My old school Coca Cola cake is legit one of my faves. The texture is so different from other chocolate cakes. It’s almost like a cross between a chewy brownie and a Texas Sheet Cake. The mix of melted marshmallows, coke, buttermilk and chocolate just makes it fudgy and soft. Plus that icing gets sticky over the top like a boss. You may have tried it at Cracker Barrel or maybe your grandmama made it back in the day. Either way, it’s a hit so get into it.
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Coca Cola Cake Ingredients
For the Cake
- Mini marshmallows: You can chop up regular or jumbo sized marshmallows if you don’t have minis around.
- Coca-Cola: You can swap in Pepsi, root beer, Dr. Pepper or another generic cola brand.
- Oil and butter: Use any neutral like vegetable or canola.
- Cocoa powder: Grab a high quality one.
- Buttermilk and Baking Soda: Buttermilk activates the baking soda to make the cake rise. Boos, you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of regular milk. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it starts to curdle.
How to Make Coca Cola Cake
Step 1: Heat it Up
- Heat the coca-cola, oil, butter, and cocoa over medium-high heat in a saucepan until it boils. Remove the mix from the heat as soon as it boils.
- Toss in the marshmallows and whisk until they melt down into the mixture. Set this mixture aside.
Step 2: Mix it Up
- Combine the sugar, flour, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer and mix on low.
- Slowly pour the hot cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients. Continue mixing bringing speed up to medium speed.
Step 3: Finish the Batter and Bake it Up!
- Toss in those eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Beat the mixture until everything is well combined but don’t overdo it.
- Pour the cake batter into a prepared 9 x 13 pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Step 4: Get to the Frosting
- Add the remaining butter, cocoa powder, milk, coca cola, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar into a pot over medium-high heat. Whisk together until boiling and well-mixed.
- Remove the cake from the oven when it’s ready and pour the hot frosting right on top of the cake.
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- Let the cake cool and then it’s ready to slice and serve it up.
Coca Cola Cake Recipe (Coke Cake)
If you love the Cracker Barrel version, you will adore this decadent, moist, fudgy and chocolatey coca cola cake recipe! Absolutely irresistible!
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Servings: 16 people
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup coca cola
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup buttermilk or coconut milk if desired
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp Coca Cola
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 lb confectioner’s sugar
Instructions
For the Cake
- 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 9×13 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.
For the Frosting
- When the cake has about 10 minutes left of baking, add 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.
Notes
How to Store
- Room Temp: You can store coke cake leftovers for up to 3 days at room temp boos.
- Fridge: Make sure it’s cooled to room temp, wrap with plastic wrap tightly then pop in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Make sure it’s all the way cooled down then wrap individual slices (my preferred way to freeze) in plastic wrap and then an extra layer of foil for more protection. It’s easier to thaw the amount you need this way. Don’t forget to add the date. It should last up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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Recipe Tips
- Go with Quality: Don’t forget to go all in on the quality of your cocoa powder and vanilla extract brands. It makes such a difference in the end.
- Don’t Overmix: It will make the texture tough if you do.
- Toothpick Test: Use a toothpick and insert in the center. If it comes out clean or mostly clean with just a few crumbs, it’s all good.
- Pour the Icing Fresh: Make sure you add the icing right after you make it so it sets up correctly.
- Chill Out: Don’t cut into that cake right away. Let the cake and frosting set up so it is easier to slice and the tender cake doesn’t fall apart.
Recipe Help
Can I use diet coke in this Coke cake recipe?
For the most authentic flavor, you definitely want to use regular Coke. Diet coke will change the sweetness, flavor and moisture of the finished cake.
Can I make coca cola cake in advance?
Yep boos, you definitely can make a day or two before you serve it! After pouring the frosting over the hot cake, let it cool completely and then wrap it up. Store it at room temp and cut it the next day when you’re ready to serve.
More Southern Cake Recipes
- Hummingbird Cake Recipe
- Texas Sheet Cake
- Salted Caramel Gooey Brown Butter Cake
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Southern Caramel Cake
- Peach Pound Cake
- Strawberry Cornmeal Cake
- German Chocolate Cake
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
This post was originally published April 2018. It has been updated with new content and images.
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Hi Jocelyn…
Would dutched cocoa powder work at all in this particular recipe that calls for both baking soda and buttermilk?
Yes you can sub here. I would replace the baking soda with baking powder about twice the amount. Try this out and see how it works.
Love
Thank you so much!
My mother use to make, what she called, a Chocolate Sheath Cake, which was very similar to this recipe. Since her earthly birthday was 7/22 and we had our family cookout on the same day, I made this for her birthday cake! It was well received! Thank you for sharing
Love that idea, such a sweet way to remember her by, so glad everyone enjoyed it!
Oh this is awesome! I usually do dump cakes that have cola, so I was excited to try this one. It did not disappoint! Thank you!!