Southern Sun Drop® Cake(Quick and Easy)
Sun drop cake is a bundt cake recipe that is another Southern favorite! This recipe is made from a sun drop soda which can only be found in Southern states such as South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Not to worry because I will show you how to make this delicious cake recipe with Mountain Dew!
Jump to:
What Is Sun Drop Cake?
So, a sun drop cake is a flavorful Southern dessert made with a citrus soda by the name of Sun drop. This moist and tangy cake has the soda's refreshing taste baked into its batter. It’s really easy to prepare this Bundt cake treat!!
Sun Drop Cake is a unique and refreshing dessert, particularly adored in regions where Sun Drop soda is readily available. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container to retain its moistness. This simple recipe is reminiscent of other soft drink-infused cakes, such as 7-up cake, and is a perfect recipe for those seeking a light and delicious treat. You can serve this cake at your family reunions or your next holiday party!
Why You Should Make?
- A Southern Comfort- a great tradition that you will be able to experience over and over again.
- Not traditional pound cakes recipes- I absolutely love a next level homemade cake but for the non bakers out there. I got you covered with this easy sun drop pound cake.
- Dry Ingredients- You won’t need a ton of ingredients such as all purpose flour. Nope the cake ingredients are kept low.
The full ingredients with instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
Ingredients You Will Need For This Sun Drop Cake
- Yellow cake mix- You won’t need anything but this box cake mix to get a moist cake.
- SunDrop Soda- the flavor of the cake and the name of this sun drop cake comes from using of actual soft drinks.
- Eggs- The eggs is used to help make this good pound cake even more delicious and also helps to give the structure and stability of the cake. The eggs also actually comes from the instructions directly on the back of the box!
- Vegetable oil- you use this to give the cake moisture and texture. Using vegetable oil is used to make mixing the cake easy.
- Instant lemon pudding- This helps with adding in the lemon flavor. If you really want things to taste extremely lemony then you should use lemon extract.
- Vanilla Extract-will enhance the overall flavor of your cake. You can use any type of extract, any will do in this sun drop cake recipe.
The full ingredients with instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Southern Sun Drop Cake
1.Preheat your oven to 350 degrees .In a mixing bowl, combine the lemon cake mix, 4 tablespoons of Sun Drop soda, instant lemon pudding, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully mixed together.
2. Spray nonstick spray to a Bundt cake baking pan. Next, pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
3. Bake the cake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, combine the vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons of Sun Drop soda, and powdered sugar, confectioners' sugar. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze has a smooth consistency.
5. Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
6. While the cake is still warm, poke several holes all over the surface using a fork or skewer. Slowly pour the glaze over the warm cake, allowing it to seep into the holes and spread evenly.
Enjoy your homemade sun drop cake with some vanilla ice cream!
Substitutions
Sun Drop Soda- you can substitute the soda for Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, or any other type of citrus soda.
Apple Sauce-If you aren’t a fan of the vegetable oil in this sun drop cake recipe then try using applesauce. You can replace at a 1:1 ratio.
Greek Yogurt- using Greek yogurt can also act as a substitute for vegetable oil. Try using the same amount that the vegetable oil calls for.
Remember that using these ingredients as a replacement in your sun drop cake can change the texture.
Variations
Coconut- add coconut into the batter. You can also top it off with a coconut cream frosting or a sprinkle of toasted coconut for an extra kick of flavor.
Berry Bliss: For a burst of fruity flavor, consider adding fresh berries to your cake batter. Blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries can be gently folded into the batter before baking.
Chocolaty Surprise: If you're a chocolate lover, you can infuse your sun drop cake with a chocolatey twist. Add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to the batter and mix it well. You can also incorporate mini chocolate chips into the batter for some extra richness.
Decorating- Add a couple slices of a lemon peel to make the top of the cake to make it even more appealing to one’s eye.
Equipment For Southern Sun Drop Cake
- Rubber spatula-This will help to get all of the remaining cake batter off of the sides of the bowl.
- Electric Mixer- comes in handy when it’s time to mix all of the ingredients.
- Cake Plate- using this will make for a smooth transition when you are adding the glazed frosting and cutting the cake.
- Medium Bowl and Large Bowl- You will need a sturdy mixing bowl to ensure that you are able to mix in all of the ingredients properly!
- Cake Baking pan- I used a 9.5 inch Bundt pan.
Storage For Southern Sun Drop Cake
If you have any leftover sun drop cake you can store the cake in an airtight container or a cake container.
Tips
- Allow the cake 10 minutes to cook before frosting.
- Make sure to coat the cake pan with butter or nonstick spray.
- Try to purchase all high quality baking ingredients.
- Measure all of your ingredients to this Southern sun drop cake properly so that you get the desired results you want.
- Preheat your oven before placing the cake in.
- Bring all of your ingredients to room temperature. This will allow you to have a smoother cake batter.
In Conclusion
This sun drop cake turned out extremely delicious and I truly believe that you will enjoy every single bite.
Southern Sun Drop Cake(Quick and Easy)
Ingredients
- 1 Box Lemon cake mix
- 1 Box Instant lemon pudding 3.4oz box
- 4 Tablespoons Sun Drop Soda Mountain Dew
- ¾ Cups Vegetable oil
- Nonstick Spray
- 3 Large Eggs
Southern Sun Drop Cake Glaze
- ½ Cups Powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons Milk More if needed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees .In a mixing bowl, combine the lemon cake mix, 4 tablespoons of Sun Drop soda, instant lemon pudding, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully mixed together.1 Box Lemon cake mix, 1 Box Instant lemon pudding, 4 Tablespoons Sun Drop Soda, 3 Large Eggs, ¾ Cups Vegetable oil
- Spray nonstick spray to a Bundt cake baking pan. Next, pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.Nonstick Spray
- Bake the cake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, combine the vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons of Sun Drop soda, and powdered sugar, confectioners' sugar. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved and the glaze has a smooth consistency.½ Cups Powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract, 2 Tablespoons Milk
- Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
- While the cake is still warm, poke several holes all over the surface using a fork or skewer. Slowly pour the glaze over the warm cake, allowing it to seep into the holes and spread evenly.
Notes
- Allow the cake 10 minutes to cook before frosting.
- Make sure to cost the cake pan with butter or nonstick spray.
- Try to purchase all high quality baking ingredients.
- Measure all of your ingredients to this Southern sun drop cake properly so that you get the desired results you want.
- Preheat your oven before placing the cake in.
- Bring all of your ingredients to room temperature. This will allow you to have a smoother cake batter.
Last Updated on August 9, 2023 by Ronalyn Alston | Published: August 8, 2023
