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Coca Cola Cake

This coca cola cake is deliciously rich with chocolate flavor that is enhanced with coca cola soda. This delicious cake has been around since at least the 1950s and originated in the south along with other soda cakes.

This fudgy cake has a flavorful chocolate frosting that is flavored with Coca Cola.

Sliced vintage coca cola cake on brown parchment paper.

Is there Coke in Coca Cola Cake?

Yes, there is coke in coca cola cake! Southerners have been adding coca cola to chocolate cake to create this rich and fudgy coca cola cake since the '50s!

In fact, there are a lot of recipes that include the use of soda in the recipe! Some yummy examples are these butterbeer cupcakes made with cream soda and this 7up Lemon Pound Cake made with 7up Lemon Lime soda.

What is Coca Cola Cake?

Coca Cola Cake is a homemade cake batter with the addition of soda. The addition of the coke creates a fudgy texture that is not only moist but also intensifies the flavor of the chocolate in the cake.

Coca Cola cake originated in the south and by the 1990s, it could be found on Cracker Barrel's menu.

A 13x9 baking dish with coca cola cake that is sliced.

RELATED: Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients in Coca Cola Cake

  • All-purpose flour- spooned and leveled for best results!
  • Granulated sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Salted butter- you can substitute salted butter for unsalted but add ½ teaspoon of salt
  • Vegetable oil
  • Unsweetened baking cocoa
  • Coca Cola- use the Coke brand for authentic flavor.
  • Buttermilk
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Mini marshmallows- the addition of mini marshmallows helps moisten the cake.

Coca Cola Cake squares topped with chocolate curls.

How to Make Coca Cola Cake

Preheat the oven and prepare the baking dish- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease (or line with parchment paper) a 9x13 baking dish. Greasing will prevent the cake from sticking and parchment paper will help lift the cake out as a whole from the pan.

Combine the dry ingredients- In a bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour and the baking soda.
Melt the butter and cocoa- In a large saucepan, melt the butter and the unsweetened cocoa powder.

Add in the coca cola- Stir in the coca cola and cook on a low boil until everything is melted and combined. Once the mixture is boiling add the vegetable oil.

Remove from the heat- Remove the saucepan from the heat and beat in the eggs one at a time, and then add the vanilla and the buttermilk.

Add the flour mixture- Slowly stir in the flour mixture and then gently fold the mini marshmallows into the cake batter.

Fill the cake pans and bake- Pour the cake batter into the prepared 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center of the cake comes out clean.

A slice of coca cola cake with a bite cut out of it on a fork.

RELATED: Butterbeer Cupcakes

Ingredients in Coca Cola Frosting

  • Salted butter - you can substitute salted butter for unsalted butter if you wish.
  • Unsweetened baking cocoa
  • Coca Cola
  • Vanilla extract
  • Confectioners sugar
1950s Cola Cola cake sliced and served in squares.

How to Make Coca Cola Frosting

Cook down the coca cola- To reduce the soda, in a saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the Coca Cola and the cocoa powder. Heat the mixture until it comes to a low boil. Once it begins to boil remove the saucepan from heat.

Add the remaining ingredients- Beat in the vanilla extract and the confectioners sugar.

Pour over the cake- Immediately pour the frosting over the cake, spreading evenly. It will thicken quickly. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12 slices

Coca Cola Cake

Sliced vintage coca cola cake on brown parchment paper.

This coca cola cake is deliciously rich with chocolate flavor that is enhanced with Coca Cola soda. This delicious cake has been around since at least the 1950s and originated in the south along with other soda cakes.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

Coca Cola Cake

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 cup Coca Cola
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows

Coca Cola Frosting

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • ⅓ cup Coca Cola
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 ¼ cups confectioners sugar

Instructions

    Coca Cola Cake

    1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF
    2. Grease (or line with parchment paper) a 9x13 baking dish.
    3. In a bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and granulated sugar.
    4. In a large saucepan, melt the butter, the cocoa powder, and the Coca Cola and bring to a low boil.
    5. Once boiling, add the vegetable oil and the mini marshmallows.
    6. Stir and allow the marshmallows to melt.
    7. Remove from heat and mix in the flour mixture.
    8. Beat in the eggs one at a time, and add vanilla and the buttermilk.
    9. Pour the cake batter into the prepared 9x13 baking dish.
    10. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center of the cake comes out clean.


    11. Coca Cola Frosting

    1. In a saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the Coca Cola and the cocoa powder.
    2. Heat until it comes to a low boil.
    3. Remove from heat.
    4. Beat in the vanilla extract and the confectioners sugar.
    5. Immediately pour the frosting over the cake, spreading evenly.
    6. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Greasing the pan will ensure that the cake doesn't get stuck in the baking dish. Using parchment paper will help lift the cake out of the dish.

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Did you make this recipe?

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Veronika

Sunday 24th of July 2022

This cake was amazing! I love a good old-fashioned dessert and I'm definitely making this one again soon!

Ann

Sunday 24th of July 2022

Oh my, this cake looks divine! Excited to give it a try! Thanks for the share! My mouth is already watering!

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