Make These Magical 2-Ingredient Cakes With Soda And Cake Mix

You know that boxed cake mix you're saving in case of midnight cake cravings or a last-minute birthday party? Go ahead and pour the mix into a bowl. But wait, do you have eggs and oil? No? Good news: You don't need them!

What can you add instead? A can of soda.

While that may sound like an odd combination, depression-era cake mix manufacturers created their mixes with simplicity and economization at heart. The cake mixes contained all the dry ingredients of a scratch-made cake, including a rising element. Adding a can of soda activates the mix’s dry leavening agents.

How To Make a Two-Ingredient Cake With Soda 

Even if you aren't using the box's instructions for eggs and oil, you still need to follow the basic instructions: Preheat your oven. Grease your pan(s) or cupcake tins, or add muffin papers.

Then, in a large bowl, mix the cake mix and soda for about one minute, or until well combined. The dry ingredients need the can of soda to activate them, and if the soda loses its fizziness through overmixing, your cake may not rise as much as expected.

Pour the batter into the pan(s), or divide the batter evenly in cupcake tins. Follow the directions on the box mix for cooking times.

What Soda and Cake Mix Combinations Can You Use?

Any full-size (12 ounces) can of soda, carbonated, or sparkling water will work. How you combine the soda and cake mix creates a rainbow of flavor and color options.

The simplest combination is to combine any cake mix with a clear soda or carbonated water, maintaining the original cake mix color and flavoring. Beyond that, the combinations are endless.

In our chart below, we've included some basic options and some innovative ones, as well as creative twists on Southern staples. Plus, we offer ways to enhance a two-ingredient cake, like adding poke cake ingredients or complimentary frostings. We know that technically makes it more than a two-ingredient cake, but it’s cake, so extra is allowed.

The Fun of Making Two-Ingredient Cakes With Cake Mix and Soda Pop

While many of the benefits of this dessert are fairly obvious—easy prep, shelf-stable ingredients, and cost savings—there are other great things about a two-ingredient cake: Because you aren’t using eggs, you cut down on potential allergy exposure. Without eggs or butter, you also may be baking a vegan or plant-based cake (check the ingredients label).

For the kids, focus on the fun factor of using a can of soda to activate dry ingredients. Make it into a science discussion with kids. What are leavening ingredients? Why does the soda activate them?

Does a Soda Cake Taste Different Than a Traditional Cake?

It depends. If you’re making a vanilla cake mix with strawberry Fanta, the taste will be different than a traditionally-prepared vanilla cake. But a lemon cake mix with lemon soda? You might not notice too much of a flavor difference.

A boxed cake prepared with a can of soda instead of eggs will potentially have a slightly different texture depending on your altitude, mixing level, and other factors; expect it to be a little denser.

Soda and Cake Mix Combinations
Soda	Cake Mix	Suggested Frosting
Cheerwine	Cherry Chip Cake Mix	Cherry-Swirl Frosting
Chocolate soda	Coconut Cake Mix	Coconut-Pecan Frosting
Pineapple soda	Banana Cake Mix	Cream Cheese Frosting
Strawberry soda	White Cake Mix	Strawberry Frosting
Root beer	Spice Cake Mix	Cream Cheese Frosting
Blueberry soda	Vanilla Cake Mix	Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Coca-Cola	Chocolate Cake Mix	Coca-Cola Cake Frosting
Peach soda	Vanilla Cake Mix	Peach Buttercream
Ginger ale	Carrot Cake	Brown Sugar-Cream Cheese Frosting
7Up or Sprite	Lemon Cake Mix	Luscious Lemon Frosting
Orange soda	Vanilla Cake Mix	Lemon-Orange Buttercream
Dr Pepper	Red Velvet Cake Mix	Cream Cheese Frosting
Sprite	Yellow Cake Mix	Chocolate Frosting
Coca-Cola	Devils Food Cake Mix	Fudge Icing