7UP Pound Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 65 min. + cooling

Makes

16 servings

Updated: Nov. 10, 2023
My grandmother gave me my first cake recipe—a pound cake using 7UP—which her grandmother had given to her. On top of being delicious, this cake represents family tradition, connection and love. —Marsha Davis, Desert Hot Springs, California

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup 7UP soda
  • GLAZE:
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons 7UP soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or lime zest, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted or plain tube pan.
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Add flour alternately with 7UP, beating well after each addition.
  3. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 65-75 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. For glaze, in a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and enough 7UP to reach desired consistency. If desired, stir in zest. Drizzle over cake.

7UP Pound Cake Tips

What does 7UP do for a cake?

7UP is used in place of traditional leaveners such as baking soda or baking powder. The carbonation helps the cake rise and gives it a lift. If you have any leftover 7UP, use it up in one of these other recipes that use lemon-lime soda.

Can I substitute Sprite (or any other soda) for 7UP?

Because 7UP has a higher level of carbonation than Sprite, we suggest you always use 7UP in this pound cake recipe. It will give you the best and most desired results.

How do you keep this cake moist?

The beauty of this 7UP cake is its moist and flavorful texture. To keep it extra moist, a simple syrup is key. You can make simple syrup by boiling equal parts water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Then, brush the syrup onto the warm cake with a pastry brush after removing the cake from the pan. The warm cake will absorb the syrup, keeping it moist.
Greasing Fluted (Bundt) Tube Pans
To remove cakes easily, use solid shortening to grease plain and fluted tube pans. 

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 457 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 177mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.