A classic, old fashioned easy 7 up cake recipe with cake mix, homemade with simple ingredients. Topped off with lemon glaze. Soft, moist and can be made as bundt cake or pound cake or even layer cakes.
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I am so happy to add this recipe to my growing collection of doctored Easy Cake Mix Recipes. It's a delicious Summer dessert and better than any other "from scratch cake" I have tried. It's also quick and convenient to prepare and even kids can help. If you are a fan of bundt cakes, you should really check out this amazing Chocolate Bundt Cake and these cute Mini Bundt Cake Recipes (with Cake Mix). For those of you who enjoy using soda pops in desserts, you can't miss out on this vintage Coca Cola Cake (Coke Cake).
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Key ingredients
- Soda pop- You need to use 7 Up in this recipe. It cannot be zero sugar. Sprite is a good substitute.
- Cake mix- I like to use yellow cake mix over the lemon one because I can control the tanginess but some people have made this with lemon cake mix without any issues.
- Powdered sugar- You will need this for the glaze. Make sure it's sifted to prevent any lumps.
- Lemons- I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice over the store-bought bottles because it just tastes better.
- Milk- I like to use whole milk because it has a higher fat content but you can use 2%. Do not use fat free milk.
- Oil- This should be neutral flavored like canola, corn or vegetable oil.
- Eggs- Make sure they are at room temperature because they blend together smoothly in the batter.
- Pudding mix- You have to use the powder only. Do not prepare it.
Variations
- Cherry flavor- Replace regular 7 up with cherry flavored 7 Up. It's limited edition though and can only be found a few months of the year. You can also replace lemon pudding mix with cherry pudding mix.
- Instead of glaze, pair with frosting- Such as classic Lemon Buttercream Frosting, Whipped Cream or pineapple icing or Maraschino Cherry Frosting, Strawberry Buttercream Frosting and even Orange Frosting.
- Try other sauces and glazes for drizzling- Such as white chocolate ganache, Dulce De Leche and even Homemade Caramel Sauce.
- Add a filling- Cut the cake in half lengthwise and fill it with Strawberry Jam or even Lemon Curd (4 Ingredients) or Homemade Vanilla Pudding and Homemade Vanilla Custard.
- Play around with the zests- Use fresh lemon, lime or orange zest to really enhance the citrus flavor. Add it in the cake batter and even the glaze.
How to make easy 7 up cake recipe with cake mix?
- Make cake batter- By mixing together cake mix, eggs, 7 Up, oil, pudding mix.
- Pour batter- In a generously greased bundt pan.
- Bake- Until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cake cool- To room temperature.
- Prepare glaze- And drizzle it on top of cake.
Tips and techniques
- Don't use sugar-free ingredients- This is especially with regards to the pudding mix and cake mix because it adds a weird after-taste.
- All ingredients should be at room temperature– That’s because they blend together smoothly and evenly.
- Don’t over-mix cake batter– Because this will yield a tough and it can also cause the cake to collapse/sink during baking.
- Brand of cake mixes– I have used these brands of cake mixes successfully: Pillsbury, Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker.
- What flavor cake mix to use? Traditionally, a yellow cake mix is used but you can also use a golden cake mix, white cake mix, butter cake mix or lemon cake mix.
- Temperature is key– Do not pour the glaze over the cake before it has cooled down or else it will make a sticky, soggy mess.
- How much glaze to use? This is entirely a personal preference. I drizzle enough to coat the top of the cake partially, without soaking it completely.
- Decoration– Keep it simple and classic with glaze and perhaps some fresh lemon slices or lemon zest, if you like. You can also check out lots of these beautiful Bundt Cake Decorating Ideas.
Recipe FAQs
Based on my research, this cake's origin dates back to the 1950's, when the lemon lime soda company included it in its promotional recipe booklet. It was quite a popular dessert during the holidays.
In most recipes, I would say not to do this but in this case, this cake bakes just as well without a bundt pan. I have made it successfully in a round pan and a rectangle pound loaf cake pan without any problems.
First off, make sure to generously grease and flour the pan. Also, use a simple bundt pan without any fancy designs because those have a higher likelihood of the cake sticking to them. Once the cake has baked, let it cool down first and then gently loosen the edges of the cake by sliding a thin spatula down the sides of the pan. Then, turn it over, tap it gently on the top to release it.
Storage
- Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze- Unglazed cake can be frozen in a sealed container for up to 1 month. When you are ready to enjoy it, thaw to room temperature, prepare the glaze and pour it over the cake.
- Room temperature- This can stay out for 3-5 hours.
- Make ahead- You can easily make this 1-2 days in advance.
More doctored cake mix recipes
- Lemon Pound Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Cinnamon Roll Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Sock It To Me Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Louisiana Crunch Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Easy Black Forest Cake (With Cake Mix)
- Pistachio Cake (With Cake Mix)
Recipe
7 Up Cake Recipe (With Cake Mix)
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Ingredients
Glaze
- 2 cups Powdered sugar Sifted
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice From fresh lemon
- 1-2 tablespoon Milk Preferably whole but can use 2%, Room temperature
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, oil, 7 up and mix until smooth.
- Add cake mix, lemon pudding mix and mix until just combined.
- Pour batter in a greased and floured bundt pan (10 inch pan).
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 45-55 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Let it cool down completely.
- While it's cooling, prepare glaze by mixing together powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk until smooth.
- Place cake on a dish or stand and drizzle glaze on top of cake. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients because they mix together smoothly and evenly.
- Do not glaze a warm cake.
- Sift powdered sugar for the glaze because it gets rid of lumps and creates a super smooth consistency.
- You must use a 15.25 oz. cake mix box. If you have the smaller box, open up a new box of cake mix and measure out the remaining missing quantity with a weighing scale and add that to your cake mix for a total of 15.25 oz.
- Be sure to grease your bundt pan generously so that the cake doesn't stick to the pan.
- Read additional tips and variations above
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Oldman437
Prep time was accurate. I whipped one together and took it to a cookout. While I was eating outside, the people inside descended upon the cake like locusts. They came outside and told me how delicious the cake was. So cake got great reviews, although I didn't get to taste it. The host & hostess were pouting that they didn't get any, and I reminded them I didn't either. They suggested I bring 2 next time. I did cut the glaze recipe in half for my drizzle, and that worked fine. The cake box size was 15.25 oz.
Madison Byrd
What size cake mix as they have shrunk since the 1950’s. Sounds wonderful.
Abeer Rizvi
I have now started using Pillsbury mixes quite consistently because their box is 15.25 oz and it's still working well with all my cake mix recipes.
Oldman437
Please note--shrink-flation is striking again. The pudding mix is less than 4 oz. now, and I've begun to see 12 or 13 ounce cake mixes. I used 15.25 oz this time, but I also noticed the 15 oz boxes of mix were all on sale, like they were getting rid of them. The 13 oz. boxes were full price.
Robin Burton
Can you use a sparkling water instead of 7-up, to reduce the sugar?
Abeer Rizvi
I would not recommend it. Sparkling water does not have sugar and added flavors which might alter the flavor of this cake.
Tiffany
Hi,
I plan on making this for Christmas. I've read the comments about the lemon pudding mix. For clarity, you use the cook & serve mix, but you do not make the pudding. You simply add the pudding mix from the box with the cake mix and ultimately with the wet ingredients. Is that correct?
Abeer Rizvi
Yes, that's correct.