Old-fashioned 7Up Pound Cake made the Southern way for a zingy lemon, light, and fluffy cake topped with a sweet lemon glaze. The best pound cake you'll ever have!
7Up Pound Cake
Traditional pound cakes, while delicious, are very heavy. 7Up Pound Cake is one-of-a-kind because, even though it doesn't have a leavening agent, it's still a much lighter fluffier pound cake than most.
That's because of the carbonation in the 7Up used to make it! Even the batter feels light and airy, unlike any other cake batter I've made!
7Up Pound Cake is packed with lemon flavor in a moist pound cake and topped with a sweet lemon glaze. Of course, it also features 7Up as an ingredient, giving it its name.
This is an old-fashioned Southern recipe, and that's how you know it's good! It's also pretty easy to make, and doesn't use weird specialty ingredients other than 7Up and lemons!
Do I Have to Use 7Up?
Yes and no. Technically, you can substitute Sprite or any generic brand lemon-lime soda without compromising the texture of the cake.
However, 7Up pound cake lovers insist that if you use anything other than 7Up, it won't taste quite right. It has 7Up right in the name, after all.
What Toppings Can You Use?
The recipe below includes a lemon glaze topping. If you'd like to change it up or add some more sweetness or flavor, you can also try these options:
- Powdered sugar is a tried and true pound cake topping. It looks pretty and adds just a hint of sweetness.
- Whipped cream. I personally think you should top just about everything with this homemade whipped cream.
- Fresh fruit or berries will add a sweet and tangy flavor that lifts the sweet, soft cake to the next level.
- Fruit salad is another great option. This is my favorite fruit salad, and I love using it as a topping for pound cake or ice cream.
More Cake Recipes You'll Love
- Chocolate Banana Cake - a moist sheet cake filled with bananas and chocolate.
- Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake - my favorite chocolate cake ever! The frosting is to-die-for!
- Best Funfetti Cupcakes - a moist, fluffy, rainbow, and vanilla cupcake recipe for the best you've ever had.
- Pull Apart Caramel Coffee Cake - extra gooey version of monkey bread that you can have for breakfast!
- Easy Pear Cake - super simple to make and equally as delicious!
7Up Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 1½ cups butter room temp
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 5 eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup 7Up
Lemon Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons 7Up
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter a large (12 cup) bundt pan well.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
- Add lemon and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
- Add eggs and mix again.
- Add flour and salt, and mix until just combined. Lumps are okay.
- Add 7Up and mix for one minute.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
- Bake for about 60-70 minutes, until cooked through.
- Let cake stand in pan for 10 minutes after baking. Then turn cake over onto serving plate or platter, and remove from bundt pan. Allow to finish cooling completely.
- Glaze: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together all glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients. They mix together better and create a fluffier cake.
- This cake does not have a leavening agent. It's not a typo. This recipe uses carbonation to create a lighter cake, and pound cakes in general are typically a denser cake.
- You need a large bundt pan, at least 12 cups. This is the one I have.
- Butter the bundt pan well. Like really, really well in all of the nooks and crannies. To ensure that it comes out smooth, you can also coat the inside with sugar.
- Flip the cake after 10 minutes! Set a timer. If the cake stays longer than that it will settle in and be difficult to get out.
- Skip the glaze and top with whipped cream or fresh fruit instead!
- Storage: Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for 3-5 days.
- Freezer Directions: After baking cake, allow to cool completely. Then wrap in plastic wrap and foil to freeze. Freeze for up to 3-6 months. Thaw at room temperature. Then cover in glaze.
Nutrition
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Renee | The Good Hearted Woman says
I just love this post! I haven't thought about 7-up cake in decades. My mom had a good friend who used to make it when I was little and it was delicious! Can't wait to try this!
Noelle says
What a delicious idea, use to make a recipe like this all the time! Can't wait to try it!
Toni says
Such an amazing cake! My kids loved it!
Andrea Metlika says
A lighter, fluffier pound cake that's lemon flavored sounds delicious. I cannot wait to make this for my family.
cf says
Tastes just like my mama used to make when I was growing up! Love that this brings back so many memories!
Jenn says
I just need a hot cup of coffee and a slice of this to get me through my day. Making this recipe ASAP!
Erika says
I love easy and delicious desserts like this, yum!
Jen says
Such a fun recipe to try this holiday season! Can’t believe I’ve never tried it before.
Veena Azmanov says
Awesome presentation. Love the lemon flavor and the lemon glaze on this 7Up pound cake . The name has an attraction too.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
What a tasty looking cake! I've got some 7Up here so might just have to give it a go!
Jess says
I love everything about this cake. A family favorite!
Kechi says
Never heard of 7Up pound cake, but I love the sound of this, and I want to make it ASAP! This pound cake looks insane, and I am sure my family would love it!
Shelley says
Hahaha - what a super-fun, clever cake recipe! Sure to be a conversation-starter around the holiday table, too - everyone will be so intrigued! 😉
Jessica Formicola says
I'm a sucker for a good pound cake, and this one looks amazing! I can't wait to try it out!
Shanna says
This was so delicious and using the 7-up in the recipe was a game-changer.
Emily Liao says
Never had a 7 up pound cake - but this was so good! So flavorful and soft.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
That looks absolutely lush! I love all things lemon!
Dannii says
I never would have thought to use 7Up in a cake. This is such a great idea.
Maria says
OMG!!! This is heaven! I'm drooling! <3
REBECCA STIPE says
Michell I adore your recipes. I have gained 7 lbs. staying in and cooking your recipes! I made the cake and it is very good, but i never know when it is done. How do you gage that.
Michelle says
Oh, girl. This quarantine is getting the best of all of us. Lol Great job honing your cooking skills.
To test doneness for this cake, and any baked good really, stick a tooth pick in the top and if it comes out clean or with only fine crumbs, it's done. You can also use a fork for this if you don't have toothpicks.
Debra says
This came out perfect and moist just follow the recipe the key is make sure your eggs and 7up is room temperature and don’t over mix
Tina says
This has always been my favorite pound cake. Not heavy and ooh so good.
Savita says
What a delicious looking cake, need to try it out.
Beth Sachs says
What a fun idea. I'd never have thought to use 7up in a cake!
Shadi Hasanzade says
Our neighbor was talking about 7up cake the other day and I was so curious! I'm going to make this and surprise her!
Suja md says
This was delicious! We really enjoyed both making and eating it!
Beth says
I made this last night, and it was perfect! I haven't had 7up cake in a million years, and this one tastes just like I remember it!
J Jo says
I hate to admit this but lemon disagrees with me. Is there any other way to make this very popular cake using another base flavor such as another extract? Anddd, would I still use 7-Up with it?? Thanks for any advice or tips you think of! : )
Michelle says
You could try vanilla and 7Up or cream soda! The texture should still come out the same.
Deloris says
Do I have to use all purpose flour can I not use cake flour or maybe both
Michelle says
I've only tried the recipe as written, so I can't tell you if it would work with a different flour. Cake flour is lighter in consistency, so the amount might not be the same, and the consistency wouldn't be the same. Traditionally a pound cake is a dense cake, so all-purpose flour is used.
Detoria Mason says
Can't wait to bake this pound cake. I've been baking them for years and "giving" them out to people. I'm going to use cream soda this time and salt. Thanks ❤
Detoria Mason says
Thanks for the info on applying butter and "sugar" to the pans. ❤
Michelle says
Yes, I've been using this trick for my kid's birthday cakes this past year, too, and they just slip right out of the pan! So easy