Coca Cola Cake Recipe – If you love the Cracker Barrel version, you will adore this decadent, moist, fudgy and chocolatey coke cake recipe! Absolutely irresistible!
Where did the Coca Cola Cake Recipe Originate?
I am a big fan of good ole country baking, especially when it comes to chocolate cake. This cake definitely fits in that category. This Coca Cola Cake recipe has been around for so long that I can’t even properly trace its origins. I just know that this is traditional southern baking at its best, and it makes me happy every single time I taste it. How many desserts can you truly say that about?
What Is Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Cake?
You may have seen a version of this cake at Cracker Barrel. Their double chocolate rendition is served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. It is a nice fill in for those who don’t have the time. But trust me, make the time to bake my southern coca cola cake.
This coke cake recipe is gooey, fudgy and decadent. It will remind you of the one at Cracker Barrel but I believe this one is so much better.
What Does Coke Cake Taste Like?
While I love traditional chocolate dessert recipes like chocolate birthday cake or chocolate cupcakes or chocolate pound cake or even these Coca Cola chocolate cupcakes, I really adore this chocolate cake version more sometimes.
The texture is so perfect tender and reminds me of a chewy brownie in some ways. What helps with the tender texture is the addition of marshmallows that softens each bite. It literally melts in your mouth thanks to that and the moist additions of oil and flavor enriching butter. I love the way the cocoa powder is enhanced by the coke in the recipe. The caffeine amps up the flavor. It is perfectly balanced when served with vanilla ice cream. You will think you arrived in heaven at the pearly gates. It is THAT good!
When your spoon sinks into my southern coca-cola cake, you may hear your spoon sighing gleeful oohs and ahhs. I actually thought I did.
Cola Cola Cake Recipe - If you love the Cracker Barrel version, you will adore this decadent, moist, fudgy and chocolatey coke cake recipe! Absolutely irresistible!
- 1 cup coca cola
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or coconut milk if desired
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp Coca Cola
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 lb confectioner's sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saute' pan, add coca-cola, oil, butter and cocoa and heat over medium high heat until it boils. Cut off heat once it boils.
- Next add in marshmallows and whisk together until the marshmallows melt into the mixture and set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer, add sugar, flour and salt and mix on low. Slowly pour in hot cocoa mixture and continue mixing bringing speed up to medium speed.
- Next add in eggs, buttermilk, baking soda and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
Spray a 9x13 sheet cake pan with non-stick baking spray. Pour the cake batter into the pan and spread out evenly.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While cake has about 10 minutes left of baking, add remaining butter, cocoa powder, milk, coca cola, vanilla extract and confectioners sugar into a pot over medium high heat and whisk together until boiling and well mixed.
Once cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and pour the hot frosting on the top of the cake and let cool. Then slice and serve.
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The way you described this cake gave me no choice but to pin it!
Hooray!!!!
This Coca Cola cake looks so good! I want to eat my computer monitor. Great recipe!!!
Having a BBQ for 40. Can your Coca Cola cake be made ahead of time and does it freeze well?
You can definitely make ahead however I never froze this so can’t consult on that for sure on the results.
This looks delicious! I’m wondering if I can use diet Coke, as that’s all I have in the house right now and I’d love to bake this up this afternoon! Ha!
Sure thing! Give it a try!
I have been making this cake for a considerable length of time and its one of my top picks. I add slashed pecans to the icing. It’s yummy!
That sounds fantastic!
I can’t wait to make this recipe for my brother’s birthday! He loves coca cola. 🙂
Oh I am sure he will love it Karina! Let me know how it turns out!
I want to win…..because it’s chocolate! Need I say more?
I love hearing about these awesome Southern desserts. Now I’m really curious!
I also love Theo chocolates…totally hooked on the their orange bar!
Hooray! Yes the orange chocolate bar.
Hi,
I’m intrigued by this cake–and the sweet potato cake posted on Design Sponge. I’m glad I found your site through D*S. I am wondering if I can make this without the marshmallows and if so, is there anything that I would have to add to make up for their absence.
Thanks.
Hi TAllen, thanks so much for visiting. I am so glad you found me through Design Sponge. You can definitely try this cake without the marshmallows though it would be as gooey of a finish but it will still be moist and good. I would just watch the baking time because you may need to slightly adjust.
those chocolates.. i could make SO MANY DESERTS with these wonderful chocolates <3 <3 it's like every bakers dream just in one picture *drools*
I’d love the chance to win because my husband and I adore chocolate and are always looking for delicious varieties!
That’s a great enough reason for me! Who doesn’t love chocolate?
Ohhh mY goodnessss!!!!! This cake sure looks like a piece of heaven!!!!!!!! I can almost taste it and I am loving how my stomach rumbles at the sight of this cake! NEED.TO.MAKE.THIS.NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!! That cake looks amazing! I’m going to make that this week for sure!!! I’ll tweet you the pic when I do 🙂
Indeedie my dear! You will love it!
What a yummy flavor and a super moist looking cake, Jocelyn! Looks irresistible!
Thanks so much Georgia!
I’d love to win! It sounds delicious!!!
That chocolate looks great! The cake also looks like it’s easy to make and yummy 🙂
Yes Carly, it is very easy to make!
That cake looks amazing. I wish I had some now. I want to win because I simply LOVE chocolate. 🙂
Same here! Who can resist chocolate?
Love how moist and gooey this looks! 😀
Thanks so much Allie!
I adore cakes like this!! Looks so moist and perfect for feeding a crowd! Yumm!!
Thanks so much Maria! It is super moist!
I have never had a coca cola cake, but that needs to change – it looks so decadent
Indeed it totally is Heather!
I wish I had some right now. I looks moist and chocolaty. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks so much Rekaya!
omgoooosh LOVE all that chocolate because…um…YUM obvi.
and this cake is so cool! I’m so dying to try it now!
Thanks so much Kayle! I can safely say you will enjoy it!
Mmmm looks delicious!
Thanks so much Danielle!
I would love to win that chocolate! Great giveaway, thanks!
Indeed Jullian!
I have always wanted to try a cola cake. This is gorgeous Jocelyn!
Thanks so much Dorothy! You would love it!
I want to win to try some different chocolate!
I would absolutely LOVE to win this cake for so many reasons! But here are two:
1. I’ve never tried a Coca-Cola cake before and am beyond curious.
2. I’m eight months pregnant and the thought of this cake makes my baby jump for joy inside me!!!
I hope I win!
Indeed!
Love cake and chocolate. Theo is a fantastic company with a fantastic product.
Thanks so much Kristine!!
I love Coca-Cola cake! It’s always hard for me to sacrifice a Coke to make it. I’m such a Coca-Cola addict!
Oh gosh so am I Kim! I was just drinking a coke earlier. I need help!
LOVE this cake Jocelyn! That ice cream just tops it off that’s for sure!
Thanks so much Julie!
I want to win because Chocolate is the best! 🙂
Indeed Barbara it certainly is!
I absolutely love coke cake! It’s one of my favorite recipes. I love how after a couple days the cake gets even more caramelized! 🙂
Oh my gosh Renee! Now you are talking girl. A few days after makes it even better as if that were possible.
Your pic with the fork going into the ice cream – wow, I can’t stop staring. I’ve always wanted to bake with soda because of all the rave reviews! Thanks for reminding me – this looks so good, I think I know the recipe to begin with! 😉
Yes! Baking with soda is like a revolution. I am pretty certain you will enjoy this.
I haven’t had Coca Cola cake in ages! I need to change, do you think? I can’t get over your photo of the spoon with the bite of cake and ice cream. 🙂
Hooray! Gosh now I am staring at that photo and dreaming of this for dessert tonight
My SIL loves Cracker Barrel’s Coca Cola cake! I really need to try to make this for her!
Yes you totally should and see what she thinks!
I’ve had coco cola cake exactly once, and it was memorable — so moist and fudgy! This looks the same way, and I can never resist a good, homemade chocolate cake!
Same here. Anyone that even mentions chocolate cake around me knows how obsessed I am with it.
This cake looks classic but delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Indeed Laura!
Coca cola cake? Wow that sounds interesting and I haven’t had a chance to taste it. My mom has a recipe that uses coca cola to make chicken (I think it’s rather well known though) but I didn’t know it can be in the cake too! This sounds like a fun and delicious project. 🙂
Yep Nami coca cola cake is a staple in the South. I like you would love it since you love your mom’s coca cola chicken!
Looks like the question for the blog comment is from the last giveaway of a cheesecake. I want to win this one because I’m a chocoholic always looking for new chocolates
Thank so much Sandy for letting me know!!