This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These 2-ingredient 7-Up cupcakes are one of the easiest WW-friendly desserts you can make. With just a boxed cake mix and diet 7-Up, you get light, fluffy cupcakes that feel fun and satisfying without a lot of effort.
I’m a cupcake person. Always have been. I love the small, perfectly portioned size, the anticipation of peeling back the wrapper, and that first soft bite of cake and icing.
Maybe it goes back to those childhood Hostess Creme-filled Cupcakes. I got pretty good at pulling off the chocolate squiggle, eating around the edges, and saving the best part for last—the cream center. It taught me everything I needed to know about cupcakes: they should be fun, a little indulgent, and completely satisfying.
So over the years I’ve been on the hunt for a lighter cupcake recipe that still delivers that same simple joy. This diet soda cake mix cupcake recipe really surprised me.
I was skeptical at first, but after making them for a birthday not long ago, I was completely won over. They’ve become a go-to when I want an easy, low-calorie dessert that still feels festive and special.
Simple Ingredients for Diet 7-Up Cupcakes
These easy diet soda cupcakes come together with just two basic ingredients:
- Boxed cake mix (yellow, white, or lemon) – Any standard boxed cake mix works. Yellow gives a classic flavor, while lemon pairs especially well with the citrus notes in 7-Up.
- Diet 7-Up (or other lemon-lime diet soda) – This replaces the eggs, oil, and liquid typically used in cake mix recipes, keeping these cupcakes light and WW-friendly.
Optional icing (if using):
- Light or reduced-calorie frosting, or a simple homemade glaze (adjust WW points as needed)
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each plain cupcake (without icing) has 80 calories and 4 Points. The addition of my optional icing will add about 5 calories per cupcake.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
How to Make 2-Ingredient 7-Up Cupcakes, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.
Step 2: Heat the oven to 350F degrees. Line a cupcake or muffin tin with paper liners.
Step 3: In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and soda.
Ladle or spoon into the prepared pan.
Step 4: Bake for 14 to 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 5: Remove to a wire rack and cool.
Step 6: For the optional icing: Mix together all the ingredients in a small bowl (affiliate link). When cupcakes are cool, lightly “butter” or spread each one with icing. (Alternatively use your favorite prepared icing – be sure to adjust the WW points accordingly.)
Step 7: Decorate with sprinkles, fruit, ground nuts or just serve plain.
Recipe Notes
- Lemon, white, or yellow cake mix all work well.
- You can experiment with combinations like chocolate cake mix + diet cola or spice cake + diet ginger ale.
- Add citrus zest (lemon or orange) for extra flavor if desired.
- These cupcakes are best enjoyed the day they are made but also freeze well.
Serving Suggestions
These cupcakes pair perfectly with:
- Coffee or tea for a simple treat
- A glass of milk for a classic dessert feel
- A flute of champagne as part of a celebration
Storage
Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, freeze in a single layer first, then transfer to a container or freezer bag.
If you’ve made this 7-Up Cupcakes, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
2-Ingredient 7-Up Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix (15.25 ounces) (Yellow, White or Lemon)
- 1 can (12 ounces) Diet 7-Up
Optional Icing:
- 1/4 cup Swerve confectioner's sugar
- 1 tablespoon Limoncello liquer , (or lemon juice)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon low-fat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F degrees. Line cupcake or muffin tins with paper liners. (I was able to make 20 cupcakes.)
- In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and soda. It will bubble up but then settle down as you continue to stir it. With a spoon, ladle or ice cream scoop (affiliate link) divide the batter evenly among the cups.
- Bake for 14 to 19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool the cupcakes in pan(s) for 10 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack (affiliate link) to cool completely, about 1 hour. Enjoy plain or top with optional icing.
Optional Icing:
- Mix together all the ingredients (confectioner's sugar, Limoncello, butter, milk and vanilla) in a small bowl (affiliate link).
- When cupcakes are cool, lightly "butter" or spread each one with icing. (Alternatively use your favorite prepared icing – be sure to adjust the WW points accordingly.) Decorate with sprinkles, fruit, ground nuts or just serve plain.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) If you make and want to freeze these cupcakes, a good tip is to freeze them in a single layer first. Once solidly frozen, you can place the cupcakes in plastic bags or layer them in a tupperware. This way you’ll avoid any cakes sticking together. Feel free to add 2 teaspoons of lemon zest, orange zest or substitute 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract for the vanilla.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Source: adapted from Betty Crocker
Here’s a video verifying how easy these soda can cupcakes are to make and tasty to eat:
I haven’t made these yet-trying to resist but won’t…wondering if I could use a gluten free cake mix. Has anyone tried this?
This is really encouraging to be able to make a low calorie cupcake. I’m thinking of all the possibilities. Could use half a cake mix and 6 oz.diet soda or carbonated water and make a 8” cake. Thank you so much for the recipe
How many points is you use sugar free cake mix if it makes 24 cupcakes
Can you use a flavored carbonated water like Bubly?
Hi Heather, yes you can definitely use flavored carbonated water instead of diet soda ~Martha
Can you use a sugar free cake mix?
Yes, you can use sugar free cake mix. ~Martha
So how would this affect the points!
Made this cake the other day and it was fantastic. So moist and light. This cake plus the other flavor cakes with the diet sodas will be my go to sweet. Just love it!!
I’ve been making these cupcakes with Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry soda for years their an old time WW recipe. Their my favorite and so easy to make. I’m going to try the other flavors that you suggested because I bought a spice cake mix and wasn’t sure how the Black Cherry would taste.
Have you removed the links to Pinterest? The last few things I tried to save I had to do a different way. Missing the links! Or maybe I missed it?
Hi Sarah, the pins can be wonky sometimes. I just tried and if you hover over the photos the red Pinterest Save button appears. I was able to save to Pinterest using it. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Hi Sarah, We had a technical glitch, but it has been corrected so you should be able to Pin away. Thanks for your patience. ~Martha
Lovely recipe – especially for summer. Quick & easy, very refreshing taste!
I had never heard of this 2-ingredient recipe, so I had to give it a try.
They are delicious! I added a couple of drops of doTERRA lemon so mine were super lemony. I think they are great even without the icing.
Large cupcake is 4 points and small muffins are 2? Is that correct? Why change points? Same recipe from years and years past. Cupcakes use to be 2!