Coca-Cola Cake is a decadent chocolate cake made with mini marshmallows, tangy buttermilk, rich cocoa powder and smooth butter. Each bite is moist, fudgy and filled with Southern nostalgia! If you love this cake, you will love my Texas Sheet Cake, Chocolate Pound Cake, German Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Birthday Cake!
I am a big fan of good ole fashioned country baking, especially when it comes to chocolate cake. Southern folk love their chocolate just like New England loves their seafood. Celebratory moments call for Buttermilk Chocolate Layer Cake or an Old Southern Chocolate Pecan Sheet Cake. What’s not to love about chocolate?
As a young girl, Big Mama and I spent many weekends mixing large bowls of thick, dark batter. I would lick the spoon clean while she layered the delicious mixture into a well-buttered pan. But, on extra special days, we raided the refrigerator for an extra liter of coke. What for? Well, for a classic chocolatey, decadent Coca Cola Cake.
This 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 COCA COLA CAKE?
If you’re a Cracker Barrel fan, you may have seen a version of this cake on their menu. Their double chocolate rendition is served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Though it’s quite tasty, the homemade variety is much better.
This Coke Cake recipe is gooey, fudgy and decadent. It will remind you of the one at Cracker Barrel but with a freshly made with love touch.
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.
I know some folks might be concerned with the flavor that Cola imparts on this recipe. But, I’m here to assuage your worries! Soda acts as both a flavor enhancer and an addition of moisture in this recipe.
The end result is a cake with a perfectly tender, almost chewy texture. Each bite is sweet, slightly sticky and full of intense, chocolatey flavor. When served with vanilla ice cream, this cake will take you all the way to the gates of heaven and back!
HOW TO MAKE COCA COLA CAKE
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.
Want to hear your spoon sing? Here’s how to make it happen:
Mini Marshmallows
Marshmallows in a cake? I know. Hear me out, marshmallows actually layer in a sticky moisture that softens each bite. They also enhance that chewy, almost brownie-like texture.
Coca-Cola
Cola adds in a molasses, dark brown sugary sweetness that I find to be quite subtle. Its caffeine also enhances the cocoa powder; this makes for richer cake.
Oil & Butter
Some cakes call for butter, some for oil but, this one calls for both. After many experiments, I have come to love the balance between the two. The result is a moist, melt-in-your-mouth cake.
Cocoa Powder
Chocolate cake is nothing without cocoa powder. If possible, I would highly suggest investing in a high-quality cocoa. Just a few extra pennies guarantees a tastier cake that’s bound to impress.
When your spoon sinks into my southern coke cake, you may hear your spoon sighing gleeful oohs and ahhs. I actually thought I did.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up an extra liter and get ready for the best chocolate cake ever!
Coca Cola Cake Recipe (Coke Cake)
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 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
For the Frosting
- 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
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 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.
For the Frosting
- 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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I have tried a bunch of Coca Cola cake recipes and this is the absolute best. I lost access to the app where I had all my recipes saved and I was so worried that I wouldn’t find this recipe again—it’s been my oldest kid’s go-to birthday cake for a couple of years. My husband had to do some technology wizardry to recover the recipe app database from my iPad so I could get this recipe back. It took a couple of hours, but it was well worth it. Her birthday is coming up soon and now I can make her favorite cake for her!
I had heard about Coca Cola cakes but had never baked nor eaten one until now. This is a fantastic recipe and perfect for serving at get-togethers. I put English walnuts on top and served with ice cream Wowser!!
How do I convert these into cupcakes , this recipe looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing
Hello!
Ate the cake, ate the maple bacon butter popcorn, put half, (actually more), of your recipes on my “to bake” list. You’re a wobpnderful cook/baker, and so appealing on your videos ! My husband says he loves you, but I’m not TOO jealous because I understand why,
Ohhh this is beyond sweet! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake and popcorn. That popcorn is one of my absolute favorites!! And tell your husband thank you so much!