon-lime flavor. If you're having trouble finding 7 up soda, then you can substitute with any lemon-lime flavored soda such as Sprite, Starry aka Sierra Mist, or Shasta Twist. For this particular cake recipe, I do not recommend using a 'healthy soda' such as Olipop or CulturePop. 
7. Vanilla Extract - Be sure to use pure vanilla extract and not imitation for best results. Gives the cake a hint of vanilla flavor. 
8. Lemon Extract - Helps to bring out the lemon flavor of the soda. 
9. Powdered Sugar - Needed to create the glaze topping and make it sweet and thick. 
10. Lemon - Use the juice and lemon zest of one lemon to flavor the glaze. Lime juice and lime zest could be used instead. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make 7UP Pound Cake from Scratch 

Begin the cake recipe by preheating the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a bundt pan or tube pan using shortening to lightly grease the entire pan in a thin layer. Lightly dust the whole pan with a small amount of all-purpose flour, be sure to remove any excess flour.

For a quicker option, simply spray the pan with Baker's Joy non-stick cooking spray with flour. This will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan and allow for easy removal. Set aside. 

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a (hand) electric mixer, add the butter and shortening and mix on high speed until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and continue mixing until light and fluffy.  

Adjust the mixer to medium speed and add the eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon extract.

Mix until combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure the cake is fully mixed.

Adjust the mixer to low speed and add the all-purpose flour a little at a time before adding the 7 Up soft drink. Mix until combined, but do not overmix. 

Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, spread it around, and tap the bottom of the cake pan to make sure it’s spread evenly in the pan.

Place into the preheated oven and bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out with little crumbs and no wet cake mixture. 

Carefully remove the 7 Up pound cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 to 15 minutes before removing the cake completely. 

While the cake cools, prepare the sweet lemon glaze in a small bowl, by whisking together the powdered sugar or confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until combined.

Use a toothpick to poke holes in the top of the pound cake and evenly drizzle the glaze before serving.

Slice the cake into individual slices and enjoy!

What to Serve with 7UP Cake?

• A Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream 
• Coffee or Tea 
• Whipped Cream 
• Fresh Fruit 
• Homemade Jam or Preserves

7-UP Cake Recipe Tips and Tricks 

• Take your time preparing the cake pan! Use shortening to lightly grease the pan with a thin layer and then lightly dust it with a small layer of all-purpose flour. Make sure the entire pan is covered, this prevents the cake from sticking to the pan. Baker's spray could be used instead. 
• Allow the refrigerated ingredients time to come to room temperature before using them for best results and easier mixing. 
• Try not to overmix the cake mixture, especially after the flour has been added. Mix just enough for the ingredients to come together then stop.
• Be sure to check the pound cake while baking to make sure that it doesn't overbake. Place a cake tester (toothpick) into the cake and once it comes out with little to no crumbs or any wet cake mix, then it’s time to pull it from the oven.
• Allow the cake to cool a bit in the pan before removing it. Run a knife along the sides and center of the cake before placing a serving plate on top and flipping the cake pan upside down. The pound cake should slide right out. 

Storage Tips

Storage. Store any leftover cake at room temperature in an airtight container or cake storage for 4 to 5 days. Slice and serve as normal. If you prefer to store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container or plastic storage bag, then it will last a few days longer. 

Reheating. If you're storing the pound cake in the refrigerator, then allow it to come to room temperature or slightly reheat it before serving. You can heat it in the microwave for a few seconds. 

Freezing. This cake can be made in advance and stored in the freezer for 30 days. Wrap the cooled cake tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap, followed by a tight layer of aluminum foil, and place it in the freezer. When you're ready to serve, simply remove it from the freezer the night before and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving it the next day. Once it has thawed, then can stored at room temperature.

Shipping. Want to send this cake to a friend as a gift? Follow the instructions and then the freezing tips. Freeze it overnight before placing the pound cake in a box to ship it. By the time it reaches your friend or family member, it will be thawed and ready to enjoy. Keep in mind that it will actually weigh a pound 🙂

Want More Easy Pound Cake Recipes? Try These: 

• Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake
• Sweet Potato Pound Cake
• Homemade Sour Cream Pound Cake
• SunDrop Pound Cake Recipe
• Greek Yogurt Pound Cake 
• Pound Cake Trifle with Berries  
• Eggnog Pound Cake 

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this 7-UP Pound Cake Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 06/16/2014. Updated 08/23/2024.