Strawberry Soda Pop Cake

I found this recipe on one of my coupon trading boards a couple years ago. The original recipe  was a weight watchers recipe and it was made with an orange cake mix, orange soda, mandarin oranges and one egg white. 

It's a really good variation but, I felt using just one egg white and the cake mix gave the cake a denser consistency and the cake was kind of flat. I don't know about you but when make a cake, I love it when it's fluffy and moist.
 
If you are wanting a lower fat version than stick with an egg white and use diet soda, but keep in mind the cake will be thinner. I tweaked the ingredients a bit and came up with a version that I like so much better. 

When I think of strawberries, I think of summer. So instead of making an orange version I went with a strawberry instead. This cake is such a light, summery cake and perfect for all those fresh strawberries. This cake never lasts long when I make it and is usually finished off in a day or two.
 
You would think using soda pop in a recipe would make it really sweet, but it's just the opposite. The cool whip really compliments the lightness of the cake. If you're looking for a light summer dessert this recipe is perfect. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 inch round cake pans and set aside. In a large mixing bowl add the dry cake mix, eggs, oil and strawberry soda (for the amount of soda, I know every cake mix is different, so just substitute strawberry soda for the amount of water called for on the boxed mix).  My cake mix called for  1 1/3 cups.


using an electric mixer or kitchen aid mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the cake mix until the batter is smooth. 

Pour the batter evenly into the cake pans. Bake for 15 - 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched. 


Remove from oven and let the cakes cool in pans for 15 - 20 minutes before removing. Then remove to a wire rack to completely cool.



As the cake cools slice the strawberries into thin slices, these will be used for the middle part of the cake. I slice some strawberries just in half for the top layer.


When cake is completely cool place one cake layer on a cake server and frost with cool whip or cool whip frosting (recipe below). Layer the sliced strawberries on top of the cool whip.


Place the second cake over the cool whip and frost the top and sides with remaining cool whip. Arrange strawberry halves on top. Save one whole strawberry for the top of the cake in the middle. I slice and fan the whole strawberry and add it in the middle of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


This cake isn't really sweet at all I think that's what i like about it most. 



Strawberry Soda Pop Cake

1 - 15 oz package strawberry  cake mix (any brand)
1 1/3 - cups strawberry soda (substituted for the amount of water on the cake mix)
3 - eggs
1/3 - canola oil
1 - 16 oz container fresh sliced fresh strawberries 
1 - 16 oz container of whipped topping (cool whip) or frost with strawberry whipped cream or strawberry cool whip frosting 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Add egg, oil and strawberry soda. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into two 8 inch round cake pans that have been greased and floured. 

Bake cake for 15 - 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched. 

Remove from oven and let the cakes cool in pans for 15 - 20 minutes before removing. Then remove to a wire rack to completely cool. 

Frost first layer with cool whip or cool whip frosting (recipe below) and arrange sliced strawberries on top. Add the second cake layer and frost top and sides with more cool whip and top with more sliced strawberries. 

Save one whole strawberry for the middle of the cake. Gently slice and fan the whole strawberry, Place on top in the middle of the cake.


Cook's Notes: Measurements vary depending on what brand of cake mix you use. Follow the directions on the back of the box substituting strawberry soda for the amount of water listed. This cake can be topped with plain cool whip, a strawberry cool whip frosting or strawberry cool whipped cream).  This recipe can be lightened up by substituting a sugar free cake mix, fat free or light whipped topping, diet strawberry soda and use and egg white or egg substitute. Keep in mind the cake will be a different consistency.  


Strawberry Cool Whip Frosting:

1 - 4 - ounce box instant strawberry pudding mix, dry
1/4 - cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 - cup milk
1 - 8 oz container whipped topping (cool whip)

Add pudding mix, powdered sugar and milk to a mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until blended. Let mixture stand 3 minutes. Fold in defrosted Cool Whip and frost cake. Refrigerate frosted cake.

source: mommy's kitchen 
yields: 8-12 servings


25 comments

Stephanie said…
That looks so beautiful, and absolutely delicious! I love how pretty it looks with the strawberries on top.
Unknown said…
Thanks for the recipe. I will be making this on Saturday!!
Worner
Live.Love.Eat said…
Wow, this is certainly beee--- yoooootiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never seen the soda in with the cake. Awesome!!!!
Tina Butler said…
Thank you Stephanie it really did turn out beautiful. I didnt notice till i saw the picture we dove in and started eating right after that LOL.

Live.Love. Eat, thats what i said when i first saw the recipe years back. Its a awesome cake and everyone always loves it. thanks for stopping by.
Anonymous said…
OMG that was the best strawberry cake I have ever eatin!!!!!!!!
Southern Plate said…
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD!!
I have been reading about the soda pop cakes and have never actually made one like this!!
I have GOT to try this!!! Thank you!
Christy
Alicia said…
Wow...that cakes looks REALLY good!

I might just have to try it out.

Alicia
www.momdot.com
That cake looks so yummy I can't wait to try and make it. Thanks
Noor said…
Tina, the first thing I read when I came here was the quote and I was laughing bc it is so true, lol!

I just read your post and wow thats so great about your mom and you having the book. Family recipes are so special bc you remember all the times your family was together while eating them, and thats what is the great thing about cooking and why we all do it. My mom like yours is older, she is 70 but thank God she is doing very well but we always worry about our moms no matter what and how will we go on without them one day!

I was just showing my husband your site last night and I told him everytime I come here I feel like I am at my moms kitchen. Your blog has a VERY southern feel to it and all people from the south know what I am talking about, lol. For those who do not its the chickens, stars, colors, etc. What all Southern women use in their kitchen, lol.

And this cake can I say WOW. I LOVE strawberries. I just went to Whole Foods last night and bought some. Where I come from we have a Strawberry Festival every year and the best berries you will ever come across but these I bought were pretty good (for store ones). I really want to try this cake. Maybe when I get settled into my own kicten and out of this hotel..
Anonymous said…
I have no idea how I got on your blog. I think I was just clicking around on mom blogs and found you and haven't been able to click off yet.

I've never heard of making cakes with soda. Interesting. I think I'll have to try that this week. I've bookmarked this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Anonymous said…
I finally made this cake for my Mother-in-laws Birthday and she loved it. We all loved it. So Yummy.

Dawn
Tina Butler said…
Hi Dawn I am thrilled you liked the cake. It is one of my favorites so light and fluffy. Thanks for stopping by.
Anonymous said…
Wow!!! this really looks goood!! I so love strawberry... thanks for sharing this one out. Ived been looking for sugar free desserts that me and my family would want to enjoy.. your post greatly contributes a lot!
Unknown said…
I'm so excited to cut into this ... I made it for my girls (15 & 6) and I know they're gonna LOVE it. I couldn't keep from eating the icing while frosting the cake.
Tina Butler said…
Oh Deanna how exciting. Please lmk how you and the girls like the cake. It is so light and fluffy and yummo good.
Rachel Ingram Havens said…
First, let me say I love and appreciate your blog so much. Your love of cooking radiates out all the way to me in Mississippi! I plan to try out your Italian Beef Sandwiches one night this week. I may have to make this treat to go along with it. Second, I have substituted apple sauce in baking recipes calling for oil with little to no noticeable difference. I say "little to no" difference because I couldn't tell any difference; DH, on the other hand... well, men can always tell. Haha. I use it most often when making muffins or cupcakes, and even though he knows they have apple sauce, he still manages to force himself to eat one or two to keep from hurting my feelings. And then he eats another three or four.
Brittany said…
This cake looks amazing! I just founds this site and I'm in love with all of your recipes!
Anonymous said…
Made this for our kids when we went to visit them and the grandkids, they loved it. My husband is allergic to strawberries so I only get to make strawberry desserts when they are around to eat it up. Thanks for the great recipe.
Jessica said…
I made this cake for the first time last summer and it's been a hit with my family every since!! :)
sherry said…
made this for my mom last year, couldnt find any sugarfree strawberry soda, so instead i used the strawberry flavored water, still had the carbonation so it turned out great. Everyone loved it and no one would believe that it was a sugarfree cake! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Anonymous said…
I have made cake with soda many times but never use the egg or oil. Use 1 box cake mix and 12oz of soda. So moist, light and fluffy and less fattening eliminating the fats and oil.
Unknown said…
I made this cake for my little girl for her 1st birthday and she loved it!!!! For the frosting I mixed 1 container of cool whip, and 1 container of whipped frosting and it came out so fluffy and delicious! I noticed the frosting was a little hard to put on at first, but i just did one layer of frosting, stuck it in the freezer, then did a second layer and put it back in the freezer for an hour. The strawberries were frozen and tasted so good on a hot day!! Everyone loved it!!! Thanks so much!!!
Unknown said…
Ok, I'm just about to make your cake and I'm sure it will be delicious, but after going to three different grocery stores I can not find strawberry pudding mix. In fact two of the workers at two different stores told me they have never heard of strawberry pudding mix. So I'm trying to decide what to make the frosting with. Maybe in another part of the country you have strawberry pudding, but not here in Wyoming.
Tina Butler said…
Strawberry pudding mix can be hard to find as it isn't widely available as it used to be. Jell-O pudding made it. Jell-O Strawberry Creme Instant Pudding Mix

Tina Butler said…
If you are unable to find the strawberry pudding mix, you can frost the cake with just cool whip, fresh cream or make a strawberry whipped cream frosting using a couple tablespoons of Strawberry Jell-O powder. Here is a good recipe. Strawberry Whipped Cream